A few thoughts came to mind as I tried to answer these questions:
- This article in TownHall.com carries some good points, but it is very USA-centric. Many Christians in other parts of the world may share some commonalities with USA's Christians, but there will also be some differences. I think that many of the points in the "weaknesses" list should serve as a wake-up call to many Christians around the world.
- What happened to the old days when Christians would give out tracts on buses or at street corners? Have we found this strategy too unattractive? Too confronting? Are we not clear enough about what we believe that we are now afraid that we may not have the answers if people were to ask? This would be to the shame of the church. In recent times, I have found Muslims doing this kind of street evangelism instead of the Christians, as was the case previously. Some were wearing these T-shirts which state that "I have found the Prophet Jesus in the Quran" on one side, and "I have found the Prophet Mohammad in the Bible" on the other side. Theologically, both these assertions are not exactly true, but many people probably do not know their Bible well enough to answer these guys
- A recent study in Daniel 4 & 5 reminded me that many of us from the Western cultures have been influenced by this paradigm that everybody has the right to our own opinion. That we can choose our course ahead. That we have the power in ourselves to do whatever we want. We forget that God gave us everything we have, and we owe Him our thanks and worship. We forget that bad choices result in bad consequences. We do not have ultimate control. We find it hard to talk about Jesus being the only way, or how much we need God to the people around us, lest they consider us as freaks. However, we end up not giving God the glory unless we do this. God's judgement on us, and the people around us is imminent.
People are never as dismissive as they seem.
ReplyDeleteThe Western world mindset is such that we construct our own reality and set our own destiny. The problem with this is that our own course will lead us to destruction.
ReplyDelete"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
ReplyDeleteThe early church was married to poverty, prisons and persecution. Today, 'the church' is married to prosperity, personality and popularity.
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