Is it right?

Question

People i know say that go to church weekly and believe in God and all that. But they smoke and drink everyday and curse. I just don't think it makes since. They say they are christians and all that. What is your opinion? This guy i work with told the managers he couldn't work on sundays because he has church. And he acts the way he does. He tells me he goes to church but he sure needs to act better.

Answer 1

Those people would be hypocrites. Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the WILL of my Father in Heaven." He also says, "You will know them by their fruits." If they claim to be Christian but outwardly are indistinguishable from an atheist in their behavior, then they are not truly Christian. It's one thing to claim it, but another thing entirely to act it. Those who have been saved will proclaim it publicly by being baptized (by immersion only). When that happens, the person has been cleansed of all previous sin, but is now expected to refrain from ALL old sins (and new ones!). If a person is baptized but goes immediately back to smoking and drinking, they will need to recommit and be re-baptized.
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.

Answer 2

They guy at work is using church as an excuse to get out of working sundays. You say he drinks, smokes and swears, other than that, is the guy a jerk? Is he mean, does he gossip, does he lie? Those are the important things, not drinking and smoking, we are all human beings, and have faults, but how we treat our fellow man (or woman) is what we should be measured by. Be kind, tell the truth, be charitable, those things are what really matters.

Answer 3

If the church he attends allows him to be a member in good standing and they condone such behaviour, what does that say about the church itself? The Bible says we are to put the wrongdoer who practices badness, out of the congregation, and we are not even to socialize with such a person, until they show true repentance and stop practicing what is sinful in the eyes of God. Then, shall the person ("lost sheep") be welcomed back into the "fold."
1 Cor 5:11-12--"But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?"

Christendom tolerates wrongdoing to the extreme. As long as her members continue to support her financially, they are considered in good standing, no matter what they do. Those who are practicing drunkeness, the use of tobacco and other drugs, and immorality are certainly not showing respect for their fellow believers nor for the God they claim to worship. God will not tolerate those who willfully show total disregard for his laws and the churches who claim to represent him, should'nt either.

Answer 4

Going to church makes no one a christian, like going to McD. makes no one a hamburger :o) - Someone must have had an encounter with the living Christ, repent and be born again - than his oder her nature will change. He/She will not be perfect but he/she will strife for a godly live. What you wrote about this man, in biblical termis it means, he's only a christian by name, it will by fully right if you question his christianity.

Answer 5

Lot of people like this. Its because they have the mindset they can do anything as long as they go to church and repent. I knew a family like this. Every saturday night theyd go out to 4am at a dance club that had a pole so the women can amateur dance(not a strip club). How Christian is this? But theyd still make it to church on Sunday morning. Theyre also pro choice. They just make up the rules that suite their lives.

Answer 6

A person may have enlisted in the army so now (s)he is a soldier. May not look nor act like a soldier though. Usually they soon find out how to "shape up".

Unfortunately, many may "become" a Christian, but few bother finding out how to BE a Christian.

The Scriptures say we need to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour AND follow Him as Lord. Sadly many of us forget that second part!!

Answer 7

It does seem pretty controversial. Many people to try to "practice what they preach" or something along those lines. Many people do believe in God and do still try to live their life as well. Unfortunately, many people do look at life as they are sinful, and always will be sinful, so why stop the behavior. God forgives all the sins of those who believe in him. Many people don't truly fear God anymore. That's where the good acts come from. Fearing God and trying to please him. I personally try to do good acts as much as I good, and I do truly repent for the sins I do make. I am human, but I try very hard to please my God.

Answer 8

It takes a lot more than saying you're a christian...going to church is nothing really! It doesn't make you a christian....your actions are what show that you are and it's obviously you already know that!

Answer 9

The church is like a garden. It has wheat and also has weeds. We understand that Satan is the current ruler of the world and so he is busy with people..trying to take the Glory that is God's. Satan also has followers in the form of fallen spirit creatures called demons and in the form of some human followers. You can know a true Christian by the fruit he bears. He has to bear the fruits of the Spirit --"On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires. If we are living by spirit, let us go on walking orderly also by spirit. Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another."---Galatians 5:22-26. Yes, A true Christiano cultivates the mentioned fruitage of the spirit. Understood that we are all imperfect. As a matter of fact we all deserve to die because the wages of sin is death....we have all sinned. But God has made available to us, His undeserved kindness..that we should tap on the value of the ransome sacrifice of his son to attain forgiveness and salvation. Forgiveness has element of a strong desire not to repeat past sins, to be genuine. However, those that make no effort to get up after having fallen to sin, persistently yield the fruits of the flesh which are ----" fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom." --Galatians5:19-2.
Draw close to God and he will draw close to you..James 4:8

Answer 10

I know exactly what you mean and these people who profess to be Christians and do that act the part are fooling themselves. Remember what Jesus says in Matthew 7 that many will come and say haven't we done this and that and Jesus will say I know you not... We are called to be different and apart from the world and sinful and harmful practices and such we should represent our father in heaven. I would invite you to check out the link below and also to visit my church, any Seventh Day Adventist church near you.