Don't become a Christian if...

[INRI]

This is an excerpt from the CARM website I found on the right side of the homepage of TJ. I'm curious about everyone's thoughts on it. I won't divulge my thoughts on this just yet, because I'd like to see if anyone would independently verify them.



Don't become a Christian if...

By Matt Slick




Some people try to become Christians for the wrong reasons. You do not become a Christian because

1. you want to give Jesus a try, or
2. because you want to see if your life gets better, or
3. if you want to experiment with religion, or
4. you want your life to improve, or
5. you just want to see what happens.

If you "try" Christianity for any of these reasons, then you're probably not a Christian to begin with unless you came to a true understanding of what it is.


Become a Christian because you know that you are a sinner and that God will punish all who have sinned and you want to find salvation, the deliverance from the righteous judgment of God. The result of this salvation is that the Lord then lives in you and the result of that is your life will improve.


Don't become a Christian for the wrong reasons. Become one for the right reason, to have your sins forgiven so you can escape the damnation that will come upon all who fail to trust in Christ.

 

[stephen]

Become a Christian because you know that you are a sinner and that God will punish all who have sinned and you want to find salvation, the deliverance from the righteous judgment of God. The result of this salvation is that the Lord then lives in you and the result of that is your life will improve.

Amen. Thats more like it.

 

[The Robster]

Can't say I agree with #4. Some people in this world just need to glaringly see how much the Lord does for other people. Whether it be deliverance from disease, making them prosperous and just having a superior quality of life...well this is very important to those that want a better life. These things are a great witness for God. I can tell you that I would not want to bexome a Christian, if I had Christians telling me that God makes people sick and that He chooses who to heal and that He makes some people poor and that this is for His glory. I mean who want to serve a God that does these things? I don't want to serve a powerless God that won't deliver you from the problems of this life. This world has hundreds of "gods" that don't deliver anything. My love grows so much stronger for the Lord every time I see Him keep His covenant with me and deliver me from my problems. And when other people see what God has done and continues to do in my life, well it just makes people see just how real God is. If many denominations actually presented God to people that we He's revealed Himself in the Bible, as the God that is more than enough and the God that will deliver you out of your trouble, then we'd have more people coming to the faith not turning from it.

 

[HoneyBare]

Actually, I am not sure I agree with the last paragraph. I think (well, I KNOW) that I came to Christ because I didn't want to go to Hell. And then I learned the more I read scripture, that God is a very loving God and that's why He sacrificed His Son for our sins, so we could have a better life. And in the end, we DO escape Hell, but there is so much more to it than that.

The more I get to know about God, the more exciting life gets; the more I discover His attributes, and realize that it's the Holy Spirit helping me to understand, the hungrier I get to keep on keeping on.

I came to an understanding that I needed to discipline myself to keep digging into His Word so that I could renew my mind and not see Him through carnal eyes. And it's happening! Things are becoming clearer the deeper I dig.

So, you see, I think we need to go further than just wanting to escape Hell. And listening to others ideas and doctrines can actually confuse you rather than help you. If you are sincere in your learning more about God, then you will get a good study Bible, like maybe the MacCarthur Study Bible, and learn from the source. But first, of course, you have to ask Christ for forgiveness of your sins because you are a sinner, and then tell Him you want Him to come in and be the ruler of your life. And then start disciplining yourself to study His Word so you will get more acquainted with Him. He will take it from there. I hope this makes sense.

This is an excerpt from the CARM website I found on the right side of the homepage of TJ. I'm curious about everyone's thoughts on it. I won't divulge my thoughts on this just yet, because I'd like to see if anyone would independently verify them.



Don't become a Christian if...

By Matt Slick




Some people try to become Christians for the wrong reasons. You do not become a Christian because

1. you want to give Jesus a try, or
2. because you want to see if your life gets better, or
3. if you want to experiment with religion, or
4. you want your life to improve, or
5. you just want to see what happens.

If you "try" Christianity for any of these reasons, then you're probably not a Christian to begin with unless you came to a true understanding of what it is.


Become a Christian because you know that you are a sinner and that God will punish all who have sinned and you want to find salvation, the deliverance from the righteous judgment of God. The result of this salvation is that the Lord then lives in you and the result of that is your life will improve.


Don't become a Christian for the wrong reasons. Become one for the right reason, to have your sins forgiven so you can escape the damnation that will come upon all who fail to trust in Christ.

 

[jiggyfly]

I was 9 years old when I experienced Christ and new (spiritual) birth. I don't recall even thinking that I was escaping hell or punishment. To me "hell" was just a cuss word that would get your mouth washed out with soap.

It wasn't until I was older that I was educated on the concept of unending torment in hell by the religious system. Even if one responds to the "fire and brimstone" message, one can not spiritually mature being motivated by fear. Love is the only motivation for spiritual maturity.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. 1John 4:16-18

 

[jiggyfly]

Personally, I disagree with the article.

 

[Chad]

I think the author has good points. He's basically stating to be a "Christian" because you realize you need Christ to atone for your sins and GOD has an eternal home for you in Heaven, if you chose instead of Hell.

I pretty much agree with the article, then again I guess there are certain wordings that some may not agree with. That's ok, as long as his main point is clear.

 

[shipwrecksoul]

This is an excerpt from the CARM website I found on the right side of the homepage of TJ. I'm curious about everyone's thoughts on it. I won't divulge my thoughts on this just yet, because I'd like to see if anyone would independently verify them.



Don't become a Christian if...

By Matt Slick




Some people try to become Christians for the wrong reasons. You do not become a Christian because

1. you want to give Jesus a try, or
2. because you want to see if your life gets better, or
3. if you want to experiment with religion, or
4. you want your life to improve, or
5. you just want to see what happens.

If you "try" Christianity for any of these reasons, then you're probably not a Christian to begin with unless you came to a true understanding of what it is.


Become a Christian because you know that you are a sinner and that God will punish all who have sinned and you want to find salvation, the deliverance from the righteous judgment of God. The result of this salvation is that the Lord then lives in you and the result of that is your life will improve.


Don't become a Christian for the wrong reasons. Become one for the right reason, to have your sins forgiven so you can escape the damnation that will come upon all who fail to trust in Christ.

Become a christian when you know its God telling you so, through conviction and you are left with a choice of either saying Yes or No.
Your response is your responsibility.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Re: Don't Become a Christian If..............

This article points up a major fault in our methods of evangelization (why they usually don't work); we try to "sell" salvation as if it were a marketable commodity (consumer goods). What we should be doing is showing God's love to people by meeting their immediate needs - feeding them, praying with them for healing, e.g. - with no strings attached (see Mt 25:31-46). Then if they ask questions like "why are you doing this?", we may have an opportunity to talk to them about the Lord. It's not about peddling Jesus or peddling religion, its about loving people as He loves us and allowing them to process through to coming to Him, or, as we say in my church, "Loving them into a relationship with Jesus".

SLE

 

[jiggyfly]

This article points up a major fault in our methods of evangelization (why they usually don't work); we try to "sell" salvation as if it were a marketable commodity (consumer goods). What we should be doing is showing God's love to people by meeting their immediate needs - feeding them, praying with them for healing, e.g. - with no strings attached (see Mt 25:31-46). Then if they ask questions like "why are you doing this?", we may have an opportunity to talk to them about the Lord. It's not about peddling Jesus or peddling religion, its about loving people as He loves us and allowing them to process through to coming to Him, or, as we say in my church, "Loving them into a relationship with Jesus".

SLE

Exactly, I totally agree SLE. The love of God is a most powerful force so much so that Paul said it is impossible to be separated from it. Hallelujah!

 

[The Robster]

This article points up a major fault in our methods of evangelization (why they usually don't work); we try to "sell" salvation as if it were a marketable commodity (consumer goods). What we should be doing is showing God's love to people by meeting their immediate needs - feeding them, praying with them for healing, e.g. - with no strings attached (see Mt 25:31-46). Then if they ask questions like "why are you doing this?", we may have an opportunity to talk to them about the Lord. It's not about peddling Jesus or peddling religion, its about loving people as He loves us and allowing them to process through to coming to Him, or, as we say in my church, "Loving them into a relationship with Jesus".

SLE

Feeding and praying with people is all good in my book, but people need to be shown in the Bible that God does everything He has promised to do. Many Christians present God as powerless in this life or as someone who chooses who yo help. That's how so many Christians present God to those in unbelief. Need healing? Oh we need to pray if God will heal you? Need to get out of poverty? Oh I think God may want you to be poor for His glory. And if you think these things are not important to people, then you don't know your Bible. There are plenty of accounts in the Bible where people came to Jesus to get fed and to get healed. They knew what he could do and Jesus always made it a point to tell them that it was their faith that allowed Him to work. Thankfully we have many ministries all over this planet that our showing people how to claim all these things by faith. People just don't see any love from a God that won't meet their needs in this life. And far too often, so many Christians have presented Jesus in that manner. As only taking away sins and giving you salvation. Salvation is just the doorway to grace. Thankfully more and more people are starting to learn what the gospel of grace is all about and what Jesus accomplished at the Cross. He took your poverty, your sicknesses and disease, He redeemed you from the Curse of the Law and made us a joint heir with Him and gave us authority over everything in His name. I don't understand why so many Christians whitewash the scriptures that discuss these things and portray Jesus as just takign away sins. Christians doing this need to spend more time int he Word in those areas. Its to their benefit and the kingdom's benefit. If we're sons of God we need to start acting like it and speaking like one and believing like one.

 

[vitalii]

Don't become a Christian for the wrong reasons. Become one for the right reason, to have your sins forgiven so you can escape the damnation that will come upon all who fail to trust in Christ.

i disagree.
I became Christian because I was searching for truth and I just decided to give it a try.
I don't think people accept Christianity because they are afraid of damnation. If they do then they also need to accept Allah and many other deities.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Feeding and praying with people is all good in my book, but people need to be shown in the Bible that God does everything He has promised to do.

Isn't it more effective for people to be introduced to God by experiencing miraculous healing in their own bodies or witnessing it happening to another person?

Think about what happened at Lazarus' grave. "When the stone was rolled away, Jesus looked up and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of those standing here; that they may believe that you sent me.'" (Jn 11:41-42 NIV). The Jews that were there that day had come for a funeral in the Jewish tradition. They weren't thinking about the Messiah until He showed up. Their curiosity about Him was aroused when they saw Him, but He drew them to Himself when He yelled for Lazarus to come forth and, with their own eyes, they watched their friend and neighbor stumble out of that grave still wrapped in gravecloths.

Today many times God uses miracles to get peoples' attention and later we can follow up with teaching from Scripture. Just as He was in first century Corinth (see 1 Cor 12:1-11), the miracle working Holy Spirit is very active in the church today, if He is welcome.

SLE

 

[shipwrecksoul]

Feeding and praying with people is all good in my book, but people need to be shown in the Bible that God does everything He has promised to do. Many Christians present God as powerless in this life or as someone who chooses who yo help.

Question. Can one be lead to minister to one with food?
Question. Can one be lead to minister to one with prayer?

Question. Is the leading done by us in these circumstances when it is God who leads?

Question. Is it the Spirit that teaches us to trust God in everything?

I wonder?

 

[HappySoul]

I have issues with all five. I was definitely drawn to God because I wasn't enjoying my life and definitely wanted some improvement. God gave me a way to improve my life through him. All five of those reasons to not become a christian are flawed. Any of those reasons can draw someone to realize they're a sinner and need forgiveness.