Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/10/07 07:23:05 PM |
Age 16, MN |
I couldn't agree more. I recently began attending a public school after 9 years of homeschooling and the main thing I noticed was that when I talked to people about my faith, they were open to it but wanted to know "What's in it for me?" They wanted the salvation that still left them in control of their lives. It was very tempting for me to give them that sales pitch. By the grace of God, I was able to recall that we enter by the narrow gate and to pick up your cross you must trun your back on the world. You can't give them what they want to hear because what they need is the truth! They have tried the ordinary, the things of the world. They need the extraordinary, the things of heaven.
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- Re: Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/11/07 05:35:20 PM | | Age 31, IL |
I wanted to compliment the young man who wrote this article. The thing i love the most is the age of this yound man. 16 years old, and talking with this kind of wisdom deserves an applaud. I believe this young man is going to grow in the Lord, and do great things for Christ becuase his generation is the most critical generation that America has ever seen. We are in need of young teenagers to fear nothing but sin itself, and together they will shake the very gates of hell wide open, and prepare the way for the second coming of our messiah. Keep up the good work kid, and stay faithful and sold out to the Lords work. Eventually you will find some friends at your new school who are willing to listend and obey the life giving words that you speak. Their out there, and their hungry
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Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/10/07 04:01:25 PM |
Age 31, IL |
Good article Ray. I have a very good friend who is the top used car salesman at his dealership so i can relate to your article big time. My wife and i have recently pioneered a transitional home for men coming out of drug rehabilitation programs, and i have to say that the biggest mistake i have made so far has been not explaining the cost of following Christ. I am finding that 9 months down the road these men find a comfort zone, and refuse to go any further with the Lord. If these men continue to stop the Lord working in their lives they eventually find themselves replacing addictions with addictions that seem like the lesser evil, but in the Lords eyes an addiction is anything that keeps us from himself, and anything that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of our calling. I appreciate your article Ray because these men don't need a best friend giving them a new chance at life they need a friend who is not afraid to tell them the truth with not strings attached. God forgive us all for finding a comfortable place and staying there instead of moving on. I too have been a people pleaser most of my life, and i am learning that it can come in handy at times, however, the majority of the time it is a serious problem that has to be sacrificed at the cross before we can continue any further, especially in the days in which we live now. Keep up the good stuff!
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Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/09/07 10:04:23 AM |
Age 63, OH |
You are on the right track brother. We have a lot of scriptural evidence to doubt that any mega-church is preaching the gospel. In the story of Gideon 32000 showed up to fight the enemy and God said there were to many there for Him to work. By the time Gideon tested the group it was taken down to 300 committed believers that did not fear the enemy but also did not trust themselves but trusted only God. With that 300 God defeated 135000. Jesus said that the way was straight and narrow and FEW would find it. --- Lou
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Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/09/07 04:32:41 AM |
Age 60, MO |
I didn't think Mr. Bauman had a very thorough discussion of the topic. I will only say that neither God, nor His Son, nor His Holy Spirit are for sale.
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- Re: Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/09/07 07:43:56 PM | | Age 40, AB |
Over and over the words keep coming to me: JESUS CHRIST IS NOT FOR SALE!
Thanks for your post.
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Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/07/07 10:30:41 AM |
Age 18, WI |
Amen! As Augustine said: "If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself."
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Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/05/07 07:24:02 PM |
Age 40, AB |
I sincerely appreciate this article. I've been quite depressed of lately when I think about the commercialization of Christianity. Not only are churches marketing their programs, but it seems that even gifted Bible preachers/teachers always have a new book, CD, DVD, MP3, seminar or cruise that I just "have to have." Quite frankly, I don't understand where they get the time to keep on writing one new book after another. Instead of looking to marketing schemes to support their ministries, why aren't they looking to God to provide for all their needs? "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:19) It seems that they don't believe what they teach. What strange times we live in where the Church is no different than the world, even when scripture admonishes us to "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2) I shudder when I think of what Jesus would do with modern churches and ministries today, as I remember Jesus' zeal for His Father's House and how Jesus "found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." (John 2:14-16) And in Luke 19:45 we read, "And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves." I keep on waiting to hear a Bible teacher say, "I don't have anything to sell you. I want minister the Word of God to you. 'And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' " (Revelation 22:17)
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- Re: Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/09/07 07:59:02 AM | | Age 50, VA |
Bravo! Well said!
Good question here: "Quite frankly, I don't understand where they get the time to keep on writing one new book after another. "
I have to wonder just how much sheparding these megachurch "pastors" are actually doing. Real pastoring takes TIME - serious time commitments with real people, one on one. Yes, teaching is part of pastoring, but it's NOT the only function!
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- Re: Re: Christianity SaleZero Percent Down
| Posted On: 01/06/07 02:12:13 PM | | Age 54, LA |
If you pastors would realize that His word is true and quit competing with each other for each other's flock, God would move and meet the financial needs of the church--assuming the money is being used in accordance with the word.
If the Gospel was taught and preached truthfully and plainly, no three points then bow our heads, more would come to the altar--assuming the churchs have altars or altar calls anymore.
time is short folks, He's returning soon and I would rather He find me working in the harvest fields rather than on my next book!
great article!
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