THE “IN THING”
Matt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
The worldview of Christianity is that it is controlling, a needless waste of time and a money consumer, restrictive, intolerant, and maybe even cliquish and this prejudice or bias is being heavily taught by most all media industries.
And those definitions couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Christianity is mocked by Hollywood, politicians, the educational system, and the list could go on.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Just how popular is Christianity? Christianity vs. the, trends of all time? Which is most popular? You might be surprised.
Can Christianity be trendy? Absolutely! In spite of world view, it’s faddish, popular, and contemporary. But if its not real to you, it will eventually cease to gratify and feed your curiosity, then you will find something else that will. Hell will be full of trendies.
True Christianity is not defined by how cool or how loud the guitars, or how loud that you can scream or how high that you can jump, or how warm and fuzzy the message makes you feel, but by how holy you walk after that you have screamed and jumped.
I do believe that some Christian concerts and youth only oriented churches are filled with “trendies”.
I may be wrong but, take a roll call six months from now and see how many are still there.
Real Christianity has always been very popular and will always be.
The Bible is still the number one selling book in the world.
When the Apostle Thomas entered India he came upon a group of Brahman priests in a lake throwing water in the air as an offering to their god. Thomas said to them "It appears to me that your god is not hearing you, or is not interested in your offering, because if he was a true god he would receive your offering, it would not come down again" Angry they said, "Well if your God is able to receive this same offering then we will believe your God is the true God. So Thomas entered the water and threw water in the air, the water remained in the air like a pillar and immediately the Brahmans believed and were baptized. These 18 families were the start of the Church in India.
The impact Christianity is so far reaching; I read where there were families in India that have a Christian heritage as for back as nearly 1,950 years.
Talk about parents doing their job. You can tell what their life focus was on.
How far back can we remember our individual Christian family heritage?
What an honor, to start one right now.
Christianity? How popular? How big is it?
LARGEST CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD.
MORE PEOPLE SERVING GOD THAN THERE ARE IN ALL GANGS COMBINED.
MORE PEOPLE SERVING GOD THAN THERE ARE IN ALL SORORITIES COMBINED.
MORE PEOPLE SERVING GOD THAN THERE ARE IN ALL MASON AND SHRINE ORG.
MORE HAVE JOINED THE CHURCH THAN ANY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY.
What makes it so popular is the founder.
FOUNDER: JESUS CHRIST
He made tremendous sacrifices to bring this together.
(Purpose in mind)
INITIATION: you must humble your heart, accept Him as Savior and Lord. 2 Cor 5:17
(Hazing-submersed in the Holy Spirit)
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES:
(Exclusive membership) Information packet- The Bible-Dues-(Tithes and offerings)
What makes Christianity so popular is that real;
(The definitions that I am about to give you of real Christians is not true in every case, but be patient, God is still working on some of us.)
Christians ARE PATIENT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Christians are slow to lose patience.
They don’t demonstrate irritations, or reflect anger, or have a quick temper. They are patient through character building processes in their own lives and that of family members and friends.
Christians ARE KIND
Christians look for a ways to be constructive.
They are actively creative. They are able to recognize needs. They discover successful methods of improv-ing or contributing to the lives of other people.
Christians DO NOT ENVY
They are not possessive.
They are content with what they have.
Christians DO NOT VAUNT THEMSELVES
They are not anxious to impress.
They do not seek to make an impression or create an image for personal gain.
They do not want the left hand to know what the right hand is doing.
Christians ARE NOT PUFFED UP
They do not cherish inflated ideas of their own importance.
They are not self-centered. They have the ability to change and to accept change. They are flexible. They do not allow life to revolve around themselves.
They hate pride and pray for humility.
Christians DO NOT BEHAVE THEMSELVES UNSEEMLY
(They have good manners)
They have respect for others, which reflects Christ-centered standards. They have discretion and they know what is proper and when.
Christians DO NOT SEEK THEIR OWN.
They do not pursue selfish advantage.
Their primary concern is not for personal sexual appetites or social status but concern for the needs of others.
Christians ARE NOT EASILY PROVOKED.
They are not Touchy)
Christians not hypersensitive or easily hurt. They do not take things too personally. They don’t walk around with their feelings exposed to allow someone to hurt them.
Christians DO NOT THINK EVIL OF OTHERS.
They do not keep account of evil.
They don’t review wrongs which have been forgiven. They don’t dwell on past evil. They destroy evidence of past mistakes when possible.
Christians DO NOT PRAISE SIN
They do not gloat over the wickedness of other people.
They do not compare themselves with others for self-justifi-cation. They don’t use others evil to excuse personal weakness. They don’t say "Everyone is doing It."
Christians REJOIE IN THE TRUTH.
They are excited when truth prevails.
They are in active fellowship with dedicated Christians. They are occupied with spiritual objectives.
Christians BEARETH ALL THINGS
There are no limits to their forbearance.
They have the ability to live with the inconsistencies of others, and have empathy for the problems of others!
Christians BELIEVE ALL THINGS
There is no end to their trust.
They believe in the person and the person’s worth without question. They have no reason to doubt the person’s integrity.
The real winning differences are in the;
RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AND BENEFITS:
1. Audience with the founder-no appointment necessary.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2. He will meet with you anywhere you want, any time you want.
Psa 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Matt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
3. He offers instruction, direction, every assistance you need to keep you in good standing.
Psa119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Isa 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." NIV
4. Medical insurance. Family coverage.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:14 14 Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. 15 Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven — healed inside and out. (The Message)
5. Protection provided.
Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
ps 27:3-5 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6. Provisional coverage.
Matt 6:25-33 25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
7. Prosperity opportunities.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
2 Cor 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
8. Eternal benefits offered by no other org.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 Thes 4:16-17 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Rev 21:3-4 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
There is no other trend or activity that can bring more joy, love, fulfillment, and peace into your life than that of serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
Becoming a new creation in Christ is not just a trend for the moment and then it’s gone, but something that keeps you constantly changing into the image of Jesus Christ.
What a tremendous experience. “Praise God”
