Arrogance is bliss? (day 2)

Speak up! But don't be arrogant.

We Christians can't pretend were 'perfect little angels' and everyone else is beneath us. How do we expect to win people to Christ that way? "Not perfect, just forgiven."

"For it is by grace you have been saved--and this is not from yourselves it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8) if we act like the 'ourselves' in that verse, then its not helping anyone. God showed us grace, compassion, love, mercy and forgiveness; so shouldn't we do the same? "Help us to forgive just as you have forgiven us."--me

We have to learn to show them that we know we are not perfect, that without God we are just like them. Live like we're forgiven. If we don't show them that we know there is only one thing (which can grow like fruit [of the spirit] into more) that separates us from them; then that will only turn them from us.

"people [think others] not of [their] religion are bad....If that kind of thinking was encouraged...., it would just cause hatred"--an atheist on another site. If we don't show them we're different, then they will group us 'religion-wise' with the other religions of the world.

And if they do that, then that causes several things to go wrong.

We have to show them we think otherwise than the quote above . But we cant do it to where we're on their level, living the way the rest of the world does. Because that's an un-Christian lifestyle.

The only difference between us and the rest of the world, is that we know the truth, have accepted it, and are forgiven because of it; and they aren't. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

We need to speak up and show others we know the truth. But not with an arrogant know-it-all attitude. Because we don't.

If we are going to speak boastfully and arrogantly and like we know-it-all, then maybe it were better to remain quiet in the first place.

And we cant be judgmental about others either. Only God is the real judge.

If we speak up and show verbally that we know the truth, then we need to back it up with our actions.
one of the things that the world hates the most now-a-days is a hypocrite. Don't be arrogant, lest you be called a hypocrite. And if a Christian is a hypocrite, that only turns others away from the truth.
"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;" (James 1:22-23)

Don't just speak; show.

speak up! (day 1)

Now-a-days we Christians are all to chicken to have our voices heard.

But why? What do we have to fear?

"If these (His followers) are quiet the rocks will cry out" (luke 19:40)

If we're too scared to raise our voices how do we expect to get our 'job' done? If we don't make our voices heard, who will speak? The rocks?

That seems utterly ridiculous that we're too chicken to open our mouths, that in order for us to be heard; it would take the rocks speaking?

That almost like saying 'We will speak when pigs fly.'

Jesus commissioned us to "go make disciples of all the nations." to go tell the world about Him! That's our 'job'. Can we do that if we are as quiet as though we've zipped our lips shut and hidden away the key? That's like the light under the bowl. Are we going to hide that away too?

If someone asks you 'Are you a Christian?' do you answer, 'Yes, but...' or 'Sort of.' do you hide and shut your mouth and refuse to speak?

Or do you make your voice heard and truthfully respond 'Yes.' and smile?
Then we answer any questions that come our way, or think 'Now, its time to hide.' and seek 'shelter' under the same bowl that we hid our candle under?

There is no gray when it comes to this.

Speak up! The world can't hear us over everything else!