Is 21st Century Christianity Just Narcissism?

[biblestudent78]

Is it really just about me, my needs, my beliefs, my theology, my salvation, my emotions, my wealth, my health and my reward?

 

[Dino246]

No.

Next question?

 

[passion84god]

Is it really just about me, my needs, my beliefs, my theology, my salvation, my emotions, my wealth, my health and my reward?

In many cases, it seems that it is. We can only lead by example.

 

[tablet123]

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

21st century Christianity is not just narcissism.

The hypocrites do not belong to Christianity.

 

[biblestudent78]

While many of us get juiced up to do theological battles..."In the corner we have Dogma A....... What if we have "accidently" confused mere belief with real faith. Real faith required something inconvenient, following Jesus commands. He wants change and he is pretty clear about what His people i.e. those following Jesus not just playing comforting theological games.
Jesus commandments take at least four forms. "If you love me you will keep my commandments." We demand salvation without keeping commandments because a 16th century fat, foul mouthed Catholic told us Christianity was just a mental game that if you tried to live it, you were committing the sin of "works." So we still get to choose. Follow Jesus or your comfortable carefree dogmas or be born again.

Jesus
Commands about the character of the new person “be this kind of new person”
Commands that define the heart of the new person
Commands for the new person to avoid
Commands related to our common mission

Character of the New Person
Be light – Let your light shine Matt 5:16
Be salt Matt 5:17
Be a servant Matt 23:11
Be a reconciler Matt 5:23-24, 18:15-17
Be on guard against greed and sin Luke 12:15, Matt 26:41
Take sin very seriously (Matthew 5:29–30)
Be perfect (in love) Matt 5:48
Be forgiving Matt 18:21-22
Be repentant Matt 4:17
Be born again John 3:5
Be the person who will go the second mile Matt 5:41
Be the person who can turn the other cheek Matt 5:39
Be the person who always gives to those who ask Matt 5:42
Be the person who will always loan their stuff Matt 5:42
Be the person who seeks Gods Kingdom first Matt 6:33
Be the person who honors their marriage Mark 10:6-9
Be the person who takes communion Matt 26:26-27
Be poor in spirit Matt 5:3
Be meek Matt 5:5
Be the person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness Matt 5:6
Be merciful Matt 5:7
Be pure of heart Matt 5:8
Be peacemakers 5:9
Be the person who comes to Jesus for rest Matt 11:28

Heart of the New Person
Love and pray for your enemies Matt 5:44-46
The Golden Rule Matt 7:12
Love God Matt 22:37-38
Love your neighbor as yourself Matt 22:39
Love one another as I have loved you John 13:34, John 15:12, John 15:17
Love and invite the poor into your life Luke 14:12-1
Show your love by:
Feeding the hungry and quenching the thirsty Matt 25:35
Inviting in the stranger Matt 25:35
Clothing the naked Matt 25:36
Visiting the sick Matt 25:36
Visiting those in prison Matt 25:36

Things the New Person should avoid
Make no oaths – don’t swear Matt 5:34, 37
Don’t judge others Matt 7:1
Don’t lust Matt 5:27-30
Don’t fear those that can kill the body Matt 10:28
Don’t store up treasures on earth Matt 6:19

The Mission of the New Person
Find and enter the narrow gate Matt 7:13-14
Ask God for more harvest workers Matt 9:37-38
Preach the Gospel Matt 28:19-20
Make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey my commandments Matt 28:19-20
Let your light shine before all people (Matthew 5:16)
Be reconciled to one another (Matthew 5:23–24)
Take sin very seriously (Matthew 5:29–30)

 

[timf]

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

 

[God-fearing]

While many of us get juiced up to do theological battles..."In the corner we have Dogma A....... What if we have "accidently" confused mere belief with real faith. Real faith required something inconvenient, following Jesus commands. He wants change and he is pretty clear about what His people i.e. those following Jesus not just playing comforting theological games.
Jesus commandments take at least four forms. "If you love me you will keep my commandments." We demand salvation without keeping commandments because a 16th century fat, foul mouthed Catholic told us Christianity was just a mental game that if you tried to live it, you were committing the sin of "works." So we still get to choose. Follow Jesus or your comfortable carefree dogmas or be born again.

Jesus
Commands about the character of the new person “be this kind of new person”
Commands that define the heart of the new person
Commands for the new person to avoid
Commands related to our common mission

Character of the New Person
Be light – Let your light shine Matt 5:16
Be salt Matt 5:17
Be a servant Matt 23:11
Be a reconciler Matt 5:23-24, 18:15-17
Be on guard against greed and sin Luke 12:15, Matt 26:41
Take sin very seriously (Matthew 5:29–30)
Be perfect (in love) Matt 5:48
Be forgiving Matt 18:21-22
Be repentant Matt 4:17
Be born again John 3:5
Be the person who will go the second mile Matt 5:41
Be the person who can turn the other cheek Matt 5:39
Be the person who always gives to those who ask Matt 5:42
Be the person who will always loan their stuff Matt 5:42
Be the person who seeks Gods Kingdom first Matt 6:33
Be the person who honors their marriage Mark 10:6-9
Be the person who takes communion Matt 26:26-27
Be poor in spirit Matt 5:3
Be meek Matt 5:5
Be the person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness Matt 5:6
Be merciful Matt 5:7
Be pure of heart Matt 5:8
Be peacemakers 5:9
Be the person who comes to Jesus for rest Matt 11:28

Heart of the New Person
Love and pray for your enemies Matt 5:44-46
The Golden Rule Matt 7:12
Love God Matt 22:37-38
Love your neighbor as yourself Matt 22:39
Love one another as I have loved you John 13:34, John 15:12, John 15:17
Love and invite the poor into your life Luke 14:12-1
Show your love by:
Feeding the hungry and quenching the thirsty Matt 25:35
Inviting in the stranger Matt 25:35
Clothing the naked Matt 25:36
Visiting the sick Matt 25:36
Visiting those in prison Matt 25:36

Things the New Person should avoid
Make no oaths – don’t swear Matt 5:34, 37
Don’t judge others Matt 7:1
Don’t lust Matt 5:27-30
Don’t fear those that can kill the body Matt 10:28
Don’t store up treasures on earth Matt 6:19

The Mission of the New Person
Find and enter the narrow gate Matt 7:13-14
Ask God for more harvest workers Matt 9:37-38
Preach the Gospel Matt 28:19-20
Make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey my commandments Matt 28:19-20
Let your light shine before all people (Matthew 5:16)
Be reconciled to one another (Matthew 5:23–24)
Take sin very seriously (Matthew 5:29–30)

I believe many people cannot distinguish between work and duty.
Jesus preached of a kingdom to come, The kingdom of God in which Jesus is king. Paul says we are the ambassador of Christ.
These are the duties of the ambassadors.

 

[DavidLamb]

Is it really just about me, my needs, my beliefs, my theology, my salvation, my emotions, my wealth, my health and my reward?

No it isn't (or it shouldn't be). Christians are saved for good works, as Paul explained to the Ephesians:

(Eph 2:10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Jesus "went around doing good," and His followers should do the same.

Jesus said:

(Mat 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

[Watchman22]

Is it really just about me, my needs, my beliefs, my theology, my salvation, my emotions, my wealth, my health and my reward?

If it is, the miracle hasn't happened yet.

It's about others, others needs, others understandings, other's theology, others salvation, others suffering, helping others with their health and wealth burdens.

Thats what the Grace deposit and the mind of Christ turn us into, givers!

So if we don't have that unquenchable desire to give, we can't be a Christian.

 

[Watchman22]

Is it really just about me, my needs, my beliefs, my theology, my salvation, my emotions, my wealth, my health and my reward?

The Father gave His Son, His Son gave His life. The uncontainable gift is our desire to give, starting with our life and will.

 

[AbramSailor]

Is it really just about me, my needs, my beliefs, my theology, my salvation, my emotions, my wealth, my health and my reward?

No. That is just applying an incorrect definition. Just because some people call a frog a duck and describe it as a duck and treat it as a duck does not change the fact that a frog is a frog and not a duck.