How do I handle Christians who oppose the teachings of Scripture?

Question

I lead a Bible study class on a weekly basis. I don't only teach the attractive parts of Scripture like Psalms, Gospel of John, and Romans, but challenging parts of the Bible like the Letter of Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, etc. Recently, I am being opposed by other Christians at church because I teach them that true faith will produce good fruit. That those who continue to wallow in sin are not true believers and will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In fact, I am becoming more unpopular with people because I speak the truth about the demands of the gospel. Thus, my question is: what am I supposed to do? I know that we are saved by God's grace through faith alone. However, Scripture is clear that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). Anyone here agree with me on this?

Answer 1

Unfortunately you seem to be dealing with those "Sunday Christians" who go just for appearance sake or to keep up with what their friends there are doing. They want a "feel good" sermon & something to make them happy. A nice pat on the back that since you came to church today everything is going to be fine & dandy. These are not true Christians you are dealing with. I'm guessing you've realized that by now. God requires a lot of us, more than just going to church on Sunday morning. The problem is most people aren't willing to give up things of the flesh to experience the abudance of God. I think you are handling them just fine. Just keep teaching God's word. Church isn't a social club or just another weekly appointment. It's a place to learn, to grow & to fellowship with other BELIEVERS. They are uncomfortable because the do NOT believe & do NOT want to change. You will be in my prayers.

Answer 2

Yes I agree with you faith without works is dead,but all you can do is the the Lord to open up their eyes and to give them spiritual wisdom and insight into his word,and I feel that you were wrong by telling them if they continue in sin they wil;l not inherit the kingdom of God and I will tell you why first of all everyone is on Gods surgery table and were they came from they didnot get ther overnight and alot of times God will will take them thru a process to remove things and bring them to the point were they do not want to sin any more,you are right but about the sin but for someone who just came off the streets and you are telling them they have to drop that right away or they wont go to heaven do you know how they would take that? as they cant do it so why bother and you just lost a soul,ask God to give you the wisdom on how to minister his word to each and every person and as far as them opposing you dont worry about it ask god to give you words your adversarys cannot contradict,keep on teaching sometimes people will oppose because the holy spirit is convicting them,let them work out their own salvation with God ,people that minister the word are always unpopular you are in the right path way its when everything is going rosey is when you worry.Let them each ask Jesus into their heart and take them to the beginning to give foundation to the word and then teach them how to apply it I will be Praying for you Be Blessed

Answer 3

wow thats a tough scenario..it is really hard to respond properly without sitting through one of your lessons/studies. We do have to be cautious of not misinterpereting scriptures, but on the other hand people often do not like hearing the truth...I subscribe to the we all sin, even when we are saved, the difference is, we are supposed to do our best to rise above everyday temptations and we are supposed to want be Christ like...Faith without works is dead, but works alone will not save you (as I am sure you know)..Some people look at works in different lights, I was not called to be an overseas missionary...but I do have a calling on my life to help women who have been broken down, and hurt...am I ready to minister to them..no, not by any means, God is still healing me..So I do other works, like volunteering my time at the church when I can, or by just being kind to others..I would really suggest speaking with your pastor, and seeking his/her opinion...I don't want to sound bad but if multiple people are saying the same thing it maybe you that is incorrect..If what you are teaching is not in line with God's word..If it is, then well they are just like I said before, not open to the truth..I would speak with my pastor, and tell him what you are teaching and what the people are saying..It is hard to disagree or agree with you...I think it is just great that you are leading a study, and my opinion would be that if they are not into what you are teaching then they should stop attending and go to a different study, because they can be hindering others from learning, with their negativity..

Answer 4

Of course that's true. Maybe you could download this sermon in audio or video and have the class listen to it since it talks about living a changed life as evidence of salvation.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=52906154239

Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking & Biblical the Preacher Was Never Invited Back

This is a Shockingly Powerful & Biblical message
preached to about 5,000 youth in a day when youth are
appealed to through shallow and worldly means.

At one point in this sermon the 5,000 Youth are
clapping and yelling BUT THEN the preacher makes a
comment that CHANGES THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE TO WHERE YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP... As you can imagine, the preacher was never invited back.

We believe the whole sermon will be a blessing to
many souls.

Answer 5

You do well as you teach the truth as guided by the Holy Spirit. Your duty is to give them the truth and what they do with what they receive is between them and God. It is the duty of the Holy Spirit to convict them of their righteousness in Christ and the power of the abundance of grace to reign in life Romans 5:17). The next best thing is to pray for them especially in the Spirit so that they may be opened to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives (Romans 8:26-28). Those who walk in the Spirit will always be opposed by the religious and head-hearted Christians. Just do not be offended by them and love them as the Lord has loved you. Be steadfast and very courageous and you will have good success. Know also that God is not impressed by dead works of the flesh (Romans 8:8) but by our work in the Spirit that gives life (John 6:63). Our works of faith are always empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

it truly is not precisely suited to assert that Lutherans stick to Martin Luther's coaching. Luther became excommunicated for speaking out against practices of the Catholic Church which, in his opinion, had led the Catholic Church off aim from the unique teachings of Christ. and that they maximum probably make heavy use of scripture - lots greater effective than I did as a Catholic. i used to be a Catholic. I joined a Lutheran community (ha-ha, that makes me a Catheran!) some years in the past and that i've got been given a Bible from them (that became extreme-high quality) whilst i became shown. So the middle teachings are fairly lots the comparable yet there ARE some significant alterations. Lutherans do no longer understand the Pope, enable clergy to marry, and don't have faith in transubstantiation. in addition they don't have particular sacraments that that Catholic Church has. and clearly they do no longer think of of Luther as something yet a reformer. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it is not as though they worship him, the two. he's their founder. And Lutheranism sees itself as Catholicism the way it became meant to be in the 1st place. however the worship service (what Catholics call the Mass) is particularly very resembling the Mass I endure in techniques as a schoolgirl. So extreme-high quality to work out a valid question right here. thank you.

Answer 7

Been there...done that.

The question I asked myself then...and now is: WHO am I going to please myself, man, or God?

I chose God.

You will have those who want to shoot the messenger instead of taking their doubts and complaints to the author. And bless them, you will have those that will complain if you ONLY covered the sweet, easy "feel good" parts of the Bible.

But your responsibility to God, yourself, and to them, as leader in the Bible study, is to give them God's truth, all of God's truth, and nothing but God's truth found in The Holy Bible. It is not your responsibility to give them the "Yea without the nay", the sweet without the sour, the good without the bad."

They do not have to like it. Sheesh, some of it is hard to accept, to do, to comprehend, much less to live by for me, for everyone...that does not diminish the need for honesty.

Another positive thing to consider, you can know and feel good about, is if they are challenging you and/or complaining, then they ARE listening. I think I would be more worried if they sat through the entire Bible study and smiled at me, or kept their nose buried in the Bible, but had not one question, not one point for clarification, not one comment, not one word of challenge.

I always made myself feel better after a "whining or stiff-necked confrontational" Bible study by running down to the nursery and offering to watch the little kids during adult church services. Nothing like the openness, the fun, and the easy faith of children to soothe your soul and bring back your sense of humor and perspective.

I also had two older ladies, who would have probably complained and whined if Jesus had been leading the Bible study. So I said, "I want to try something different, since Gloria and Francis have given me so many helpful pointers about what and where I need to improve or change, I want to give them the next two Bible studies to lead in our study of Leviticus."

After they got their mouths shut, and realized they had to study hard to deal with teaching "the law" of Almighty God in The Old Testament, which they did NOT care for, and the Bible study group kept them on their toes and challenged them, I had few unfair complaints or whining from those two again.

God bless you!

Answer 8

You need to find a church that does not differ in your views - i had completely the opposite problem from you. I don't believe in the virgin birth I believe that the most important message to come from Jesus was love your fellow man and that is the only thing you need to take out of the bible the rest is secondary and not as important. Please don't be insulted by this or try to change my views i am as set in mine as you are in yours. If I tried to change your view to mine thin how you would react. That is how it will be for the people you are doing bible study with. You could hang around and try to change their mind causing conflict and making yourself very unhappy although feeling spiritually righteous. Or you could go and find a community of like minded thinkers who would support you and you would feel not only spiritually righteous but also a part of a loving community.
EDIT
I'm no longer Christian due to people who have constantly told me I am not a Christian I figured i wasn't one so went to find somethng that included me and the views that I had come to over years of communing and praying and being prayed for with my God. Trust me if anyone was going to be a Christian like they want it would have been me but my personality and internal clock just are not made for it and believe me I tried really really hard.

Answer 9

You are doing great buddy! Your readers understands you well and cheering you up. I laud your effort too.
An additional comment to ease your confusion and boast your confidence:
I can see, you understand the "Holy Book" well with the wisdom from our God with the aid of "The Holy Spirit" of God. Only few people attain this kind of level...thus you`ve heard:...
- "everybody have heard the parable or words of God, but only few understand"
- "their lips are worshipping me, but their hearts are far away"
- "everybody can read the passages from "The Bible", but are blind to the "in between the lines" real meaning of these magical words of God...whose only purpose is for the "redemption" of mankind.
- and...have you read this phrases?... "I have chosen you even before you are born"

I just hope, your intention in writing this confusing conditions in the church:
- won`t boast your prideful ego to stump other unlucky believers, create confusion in the church and their leaders, and telling them bluntly that you will be "saved" while the rest are "not"... because it will be the beginning of your downful.......Being judgemental !!!
- will tone down your pride of knowing that you are right (Be humble my friend!), and...softly, tenderly, slowly, friendly, humorously aggressive & progressively convincing them of "the truth of the matter" with dignity & noble way of saying it, coupled with your life witnessing... "Faith + fruitful action" (living witness to God`s covenant with The Holy Spirit`s guidance)...leads us back to God`s bossom.
- I hope you have the sincerest intention of saving 1 soul at a time until you can gather as many as you can...because you are in the category of "being fruitful" which deserves God`s attention & rewards later on.....
- I hope you have the intention of telling your friends of "the truth" "the best way to lead them back to the Father"..... rather than competes & debates with the religious leaders, the church, the congregations about "KNOWLEDGE"... and the rivalry of having your own believers (how many you have convinced or how much you`ve earned from your effort of convincing them???)
- Just don`t forget...Knowledge & Wisdom about our God are always "free"...thus... bear in mind: Just try to save 1 soul at a time ...beginning "your" spirit, loved ones, family, friends, group, community, city...etc.etc.etc.

Good Luck !!! ... and ... Be Blessed !!!

Answer 10

Of course I agree with you. The problem with the people you are teaching is that they are not ready to become a true follower and give up an immoral lifestyle so they try to justify it.