i read these posts

[edwina]

and wonder if people understand that just because a person says they are christian, doesnt make them so...
christians shouldnt accept sin, yet i read that they go out drinking and sleeping around, and condone it that God knows their heartand they arent perfect.
well, of course we arent perfect, but it doesnt give us license to do what we want and expect God to say its ok. anyone know what im saying?
it really bugs me when someone says they are saved- yet lives like the devil. people are watching us, and their eternal destiny may depend on what they see.

[jdw4jesus]

The way I look at it is that if they profess to be a Christian, and what they do is the opposite of how a Christian should live, then they are not really a Christian at all

They may think that they are a Christian because "I am a good person and I do good works all the time" or "My parents are saved so I am saved". But we all know that that is not how we are saved so they are not Christians at all!

If they were a Christian, then they would want to live the life that is pleasing to God! They would quickly try to give up their bad habits!

That is my opinion :)

[Chief117]

I am inclined to feel the same way as you guys do. Especially disheartening to me--even more than these examples--is the liberal interpretation of the Bible.

I want to say that they are not Christians. I want to say, Christians are known by the good fruit that they bear--and your fruit is either plastic or rotten.

Do you know what else I miss from Church behavior?

What ever happened to 'Expel the Immoral Brother?' What ever happened to correction and discipline from members of the church? I'd really like to know, because the rule was in place so that Christians would not be hypocritical. Now look at what has happened...

However, I also don't think we should go waving a banner, saying, "you aren't Christian at all." Leave that up to God.

[LynnMcG]

I think sometimes it depends on the church they're coming from. For instance (and this is by no means a slam of Catholocism but hear me out) my siblings and I were raised Catholic. My younger sisters practice Wicca, and not even necessarily true Wicca because they do spells to hurt people. In my mother's eyes they're fine because they were baptized as infants. She believes they're Christians and that they will go to heaven despite their current beliefs (my one sister dabbles in satanism and doesn't acknowledge a one true God) because of this infant baptism. I do not. I do not think they have a relationship with Jesus (but of course only they know that for sure) because they worship godesses. No where in the bible does it say that you are guaranteed your name in the Lamb's Book of Life if you were baptized as a baby. That's salvation by works.

Like you, this sort of loose Christian labeling really bugs me. However, it's not our job to just be ticked about this. It is our job to live our lives as examples and to not judge them. Most of the time, they don't know what they're doing. So in my case, I pray for God to forgive them, that the scales would fall from their eyes, and that the Truth would set them free.

[New_Wineskin]

and wonder if people understand that just because a person says they are christian, doesnt make them so...
christians shouldnt accept sin, yet i read that they go out drinking and sleeping around, and condone it that God knows their heartand they arent perfect.
well, of course we arent perfect, but it doesnt give us license to do what we want and expect God to say its ok. anyone know what im saying?
it really bugs me when someone says they are saved- yet lives like the devil. people are watching us, and their eternal destiny may depend on what they see.

In like vein , I wonder is people understand that just because something is a sin for them , that doesn't make it a sin for everyone else . They have a relationship with Him just the same the person next to them looking at everything they do to see if they are in sin using the "do not handle , do not taste , do not touch" definition of the Law .

[A. believer]

The way I look at it is that if they profess to be a Christian, and what they do is the opposite of how a Christian should live, then they are not really a Christian at all

They may think that they are a Christian because "I am a good person and I do good works all the time" or "My parents are saved so I am saved". But we all know that that is not how we are saved so they are not Christians at all!

Or "I said a 'sinner's prayer'" or "I asked Jesus into my heart."

If they were a Christian, then they would want to live the life that is pleasing to God! They would quickly try to give up their bad habits!

That is my opinion :)

And it's good that your opinion is in line with God's "opinion" put forth throughout Scripture.

[heartnsoul]

I think sometimes it depends on the church they're coming from. For instance (and this is by no means a slam of Catholocism but hear me out) my siblings and I were raised Catholic. My younger sisters practice Wicca, and not even necessarily true Wicca because they do spells to hurt people. In my mother's eyes they're fine because they were baptized as infants. She believes they're Christians and that they will go to heaven despite their current beliefs (my one sister dabbles in satanism and doesn't acknowledge a one true God) because of this infant baptism. I do not. I do not think they have a relationship with Jesus (but of course only they know that for sure) because they worship godesses. No where in the bible does it say that you are guaranteed your name in the Lamb's Book of Life if you were baptized as a baby. That's salvation by works.

Like you, this sort of loose Christian labeling really bugs me. However, it's not our job to just be ticked about this. It is our job to live our lives as examples and to not judge them. Most of the time, they don't know what they're doing. So in my case, I pray for God to forgive them, that the scales would fall from their eyes, and that the Truth would set them free.
Excellent post!:thumbsup: I agree. As Christians, we are to be a living example of holiness and love our brothers and sisters in Christ. I know this is easier said than done because hypocrites can be pretty forthright and stubborn. But...a mature Christian realizes that those who continue living in sin will eventually suffer his/her own consequences. So, with that wisdom in mind, a mature Christian will exercise patience and compassion for that sinner like God does with all of us because consequences are painful. We are all sinners yet God continues loving us no matter what and is always waiting with arms wide open to hug us. When we fall and repent, He is there to catch us and lift us back up again. May wisdom lead all of us to love and be patient with one another. Let's grow together in the same Spirit and shine our light with compassion unto others. :angel:

[daverain]

.



1 Peter 2:16:
------------

"Act as free men, and do not use your
freedom as a covering for evil, but use
it as bondslaves of God."

-------------------------------------

(Author's note: To learn of this freedom, please read Galations. It's just a few pages long, yet filled with The Holy Spirit.)


We SHOULD do good, and shun evil.


However...


Certain 'good people' (in God's Church), once called Christ a

"...glutton and a drunkard..."


PLEASE:
--------

Let's be VERY CAREFUL what (or who) we allow to be called evil.

(One COULD be wrong.)


.