The "In Thing"

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)