10 'Christians' to Beware Of
Very early in Jesus' preaching career Matthew's Gospel records the Sermon on the Mount. Many listened and were surprised for He did not teach as the contemporary teachers of the law. Jesus taught with authority.
He opened His sermon with clear and true virtues. These are called the Beatitudes.
Christianity 2000 years later is awash with 'good theology', but somehow to this very day Christians miss the call to virtue.
Some reflections when the pursuit of virtues remain absent:
- Beware of a Christian who espouses the world's views with an arrogance that tolerates no correction. Pride is the mantle they wear.
- Beware of the Christian who supports greed, homosexuality, abortion, laziness and lies. Righteousness is foreign to them and their eyes are blind to purity.
- Beware of the Christian bathed in unrighteousness for they speak vengeance and know not grace. Forgiveness and mercy are not present.
- Beware of the Christian who worships on Sunday but serves himself all week. They don't grasp discipleship.
- Beware of the Christian who is a fault-finder, grumbler, fighter or given to fits of rage. Gentleness is a corruption and offences are not overlooked.
- Beware of the Christian who plans as if tomorrow belongs to him. For, he is a fool.
- Beware of the Christian who shuts his eyes, but opens his ears to evil. He is a coward.
- Beware of the Christian who gossips and whips with an unbridled tongue. He lacks self-control and likes to light fires.
- Beware of the Christian who slanders his brother, or despises them in their times of need. Love has fled.
- Beware of the Christian miracle-monger and the glory seeker. For, these love to be first.
What is inside a man is what arises from him. Men either bless or betray themselves.
This is the wisdom of Jesus.
If a Christian acts like the world, lives like the world and sounds like the world - there is only the world within them.
Any Christ claimer, forgiveness enjoyer, or grace receiver who does not appear different to the world, think differently to the world, and speak differently to the world is:
not a follower but merely a pretender.
Christians should expect to be at odds with the world, lonesome in the world and misunderstood by the world.
Christians are not chameleons. The Christian who blends in is a God-botherer, but the Christian who stands out is a God-blesser.
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. (John 15:18)
Today's Soul Snippet:
Aim for heaven alone and allow God to throw in earth.
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