As a Christian, have you ever thought about how your behavior affects other people in public?

Question

For some reason, it seems as though if alot of folks do not understand this. If I am born again, washed in the blood of Christ, and filled with his spirit, it is very important that I treat others the way I would want to be treated. People already make excuses as to why they do not serve God so, why would I want to be another excuse for them? I've seen people sit around and mock others, and when that person leaves the church and gives up on God, They blame that individual. Which is somewhat true, but I don't want my excuse to be "They are making excuses". For evey finger you point, there is always one pointing right back at you. I'm not condemning the church. And I understand that not "all" churches are like this. But as a Christian, I want to see others make it. I do not want to become a road block for someone. I always hated it when I brought someone to Church with me and they got offended by an individual in the church.

Human nature is no excuse to committ sin. I have heard this all too much. If that where the case I could go shoot someone dead, and get by with it. And then listen to the Jury laugh at my "I'm only human" excuse.

I'm just saying at some point this has to end. We cannot go and do things simply because we know God will forgive us later.

Words are extremely powerful. If you believe in God, you know that God used Words to bring everything into existance. Words can destroy. Its nothing to take lightly.

I agree that people poimt other people's mistake out to make themselves feel better. But in reality it does not make them feel better! A person who is constantly critical of others is only increasing their misery.

Answer 1

As Rick Warren points out, the parable of the sower is about the plant reaching maturity so it can produce a crop as the farmer who sowed the seed intended. Rick says that the church doesn't get any points until the person in the community become a commissioned member of the congregation. Please note that spiritual grow is required.

Most church feel their jobs are done when they get a person baptized. But Jesus taught his disciples for 3 years and they really didn't get it. Paul said it would take 2 years before he would let people be a leader.

Since we have a set list of things a member of the community must believe before being baptized, does your church have some kind of path that a person would need to go down before becoming a leader. In other words, does your church give your people a foundation from which they know
1. How to pray
2. What is worship
3. How to read the Bible for themselves
4. What their spiritual gifts are
5. How a person understands what their calling is
6. How to assist each person in fulfilling what God made them to do?

I assume your pastor had to go through some kind of training to be your pastor. So if pastors are leaders and they have set courses, why doesn't your congregation have set courses?

Every part of the body is important so every member needs to be contributing their part as God leads. If the church isn't set up to equip the saints and then send them to do their personal area of ministry, then you will have a church full of babes in Christ thinking that spiritual growth occurs by the number of years a person has been a believer or their title.

The finger pointing you refer to is a demonstration of spiritual immaturity and those members need an older brother to guide them in how to take the next step of spiritual growth. Of course, the person would have to be more spiritually mature before being able to teach others because you can't teach what you don't know.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I agree with you! I make it a point NOT to partake in gossip, and that means LISTENING to it as well as spreading it. I've been blessed in so far as the church I attend has a lot of elderly saints that have been saved for 40yrs or more and are a wonderful example to all, as is our Preacher and his wife. And it's not just Christians who can fall into gossip; this is a human flaw that everyone needs to guard against. People are just very quick to point it out in Christians. It could be that these particular Christians haven't known the Lord very long and need to grow in Grace. If I were you, I would pray about perhaps looking for a new church home if yours is actually turning sinners AWAY from the Gospel message.....

Answer 3

We are critical by nature. Surely right now your being critical of all of these people who don't meet your expectations, and not in a forum that would help them see what you want them to see or understand.

People attend church for heaps of different reasons, thus not every one is on the same page.

Words can be extremely powerful, we should all be careful how we use them. That has to include trying to group people into a homogeneous perception of faith, when people are not homogeneous at all.

I am pleased for you that you are content in your faith. Lots of people aren't, it does not mean they lack faith by virtue of a conscious lack of commitment or that they mean ill towards others.

Faith by definition is subjective. I figure I have a discussion with God. Its as far as I can go. Like others I have my reasons which you might call excuses, but lower the judgment visor a tad and entertain some empathy for a while.

Be safe, be sage

Answer 4

The head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Angelo Dundee, is a very strong Christian man. He said that his demeanor in public is very important. He feels that if he says he is a Christian, he has to show it too. We have all seen football games when they zoom in on the coach after something bad happens to his team and reading his lips you can tell that he is using a lot of foul language. Dundee has seen this too and feels that he will not do this because it would be a bad testimony of his faith and a bad testimony to others watching the game. What a person says tells a lot about what is in a persons heart.

Answer 5

Yeah Our behavior straightly affects others if we bring some one 2 god firstly our self have 2 be clean I mean u have 2 be in a correct relationship with god If u behave in a wrong way u r not setting a good example 2 other new belivers and also 2 ur society

Answer 6

I do not personally believe that the bible is "perfectly translated"... read two sentences from "the message" and you will agree with me. however, the whole point of the scriptures is that they bear witness of Christ (john 5:39-40), and the scriptures do carry the truth of God's will for man in them, regardless of how literally they are translated. For this is the truth of all the scriptures summed up. that God desires to dwell with man, and that by His Holy Spirit we can do so (Romans 8). I could list scripture after scripture, but that is not what you asked. In response to religions changing as the catholic church has changed over the years, and new denominations have come forth etc... I personally believe it is because men that do not know God are put in a place of authority by other men in the church that do not know God, and lead people by dead religious beliefs that, though perhaps backed by some scriptural references, are not in any way connecting men to the living God. therefore, committees are formed about what color to paint the church, people disagree, the church splits and voila... another church is formed... and where is God in it all. He's not there because men are too focused on their religion to humble themselves and seek God. Church has become a business. As far as the religion one is born into question goes... there are surprising similarities between most religions, especially the big ones (chrisitanity, islam, judiasm and even hinduism). but I personally believe that God is bigger than where a person was born. Abraham didn't have a religion. If someone seeks God, He will reveal himself to that person, and God is contrary to ALL religion.

Answer 7

Amen and Amen. I too try very hard to be a good witness in all things. One thing I always am is kind; I cannot stand the way people just rip each other up; in real life and on here as well. its pointless, its hurtful and especially as a Christian it is even more ammunition for those who want a reason to hate us and /or our beliefs. This is a great question, thank you and Gods peace :)

Answer 8

I agree with you, and I always try to be kind to others. Sometimes I fail, maybe snap at a waitress, or show my frustration when I have to replace for a Sunday School teacher who didn't show up or call. But I do try. I have seen what you are talking about more from the Youth Group than from the adults in Church, but in my mind, teenagers are old enough to know better too.

Answer 9

I agree with so much of what I have read here so please receive my comments as an addendum item to the rest of your thoughtful observations.

Personally I detest hellfire and brimstone preaching/teaching. I would be still an agnostic philosopher if this was all that was out there. But that is me....

The Scripture says (in Jude)....

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."

So on some we have compassion and on some we use fear...interesting isn't it?

Different people are reached in different ways. If we look at the ministry of our Lord, He operated in many different ways with different people. On some He had great compassion and on others He challenged them directly and yes, even chewed a few out. He blessed Peter and moments later said "Get behind me Satan."

We have to ask God for wisdom in these matters. I believe it is a fundamental error to practice a "system" of evangelism. The Spirit listeth where He wills. There is a time to speak, time to remain silent, a time to answer questions directly, a time to answer in riddles or parables, a time to say "whatever you say", a time to walk away, a time to challenge others, a time to clear the Temple, a time to sacrifice ourselves, and a time to fight evil. Jesus showed us the Way and none of us are wise enough or smart enough to discern all of these "times" correctly.

Let us be meek and do all for the Glory of the Father but let us learn what true love looks like from the ministry of our Lord so we can understand that different people need different approaches to come to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Less of me Lord and more of You...

agapefromnc

Answer 10

We are all born sinners.. and the people in church that have the "holier than thou" perspective, have their own insecurities and need to point out other peoples sins to make themselves feel better. A true christian understands that no one is without sin.