Is there such a thing as being a mediocre christian?

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M

Mooky

Guest
#1
#1
Hello,
One of my pet hates is anything mediocre.I was wondering if it is possible for a person to be a mediocre christian?What would that look like......?Lukewarm....?Sloppy living?.....Friendly with sin?...Unambitious spiritually?.....Worldly?.....and...how can I do a reality check to make sure that I am not slipping into mediocrity?
Thanks for your thoughts.
 
T_Laurich

T_Laurich

Senior Member
#2
Mar 24, 2013
3,356
122
63
30
#2
I have the hardest time with this problem... So what I do is not set a scripture limit... Such as I MUST READ THIS MANY VERSE'S OR PAGES A DAY! But I make sure I pick up the Bible at least once a day... Some day's I read 5 chapters some days I'll read 2 books...

But, what I found with doing this is that each day it seems like God talks to me directly with the words I am reading... They speak to my soul... If you search God out in love and wanting of knowledge you will find more then this world can offer... But if you go out and read because you must, and treat it as a chore or burden then this world can consume you faster then you know...

:eek:

I always pray to God and give thanks for even the littlest things that will bring a smile to my face, and I pray for forgiveness on any sin that I do everyday. Whether it be big or small I ask for guidance and strength so I will not fall into the same temptations... You might think this is radical, but I think it is the least I can do for the God who has saved my sole, and Given His son to die for me...

Above All I try to remind myself everyday I Am God's Child, then I normally feel Love and I thank Christ For what He has Done, Then I thank the spirit for guiding me through thick and thin...

This might seem like a lot and overwhelming but honestly... It is only seconds out of your day, and what is a second compared to eternity???

You are on the right path, the wanting to become great come before becoming great... And you're on your way to becoming great in God...


God Bless You :eek:
 
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K

kenisyes

Guest
#3
#3
Some people follow Jesus wherever He leads them. Other people take a lot of time off doing their own thing, and try to catch up when they have time. The second are the mediocre Christians.
 
S

starfield

Senior Member
#4
Jun 13, 2009
3,393
58
48
#4
Five of the churches in Revelation were on the path of mediocrity. To ensure that we aren't on that path, we should be in constant communion with God through daily reading of His word and praying which will enable us to grow, as well as focusing on Christ where our assurance of faith lies.
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 
PS

PS

Senior Member
#5
Jan 11, 2013
5,399
695
113
#5
The word I often hear is 'nominal Christians' which would mean a Christian in name only.
 
Bookends

Bookends

Senior Member
#6
Aug 28, 2012
4,225
99
48
#6
What does this passage convey?

1 Corinthians 3
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. [SUP]15[/SUP]If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

My answer is yes, their are mediocre Christians (and I may be one of them) but I also believe their are those who just believe because they think all Christ is is a life insurance policy, and never really possess Him.
 
Radius

Radius

Senior Member
#7
Feb 11, 2013
1,173
184
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#7
Just wait until "sinless" gets a hold of this thread...:(
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#8
Jul 2, 2011
21,589
6,821
113
#8
I read of only one of the seven churches as being neither hot nor cold, Laodicea All of the others had some redeeming qualities..
starfield said:
Five of the churches in Revelation were on the path of mediocrity. To ensure that we aren't on that path, we should be in constant communion with God through daily reading of His word and praying which will enable us to grow, as well as focusing on Christ where our assurance of faith lies.
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Click to expand...
 
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M

Mooky

Guest
#9
#9
Bookends....could you elaborate , please on what you think are mediocre christians....and what you think is meant gold , silver and precious stones as opposed to wood , hay and stubble?
Bookends said:
What does this passage convey?

1 Corinthians 3
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. [SUP]15[/SUP]If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

My answer is yes, their are mediocre Christians (and I may be one of them) but I also believe their are those who just believe because they think all Christ is is a life insurance policy, and never really possess Him.
Click to expand...
 
homwardbound

homwardbound

Senior Member
#10
Oct 24, 2012
18,125
880
113
#10
T_Laurich said:
I have the hardest time with this problem... So what I do is not set a scripture limit... Such as I MUST READ THIS MANY VERSE'S OR PAGES A DAY! But I make sure I pick up the Bible at least once a day... Some day's I read 5 chapters some days I'll read 2 books...

But, what I found with doing this is that each day it seems like God talks to me directly with the words I am reading... They speak to my soul... If you search God out in love and wanting of knowledge you will find more then this world can offer... But if you go out and read because you must, and treat it as a chore or burden then this world can consume you faster then you know...

:eek:

I always pray to God and give thanks for even the littlest things that will bring a smile to my face, and I pray for forgiveness on any sin that I do everyday. Whether it be big or small I ask for guidance and strength so I will not fall into the same temptations... You might think this is radical, but I think it is the least I can do for the God who has saved my sole, and Given His son to die for me...

Above All I try to remind myself everyday I Am God's Child, then I normally feel Love and I thank Christ For what He has Done, Then I thank the spirit for guiding me through thick and thin...

This might seem like a lot and overwhelming but honestly... It is only seconds out of your day, and what is a second compared to eternity???

You are on the right path, the wanting to become great come before becoming great... And you're on your way to becoming great in God...


God Bless You :eek:
Click to expand...
and youare working hard to enter his rest found in belief, continue to seek you will come to know all truth that sets you free
 
homwardbound

homwardbound

Senior Member
#11
Oct 24, 2012
18,125
880
113
#11
Mooky said:
Hello,
One of my pet hates is anything mediocre.I was wondering if it is possible for a person to be a mediocre christian?What would that look like......?Lukewarm....?Sloppy living?.....Friendly with sin?...Unambitious spiritually?.....Worldly?.....and...how can I do a reality check to make sure that I am not slipping into mediocrity?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Click to expand...
just continue to work hard to enter his rest and you will
 
homwardbound

homwardbound

Senior Member
#12
Oct 24, 2012
18,125
880
113
#12
Bookends said:
What does this passage convey?

1 Corinthians 3
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, [SUP]13 [/SUP]each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. [SUP]14 [/SUP]If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. [SUP]15[/SUP]If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

My answer is yes, their are mediocre Christians (and I may be one of them) but I also believe their are those who just believe because they think all Christ is is a life insurance policy, and never really possess Him.
Click to expand...
yes and when the final fire where we each go through is the final one as to whether we took advantage of this amazing salvation
Hebrews 2:3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Galatians 2:18But if I work toward being made right with God by keeping the Law, then I make myself a sinner.
The above is what a lot of people are trapped in today and can't escape, until they come to the end of the energy of their own flesh
 
homwardbound

homwardbound

Senior Member
#13
Oct 24, 2012
18,125
880
113
#13
Radius said:
Just wait until "sinless" gets a hold of this thread...:(
Click to expand...
He claims he is trusting God to keephim from sin and has admitted that he can sin again and is determined to not sin, Radius is this so bad, I know the way he has gone about ths to comunicate this has de-railed you and me and others at times.
But I tell you you do want to quit and you know when you do God just love you regardless by the cross, yet are anyone of us to take this for granted?
No I think we all need todiscern between flesh and Spirit yes? And the more one does walk in the Spirit of God, being in the Spirit one willnot even ponder sin will they? So being in the Spirit pulls out the double edge sword kills the flesh here and now by being in the Spirit
[SUP]16 [/SUP]I say this to you: Let the Holy Spirit lead you in each step. Then you will not please your sinful old selves. [SUP]17 [/SUP]The things our old selves want to do are against what the Holy Spirit wants. The Holy Spirit does not agree with what our sinful old selves want. These two are against each other. So you cannot do what you want to do. [SUP]18 [/SUP]If you let the Holy Spirit lead you, the Law no longer has power over you.
And therefore you won't sin, this is done by sowing to the Spirit daily brother, and this is what I think sinless is trying to convey to us.
So let us ask him? copy and paste to him and ask him. Are you really sure he is not ere for our benefit? And let us say he is not. Is there anything we can learn form what he has said? You know leys sift allthrpugh our hearts and trust God to discern error from truth and move on towards the prize that God has already given us
Just some food for thought Brother
 
P

Porthos

Banned
#14
Apr 15, 2013
236
1
0
#14
Mooky said:
Hello,
One of my pet hates is anything mediocre.I was wondering if it is possible for a person to be a mediocre christian?What would that look like......?Lukewarm....?Sloppy living?.....Friendly with sin?...Unambitious spiritually?.....Worldly?.....and...how can I do a reality check to make sure that I am not slipping into mediocrity?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Click to expand...
I think anyone who calls another person mediocre for trying, even if they have an excruciatingly hard time being perserverant, is both a mediocre human being and unable to understand another person.

If someone was having difficulty in doing something, it's usually because their motives are a bit wayward and they aren't actually sure of themselves. Self-loathing, low self-image, that kind of thing It pays more to understand than criticize. Sometimes people need ot be shown God's love instead of just criticized and being told they're doing it wrong.
 
M

Mooky

Guest
#15
#15
Porthos said:
I think anyone who calls another person mediocre for trying, even if they have an excruciatingly hard time being perserverant, is both a mediocre human being and unable to understand another person.

If someone was having difficulty in doing something, it's usually because their motives are a bit wayward and they aren't actually sure of themselves. Self-loathing, low self-image, that kind of thing It pays more to understand than criticize. Sometimes people need ot be shown God's love instead of just criticized and being told they're doing it wrong.
Click to expand...
Wait just a minute there, sonny boy!No one is accusing anyone of being mediocre....we are having what people in the civilised world call "a discussion"....if you find my premise difficult to swallow - my premise being that there is such a thing as mediocrity in the christian walk - then it's obviously not me who has the problem.I am merely here for open , honest discussion.
 
RedTent

RedTent

Banned
#16
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#16
I think a mediocre christian runs their life without God in it. God taught the Hebews by giving them ways to relate everything they did to God. When Christ came He found people who were doing these things without the relating, and Paul found Jews telling people they had to do the doing as a requisite to entering the Kingdom. Both are wrong, but I think it is making medioce christians to eliminate the relating.

If we eat, we are feeding the temple of God and too many french fries are just to be out. God created the earth that produces the food, we are to be thankful.

If we pray, we are to follow instructions about how we do that for part of our prayer. I don't think starting a day without acknowleging God is possible except for a mediocre christian.

When we wash our hands, it is not only cleansing our bodies, but we are to be aware that washing has more significance to God than just that.

If we mow the lawn, we know that it is God who created an earth where growth is possible. If we go to work, we are to know that we take the Holy Spirit we were given with us. So we accent the positive, we never do anything to harm others, etc.

I don't think anyone but a mediocre christian can put some ideas in the TV shows and novels we have in thier minds to think about and come out anything but mediocre.

To lots of people these things will seem extreme. I think that is an indication that yes, when God tells of luke warm christians, we fit that bill. God created us, and operates our world, we don't. We are to include that knowledge in everything we do.
 
P

Porthos

Banned
#17
Apr 15, 2013
236
1
0
#17
Mooky said:
Wait just a minute there, sonny boy!No one is accusing anyone of being mediocre....we are having what people in the civilised world call "a discussion"....if you find my premise difficult to swallow - my premise being that there is such a thing as mediocrity in the christian walk - then it's obviously not me who has the problem.I am merely here for open , honest discussion.
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Clearly we disagree. I don't hate mediocrity, and I try not to view people as that. I'm perfectly happy knowing the 'sinners' and associating with them. Who can say they are a 'good' christian? Or even a 'good' person?

Nobody's meant to boast about being less mediocre than someone else.
 
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Porthos

Banned
#18
Apr 15, 2013
236
1
0
#18
The fact that you hate anything that's 'mediocre' shows me instantly that you and I won't agree.
 
S

sinless

Banned
#19
Apr 4, 2013
611
2
0
#19
Mooky said:
Hello,
One of my pet hates is anything mediocre.I was wondering if it is possible for a person to be a mediocre christian?What would that look like......?Lukewarm....?Sloppy living?.....Friendly with sin?...Unambitious spiritually?.....Worldly?.....and...how can I do a reality check to make sure that I am not slipping into mediocrity?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Click to expand...
How would a mediocre, likewarm, sloppy, sin friendly Christian look like? It looks like the western, American church
 
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