Christians

Have Christians really been known by their love? You know what history shows - schismatic doctrines being perpetuated to protect privileged positions and trying to take the kingdom by force. Would you call them a holy people simply from their position in Christ? This is a tragedy that should bring you profound grief. Has it changed any? Only in the hearts of the faithful that have risen above the pettiness that has plagued Christians almost from the beginning. There has always been a remnant, those that would not follow narrow bias and confrontational arrogance. Do we wish to be perfect? We are to be the holy bride ready to meet the Bridegroom. Are we ready?

Christians, in the history of their internal dissensions, have inflicted far greater severities on each other than they had experienced from the zeal of infidels. Christians have the only army in the world that deserts its wounded. Christianity succeeded not only because it set itself against the earthly compromises and indecencies of pagan cults, but also because it contained so much of paganism, being the syncretistic nature of Christianity.

Other names by which the early Christian believers were called were "the brethren" and "the believers." The names given to them by the Jews were Nazarenes or Galileans. The Christian is a person who rejects the usages of a dying society, and finds new life for himself in the church. He overcame the local forces of disassociation and disintegration by attaching himself to a universal society. He builds his life around the themes of rejection and succorance; and he balances all his temporal difficulties against the hope of divine justice that will punish his oppressors and give himself a share in eternal glories.

No sooner had Christianity become a separate religion than it was looked on with suspicion by the Romans, who now branded the Christians as subversives and subjected them to relentless persecution, a good portion eaten by lions in the amphitheater which was the Roman cure for Christianity, instituted by Nero and continued.

The Muslims did not reject Jesus or the Christians, they rejected the Christians who had perverted the message of Christ. The Christians in the East at the time of Mohammed were Arian and had perveted the nature of Christ as to the Son of God. Koran: "From those, too, who call themselves Christians, we did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other. O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. Strongest among men in enmity to the believers will you find the Jews and the pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say "We are Christians", because among these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world and they are not arrogant.

We are in a Christian country, or at least that is what people say. That means that saying you are a Christian does not mean too much these days to other people. In fact it may do more harm than good. Most people who are rejecting Christ are actually just rejecting Christians. There has been so much evil in the Christian witness that is has spoiled it for many. All of the judmental, self-righteous, bible thumping, hypocritical ways of Christians have taken its toll and being a witness just does not have the impact that it should. That means that the true Christian witness today is not merely in standing up for Jesus with your mouth but in being like Jesus in your actions. If we truly want people to be drawn to the love of God, we love others as God would have us. We pray for them and we do not judge their evil ways but accept them just the way they are and let God do the convicting and correction.

STATISTICS FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM.

American missions statistician David Barrett published some figures for the year 2000:

  • of the global population of 6.1 billion, about 2 billion people believe in Christianity in some form, 1.9 billion are members of Christian churches, 1.3 billion attend Christian services;
  • 482 million people belong to Pentecostal or Charismatic movements, some 680 million are 'Great Commission Christians';
  • in the year 2000, 165,000 Christians will probably be martyred for their faith;
  • there are 24,000 missions organizations and 5,104 million people in full-time ministry;
  • the 4,000 Christian radio and TV stations reach a total of 2.15 billion people;
  • 2 billion people live in poor urban areas, 1.3 billion of them in slums;
  • there are 4,100 cities with over 100,000 inhabitants, 410 cities with over 1 million.

Source: FridayFax
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