True” Christians Are A Mess

[tericared]

 

As a Christian, I can vouch for the group as a whole (myself included), that in general, Christians are a mess! I’ve never witnessed so many dysfunctional, obsessed, fantasy driven people in my life. There is all manner of "psychosis" going on: guilt about sin, insecurity with God, fear of hell, obsession for details, over-analysis of everything, hypocrisy, paranoia that Satan has deceived them, messiah/prophet complexes, obsession about rituals and ways of doing things, dread of being tainted by sin, shame of failing spiritually, secret knowledge that only they have been anointed with, fear of losing their salvation, self-righteousness, self-justification and denial, Christians trying to control and manipulate other Christians by making them feel bad, sinful, guilty…the list goes on and on.

And the reason I say that "true" Christians are a mess is because there is no such thing as a "TRUE" Christian or rather, a Christian who is better than another Christian. Anyone who judges another person, accusing them of not being a "true" Christian, is himself engaging in behavior that is not behavior a "true" Christian should be engaging in: Judging someone else.

A person who accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior IS a "true" Christian. But we all want to rank ourselves and others, and in doing so, we attempt to disqualify other Christians and banish those who are not up to our standard of the faith... those who are NOT "true" Christians.

Yet Jesus tells us not to rank and judge each other: "Do not judge..."- Matthew 7:1, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone..."- John 8:7; and Paul says, "Who are you to judge the servant of another?"-Romans 14:4

Well it is understandable. Our fear and respect for God makes us nervous about serving Him the wrong way. We want to worship God exactly right, but no one can agree on what the right way to serve God is. Every denomination is different from the others on rituals, services, methods, doctrines, beliefs, translations, interpretations, etc. And we all sincerely hope to serve God exactly right. But we're not sure. So we get neurotic, nervous and obsessed. And because we have become obsessed, we want everyone else to be as nervous and obsessed as we are. And when we meet more casual Christians or those who believe differently than us, we reason that they aren't taking things as seriously as we are. Or when we meet Christians who don't sacrifice as much as we do, or are not as moral as we are, we conclude they must not be "true" Christians. Unfortunately our self-righteousness has placed us a few steps back behind them. But in our zeal to get others to be more like us, we speak and act in judgmental, condemning ways, that are a tad bit...well...UNChristian.

And how many Christians do you know that find something wrong with other Christians? Well…that would be ALL of us! We all think others are not “true” Christians because they do this or don’t do that or believe this or don’t believe that…basically they don’t follow God like we follow God…and that should be the first tip off that we are ALL wrong.

We as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Christians are accused of NOT being "true" Christians because of our perceived "lifestyle", saying we can't be GLBT and Christian, or that our lives negate the saving grace of Jesus Christ. But the last time I checked, salvation was open to all who believed: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3: 16.

No one is perfect. No, not one. And if you think that the doctrine you believe in; or whether you speak in tongues; or use only the King James Bible; or if you are baptized in the Holy Spirit; or pray to the Saints; or affirm gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sex relationships...makes a difference to your salvation...then you are incorrectly believing that your deeds and doctrine save you. If this is the case then...YOU DON'T NEED JESUS.

What is the point of Jesus dying on the cross for you?

"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" - Galatians 2:21

http://epistle.us/articles/christianmess.html

I should have added at the top that in recent days I have seen such hatred for Islam and other people who don't fit into a certain class of believers I just had to post something..

[Momma_Halo]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 12:51 AM

[LYNDELOU]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 1:09 AM

Although I NEVER have and NEVER will put my opinion out about ANY form of religion.......

I think you did a wonderful job wording your post!

Thanks Sweetie!

[Lb128f]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 2:42 AM

Very good! Thank you for sharing this!

[tericared]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 6:15 AM

I should have added at the top that in recent days I have seen such hatred for Islam and other people who don't fit into a certain class of believers I just had to post something..

(Original Poster)

[Raintree]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 9:50 AM

Good post!

[momof3inTN]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 10:27 AM

Excellent post!

[KelleyP77]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 10:36 AM

I agree with this post so much! Voted up.

[bakebiscotti]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 11:24 AM

Great post. 

[tericared]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 4:42 PM

thanks....

(Original Poster)

[WeagleWeagle]

Aug. 28, 2009 at 5:17 PM

This is right on. but do you think she is judgeing others for judging? lol