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In talking about cultural Christians vs faith filled believing Christians, it was brought up that often people have a preconceived idea of what a Christian looks like, and therefore many solid, mature, believing Christians are considered to be unbelievers, or baby Christians, or backsliding Christians, etc... because they do not conform to the stereotype that many Christians themselves adhere to.
1. What are some characteristics (both outward and inward) that people sometimes associate wrongly with unbelievers? (ie. that person isn't saved... they drink beer on Sunday afternoon)
2. What are some ways that we can train ourselves to look past those things and zero in on actual fruits in someone's life to determine their spiritual maturity and faith?
3. What fruits should we look for? How do we determine what is "good fruit" or "bad fruit"?
4. Have you ever let someone's ill-perceived "bad fruit" affect your view of their spiritual maturity?
5. Do you have any Biblical examples of people who were wrongly judged as unbelievers due to habits or traditions that the religious culture rejected?
Examples of people you know who don't fit the Christian "stereotype" but have amazing relationships with the Lord are welcome.
Disclaimer: This isn't about judging other peoples state of salvation, but rather using discernment when dealing with others in the church and in the world.
Matthew 7
[SUP]15 [/SUP]“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. [SUP]16 [/SUP]You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? [SUP]17 [/SUP]Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. [SUP]18 [/SUP]A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. [SUP]19 [/SUP]Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [SUP]20 [/SUP]Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [SUP]22 [/SUP]Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ [SUP]23 [/SUP]And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
6. Matthew 7:18 says, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Obviously, Christians still sin, and unbelievers are still capable of doing good. How then can we determine their underlying fruit? How can we look deeper than surface level to see the spirit beneath? How can we train ourselves to disregard controversial stigmas that don't matter to God but seem to matter to those looking at Christians?
In talking about cultural Christians vs faith filled believing Christians, it was brought up that often people have a preconceived idea of what a Christian looks like, and therefore many solid, mature, believing Christians are considered to be unbelievers, or baby Christians, or backsliding Christians, etc... because they do not conform to the stereotype that many Christians themselves adhere to.
1. What are some characteristics (both outward and inward) that people sometimes associate wrongly with unbelievers? (ie. that person isn't saved... they drink beer on Sunday afternoon)
2. What are some ways that we can train ourselves to look past those things and zero in on actual fruits in someone's life to determine their spiritual maturity and faith?
3. What fruits should we look for? How do we determine what is "good fruit" or "bad fruit"?
4. Have you ever let someone's ill-perceived "bad fruit" affect your view of their spiritual maturity?
5. Do you have any Biblical examples of people who were wrongly judged as unbelievers due to habits or traditions that the religious culture rejected?
Examples of people you know who don't fit the Christian "stereotype" but have amazing relationships with the Lord are welcome.
Disclaimer: This isn't about judging other peoples state of salvation, but rather using discernment when dealing with others in the church and in the world.
Matthew 7
[SUP]15 [/SUP]“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. [SUP]16 [/SUP]You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? [SUP]17 [/SUP]Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. [SUP]18 [/SUP]A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. [SUP]19 [/SUP]Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [SUP]20 [/SUP]Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [SUP]22 [/SUP]Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ [SUP]23 [/SUP]And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
6. Matthew 7:18 says, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Obviously, Christians still sin, and unbelievers are still capable of doing good. How then can we determine their underlying fruit? How can we look deeper than surface level to see the spirit beneath? How can we train ourselves to disregard controversial stigmas that don't matter to God but seem to matter to those looking at Christians?