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 INTRODUCTION
Now that I know I have your attention and before you reel with shock and horror at the title of this article and cry "heretic", bear with me. First, God has been around a little longer than 2000 years since the first followers of Christ were called "Christians". Before time was, He was! The word "Christian" literally means "a little anointed one" or one "having the qualities taught and demonstrated by Jesus Christ, as love, kindness etc" (Webster's). Second, we must have a basic understanding of how our national culture meshes with the culture of The Kingdom Of God. Every nation tends to view Christianity through the filter of its own culture, but what is cultural is not always spiritual and vice versa. There may be certain conflicts of perception with what our culture says is "Christian" and what God says it means to be a Christian.
THE LINES ARE FUZZY
Recent studies have revealed that there is no longer any moral difference between born-again Christians and non-Christians in America. Henry Blackaby, co-author of "Experiencing God", recently said; "If you put the United States up against the scriptures, we're in trouble... The problem of America is not unbelievers; the problem… is the people of God. There are just as many divorces and abortions in the churches as outside the churches. The only thing that's kept America from going haywire worse than it has is the presence of Christian community. We're still salt and light, but when the salt loses its saltiness, there's nothing to restrain evil in America. And right now the salt has lost its saltiness. It is not effecting the preserving of America. So… if things get darker in America, the problem is not with the darkness; it's just acting according to its nature. The problem is with the light. The light no longer dispels the darkness."
George Barna's recent survey compared the lost world and the churches, and found virtually no difference between the two. Our gospel is canceled by the way we live. Don't tell your co-worker you're a Christian and then gossip about your boss! Don't say you're a Christian and tell lies! Don't say you're a Christian and talk fearfully about your future.
"Every nation tends to view Christianity through the filter of its own culture, but what is cultural is not always spiritual"
A RELIGIOUS OBSESSION
One television commentator recently said; "…America is obsessed with religion". But being religious does not necessarily mean we are the real "Christian" that Webster's and God's Word both agree we should be; "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:22-26)
Our greatest enemy to walking in the spirit of Christ is the spirit of religion. The spirit of Christ is humility, the spirit of religion is pride. The spirit of Christ is sacrifice, the spirit of religion is control. The spirit of Christ is truth, the spirit of religion brings blindness. Let's not settle for just being a "Christian" nation, but believe to see America become a nation of Christians!
GOD IS…
God's not a "Christian"; He's not a Jew, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu. He is… "God almighty, omnipotent King, Lion of Judah, Rock of Ages, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Provider, Protector, Leader, Ruling Lord and reigning King of all the universe. He is Father, Helper, Guardian and God. He is the first and last, the beginning and the end. He is the keeper of creation and the creator of all He keeps. He is the architect of the universe and the manager of all times. He always was, always is and always will be. He is unmoved, unchanged, undefeated and never undone… The world can't understand him; armies can't defeat him; schools can't explain him; and leaders can't ignore him. Herod couldn't kill Him; the Pharisees couldn't confuse Him and the people couldn't hold Him! Nero couldn't crush Him; Hitler couldn't silence Him; new age can't replace Him and you can't explain him away! He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, kindness, gentleness and He alone is God…" (from "God Is" - author unknown)
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