The idea that Jesus Christ has absolute and final authority over all of us in every detail of our lives is simply regardless of legalistic control by some evangelical Christians in the political world. Martin Lloyd-Jones, one of my favorite theologians said: "It is perilously close to being sinful for any person to learn doctrine for doctrine's sake." I understand but I can from my own conviction to agree or to disagree. Its not a huge issue, its a minor issue which is not worth debating. Christians can work together even when they differ on doctrinal issues.
It is no use to deny that Christ was crucified by persons who would today be called fundamentalists and this prove distressing to see those who pride themselves on their orthodoxy. Christianity will always be running against the prevailing movement of society with individualistic values of wealth, comfort, as well as doctrinal beliefs which resulted rejecting and intimidating people who get in the way. We are in the world of self-deceit that we are too focused on ourselves to see the eternal truth. It is the selfish who possess the world while it is the meek who inherits the world. Church politics, controversies and worldliness have brought in the darkness that people cannot see the light. A Christian's economical life and standard of moral living are not private matters but rather they are critical issues of faith and discipleship. A Christian life in this world should be different from the world, being in the world but not of the world. A humbled Christian is a Christian with flaws which humbles them that is more useful to God than hypocrite action that puffs them up. Charles Elliot said it nicely, "Hypocrites we are: but we are on the way to liberation even from our own hypocrisy".
As far as playing Christian or "religion", people will always look on appearance or how they feel or whether the gospel being preached purely/spiritual and the Sacraments being administered "rightly/ritely". They want government set up their way which mean they want Theocracy rather than Democracy. Political and Christianity will always be divided no matter how hard we try. Only God can unite Government and Christianity together at HIS TIME. Not ours.
Galatians 6:3 "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself."
James 1:26 says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."
Most Christian denominations and movements share common beliefs in the major aspects of the Christian faith, while differing in many secondary doctrines. Christians believe what the Bible teaches in context which are the basics of what Christians believe and unite on. Denominational doctrines make denominational members while the Gospel of Jesus Christ makes just Christians. Spiritual Church is "invisible unity" which assumed to be imperfectly displayed, visibly: some denominations are less accepting of others, and the basic orthodoxy of some is questioned by most of the others. Individual denominations also have formed over very subtle theological differences. Regardless of the teachings (doctrines), we all are Christian first according to Jesus Christ's teachings (not the Church's teachings). We just don't know who is a real Christian until we get into heaven because ONLY God knows who is a real Christian. We can fake other people but we can't fake to God. It is important to understand that our hearts are the state of our "flesh". Our flesh search for pleasure, pride, passions and selfish motives. Our hearts are like a garden with beautiful flowers and plants. As with all gardens, the hearts must be kept free from weeds and insects. God is not impressed by our works or how we worship. In 1. Samuel 16:7, The Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord don't make decisions the way you do. People judge by outward appearance (i.e. works), but the Lord looks at a person's thoughts and intentions (heart)." There are millions of professing Christians who "think" they have been justified, who think their sins are forgiven and that they are on their way to heaven, who show no evidence of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when they saw what they thought a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So they remain alone with their sin, living in lies and hypocrisy.
I am not perfect, but I thank God and my Lord Jesus Christ that I am done with the past and I do now trust in my Savior for full deliverance from all my sins. I like this quote by a Lutheran pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." A disciple must understand that God is both holy and loving; that I am a sinner, are made in the image of God; that Christ's death was the substitute payment for my sin; and that because of Jesus' payment, I am granted access to the heart of God. Sin by accident as part of our sinful nature: Those who are in Christ. "If Christ is in us, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness" (Romans 8:10). In other words, our human body is subject to death (and is already dying) because of sin, however our spirit is alive in Christ. I have learned and realized that Christ in me does not mean that I am no longer without sin. My old sinful nature is not ripped out from my heart because I am still living in my flesh. Christ is in my heart and with the help from the Holy Spirit, Christ changing me from the inside and lives through me. I feel by making positive choices that are right for me rather than living with a private struggle of not knowing what to do. At times, choosing not to act on those feelings and not embracing can be difficult. I just wanted to be aware of alternatives to living a life that are positive and life-affirming with my own values, morals and beliefs. The best thing I know about our Lord and Savior is that He loves all sinners including me. He has always love the outcast and for that we should be glad, for I, too, was once an outcast. His love is NOT conditional but rather unconditional in terms of understanding what He desires more than I desire. In terms of my understanding of God's Holiness and Christians (man-made) standards, I have seen Christians sinned and we have to be careful how we define sin because the major cause of Christians sinning is the "HEART".
What does it mean to become like Jesus Christ (Christian)? That is the REAL question.
In my position, God will not hold me responsible for my lack of understanding in the mysteries of election, predestination, and the divine sovereignty. The best and safest way to deal with these is to look to God in deepest respect say, "0 Lord, You know all." From my personal point of view that the universe is beautiful and mysterious. I also agree there are people who says that they don't need Jesus. There are people who thinks they are happy without God and in reality, the Scriptures have explained that. Therefore, there's no dispute in that matter. Back in the days when I was a prodical Christian, there was a possibility that I was not saved. As I see some Christians around me and they reminded me of "me" when I was away from God. Just like King David. David messed up big time but God told us through the Bible that David was truly after God's heart.
Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross have provided the solution for my salvation and the foundation for me to pursue a life that reflects Christ. I believe that the truth of God’s Word have already set me free from the bondage of sin. (John 8:32) I believe that Jesus and the Word of God are sufficient for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3-9) and the Holy Spirit provided me the principles and guidelines to live a life of godliness. It is the Holy Spirit's conviction that God’s design for me is to be radically transformed by the renewing of my mind. (Romans 12:2) My hope for this radical transformation is by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13). The Book of Hebrews explains that Jesus is the mediator, the executor, of The New Covenant (The New Testament). The word mediator comes from the verb "to mediate" which means a mediator is one who stands between two parties or two factions needing to be reconciled eternally. Christ through His death and resurrection, every legal hindrance has been met and satisfied. The only way to get in is to believe Him with my heart which is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Because of Christ, I am a Christian.
Forgive me, I have been reading too many Christian blogs lately.
Becoming a Christian sounds easy but it is not easy in this world. I was once an unbeliever and now a believer that I can see the difference between the two.
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"Christ was crucified by persons who would today be called fundamentalists"--I'm a Christian, but disagree with this statement. There are many people who see Christianity as following a list of rules, including salvation by imitating Christ and following in his footsteps. If that is what saves us, there would have been no reason for Christ to come in the flesh and die in our place, because all the moral and ethical rules were firmly in place. Liberal mainline Protestants, for instance, love the Beatitudes, but if they read their OT, there was nothing new there. They turn them into a list of rules which will justify them for a ticket to Heaven.
Then and now, people didn't want to see that he was God in the flesh. They wanted a different Messiah. Same thing happens today. So, clearly, we can all see ourselves as those who cried, "Crucify him," rather than it being one particular group.
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