Is anyone else sick and tired of Competitive Christianity?

[38miles]

A few minutes reading through posts in this forum reveals a spirit of competitiveness that screams "disunity". It matches the world of denominations and the secondary issues that seem to divide everyone so easily, and often produce un-Christian responses. Take the MacArthur "Strange Fire" conference a few months ago--What was the point? Wouldn't a conference on LOVE have rocked out like nobody's business? Isn't that Paul's entire point in 1 Cor 12? I'm speaking of that chapter as an extended comparison.

We will start a thread with an appearance of theological or doctrinal merit, and it will generate some discussion. But, eventually the thread morphs into our sin and it is unmasked to be a hook designed to catch someone with an opposing view swimming along. So then you have to assume that some underlying motivation inside says, "What I believe is right and I'm going to show all those out there who don't believe it that they are wrong." Three cheers for pride and self-seeking. And even now as I type this I must reckon with the "why" of my own thinking what I have, typing this and actually pressing "submit"? What am I after?

I'm tired of being critical and judgmental and I'm sick of turning everything into a competition of who knows more, believes more, etc. I fail to let love be my main focus every time a JW comes to my door and I'm always furious at myself after because I eventually show judgment instead of grace. I'm tired of it in me and in the rest of Christianity. We are constantly sinning against God and against ourselves and we rarely admit the fact that we turn God's grace into a debate war as to who "really" gets it. None of us get it...He just gives it to all of us.

I apologize for any rantish elements seen above. I'm hoping I am not the only one tired of all this competitiveness that only reveals that as we look at 2014 and the moral fabric of our world literally coming to an end in front of our eyes, we're still stuck in the same sin of the body that we were in the first church.

 

[breno785au]

Praise God, criticism is quite binding isn't it? I think sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves and examine where we are at. I thank God Holy Spirit dealt with my critical nature very early on, swiftly and quickly. I pray others would recognise for what it is, I really do for their own benefit so that they can become who God has made them to be!

 

[ChristIsLord229]

Not all people who say they are christian are saved. We are supposed to preach and teach sound doctrine and rebuke false doctrines to those who believe on Christ alone for salvation. We are not supposed to go with the flow and get alone with everyone who claims to be saved. Telling the truth is love, rebuking is love. Love isnt just being kind and nice. Spreading the Gospel is love, and teaching sound doctrine is as well.

So, we are not supposed to be in unity with everyone who calls themselves a christian.

 

[phil112]

Ephesians 6:13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

[ChristIsLord229]

Not to mention the way paul compares the zeal for God to running a race, or working out spiritually etc.

 

[Karraster]

I liked your post and agree. I hope you stick around, your attitude is refreshing, and we all need, (myself included) to treat each other with love and respect. Thank you for posting.

 

[crossnote]

Speak the Truth in love...but speak the Truth.

 

[tripsin]

Not all people who say they are christian are saved. We are supposed to preach and teach sound doctrine and rebuke false doctrines to those who believe on Christ alone for salvation. We are not supposed to go with the flow and get alone with everyone who claims to be saved. Telling the truth is love, rebuking is love. Love isnt just being kind and nice. Spreading the Gospel is love, and teaching sound doctrine is as well.

So, we are not supposed to be in unity with everyone who calls themselves a christian.

Yup. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are of (or, 'out of') God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1.

 

[phil112]

Romans 12:18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Sometimes it isn't possible.

 

[ChristIsLord229]

Christians are afraid to offend people with Gods word. Hello, McFly, if youre a sinner or sinning, or have a sin youre entertaining, you should be offended when you hear Gods word, especially his word against your sin. Pastors are commanded to teach the whole council of God, and even teachers and common men should preach and teach all of the bible not being ashamed of the word. It has the power to change people, and the more you preach all of it the more you yourself will change, and you can only preach all of it if you read all of it. Reading and preaching go hand in hand. Dont be afraid to tell someone what God is saying, and dont be afraid to read Gods word to test what others are saying.

 

[38miles]

Praise God, criticism is quite binding isn't it? I think sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves and examine where we are at. I thank God Holy Spirit dealt with my critical nature very early on, swiftly and quickly. I pray others would recognise for what it is, I really do for their own benefit so that they can become who God has made them to be!

I think you are right in that the whole point of life and faith is to come to the end of ourselves. I've carried a critical view many times in my life, and at times it has been laced with judgment. It wasn't until I started seeing a biblical counselor that I really started to recognize some bad intentions in my thoughts and words. And the more I am being removed from it the more I see the entanglement it created in me, as if it became a platform of sorts. Not that I was bitter or overly harsh, but that I allowed certain stances or viewpoints to take some deeper resonance in me...and to the detriment of myself, my family, my friends. Further refining needed...

 

[2Thewaters]

There is a battle between good and evil.
The ones that get sick of it will be lost.

 

[38miles]

Christians are afraid to offend people with Gods word. Hello, McFly, if youre a sinner or sinning, or have a sin youre entertaining, you should be offended when you hear Gods word, especially his word against your sin...

I agree. But I also think there are heart issues that aren't always addressed. A messenger can become so fixed that he or she actual hardens the heart, as is evidenced by a thousand different denominations that claim their statement of faith is supreme. In the end it becomes some sort of self-deception. Obviously, even every local church thinks and operates as if they have the best church...which is just an extension of corporate pride. And I'm not saying that this is a bad thing...just a danger if not constantly brought before the altar to question motive and intention. And I think we see the outworking, often, of Christians coming against other Christians without a full reckoning of why they are, and more importantly, what they expose within themselves by doing so, like a competitive nature that reveals pride, criticism, and judgment. And I may be wrong about Christianity...I'm really just tired of seeing it in myself.

 

[RedTent]

Speak the Truth in love...but speak the Truth.

We all see darkly, scripture says. Truly saved Christians want to see as clearly as possible, they want the truth spoken and scripture never twisted. If we think someone is twisting scripture or not understanding, our very natures want to work toward truth. So we speak up. I have been shown by other posters that what I thought was truth was not. When I check scripture and find I was wrong, it is a blessed thing to be shown the right way. So when we discuss together in love, what a blessing it is for each of us.

 

[phil112]

We all see darkly, scripture says. Truly saved Christians want to see as clearly as possible, they want the truth spoken and scripture never twisted. If we think someone is twisting scripture or not understanding, our very natures want to work toward truth. So we speak up. I have been shown by other posters that what I thought was truth was not. When I check scripture and find I was wrong, it is a blessed thing to be shown the right way. So when we discuss together in love, what a blessing it is for each of us.

Amen....Talking about the word among ourselves is profitable indeed. Reprove, rebuke, correction, are all part of the walk.

Come now, and let us reason together,

 

[just_monicat]

galatians 6:1 says we are to gently/meekly help to restore a brother who has fallen away, and i find that to be an excellent approach for anyone who has disagreement with one another, regardless of how you feel about the person or the issue. i try my best to remember that whenever i am in poised at the keys in feverishly typing.

the bible itself it a sword, but it doesn't have to be wielded against another, such as a weapon.

thanks to the poster for the reminder.

 

[RedTent]

galatians 6:1 says we are to gently/meekly help to restore a brother who has fallen away, and i find that to be an excellent approach for anyone who has disagreement with one another, regardless of how you feel about the person or the issue. i try my best to remember that whenever i am in poised at the keys in feverishly typing.

the bible itself it a sword, but it doesn't have to be wielded against another, such as a weapon.

thanks to the poster for the reminder.

I like this! And if we are reporting what we think God's word says, we may not do that without the Holy Spirit guiding us, or post without prayer involved. Sometimes we can look back on posts and wonder where that came from, for it is the HS speaking through us.

We really aren't posting to an individual, but posting to spread truth.

 

[parablepete]

We must defend The Faith! Said that can we ALL have an OPEN MIND? Can a close minded person learn anything?

The Bible says we are not to be tossed about with every wind of doctrine. But, all of us should stop and think. Some thoughts are so far out there you don't need to think to hard.

 

[Misty77]

I agree that kindness and gentleness should be the majority of our speech. But we have a very sarcastic Savior, too, who also tossed over tables in the temple. He was always loving to the lost, but He was frequently stern with the religious. We have to remember that it isn't about being right, but about speaking the truth and loving people. Sometimes loving someone means standing up for them. We have to be as willing to extend grace as we are willing to fight.

 

[Ariel82]

like I told a friend recently, you are totally poking holes in my "happy bubble"

I'm not an idiot, nor naive though some people may think so. However, i like to focus on the positive things whenever possible and pray about the things I can't change.

I can't just others motives, but I don't post a thread trying to hook people who oppose what I believe.

That is not how Jesus taught us how to fish. He used nets. the only time you see Him using a hook was to get the money out of the fish mouth to pray the priest their tithes. Even then He talked about how the Father did not require payment from the Son and only did it to appease the priests.

So what is my happy bubble some of you may wonder? (though most may not even care, but I'll tell you any way)

It is my concious choice to believe the best of others even when I know the more logical alternative is to think negatively and be discouraged. Its to never give up on anyone, including myself because God doesn't give up on us.

I'm sure some people post to fight and argue, but I would stand up and say that isn't why I post at all.

I post to throw a net out to those who can relate and who understand what I say when I remind them they are God's beloved children.

I post because I have faith there is still compassion in the world and that God has His remnant in the world. I post because I know words have power and God has asked us to speak words of Life. That our encouraging words of hope, love and encouragement can be life giving water to a person dying of thirst. That our lives are more than just words but action. that spending time listening is just as important if not more important than the time spent speaking. that prayer can move mountains.

You should never compete against others as if you have to earn your Father's love, but KNOW He loves you and He sent His Son to die for your sins and so you might have the Holy Spirit and cry out Abba, Father!

so am I sick and tired of competitive Christianity?

no not really, I'm saddened by the hurting hearts and bleeding egos that can't see past the lies of the world to the Light of Christ and His love.

I pray that one day they too will know what Paul meant by his works of righteousness were nothing but filthy rags and he would take the Righteousness found in Christ any day.

God is more than our pettiness.

Like a loving parent who will be thrilled with the little offerings of pinched clay, or good deeds we may have done, none of it will make us more or less His children.

We may fall, we may be battered and bruised but God promises to weep away ever tear and hear every prayer.

So whenever I feel sick and tired of this world, I fall to my knees in prayer and that is when I remember that we are but strangers here in this world. It is not our home. We are just asked to be His ambassadors pointing the way home and reminding others of God's love and grace.