While reading the book of first Timothy few days ago, I found Paul’s style of preaching quite interesting. In many places, he referred to his experience and the grace of God upon his life. Paul contributed tremendously to the spread of the gospel yet he calls himself the worst sinner of all and emphasizes on God’s grace as well as what God wanted to achieve through him, being patient with him and leading him out of sin.
Then I began to ponder at the way Christianity has become these days. We see pastors bragging about the anointing they have to preach, teach and perform miracles. As if that is not enough, some of them ask for money for prayers, thereby frustrating the mission of the cross. On the other hand, we have Christians who go to church to show off clothes, sing in the choir so others can see them, at their jobs they despise their superiors simply because they consider them “unbelievers”, some even show up to work very late and leave early and hide under the umbrella “I am a Christian and nothing can stop me from going to church.” It is so sad what we do in the name of Christianity. Other Christians go to church and when told to serve or run errands, they measure their social status and prefer others to do what they can conveniently do. Worst of all, when its time to sing a hymn, praise/worship in church, they use their phones to take selfies of themselves “singing/worshipping and praying in the spirit”. We even focus more on capturing events in church on our phones that on what God is teaching us through them. After service, they post it on social media and say we are “CHRISTIANS”.
Can we say we are truly Christians when we segregate ourselves? There is always this barrier between protestants and Pentecostals, where one group feels more spiritual than the other or the other group feels more dogmatic than the other and because of this we often fall into the sin of pride without knowing.
This is a wake up call for all of us not to frustrate the mission of the Cross. We are in the post resurrection days and what we have to take into serious consideration is the question “WHAT GOSPEL AM I PREACHING?” Is it the gospel of Christ, my gospel or the gospel of my church/pastor? Creation is falling away from the plans and purposes God has for us. He planted a vine yard and intended it for righteousness. But what does he get? Violence, injustice, oppression, pride etc. Woe to those who rise up early in the morning that they may follow intoxicating drink, who continue to night and wine inflames them but they have no regard for the work of the Lord nor consider the operation of his hand. Because we have rejected the law of the Lord, the anger of the Lord is aroused against his people. (Isaiah 5).
This message is not for an unbeliever but for you who says you are a Christian. What gospel are you preaching? Be careful that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. (Luke 11:35) .
Remain blessed.
These methods include interviews with religious leaders, chaplains and students, and extended campus visits in different regions of the United States. New findings will add context to the NSCM. “One of our focuses is widening the diversity of the new study,” Schmalzbauer said. “Not just racial and ethnic diversity, but the inclusion of new religious groups.”