WHAT ABOUT CHRISTIANITY?

What People Think About Christianity

 

According to a survey by researcher George Barna, the first two thoughts most people have about Christians is:

* They attend a lot of meetings, and

* They are opposed to many things

Is that tragic or what?! Rather, what we hope they would notice about us as Christians is our,

* Love  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35

* Humility  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Phil 2:8

* Compassion  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Matt 9:12-13

* Graciousness  Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.  Col 4:6

* Integrity  God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
Job 27:5

* Servanthood  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  Phil 2:7

To be sure, non-believers are “taking a read” on us, Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  2 Cor 3:2

And they are picking up our fragrance, For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:  2 Cor 2:15

The question is whether they are smelling a sweet scent or a stench.

Paul observed that it is only when we stop arguing and complaining about our situation in life that we will effectively “shine as lights,” and minister God’s Word to the lost among us.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  Phil 2:14-16

So think about this, how do the folks in our neighborhood, or at our community view us?

As humble, compassionate, gracious, and honest? As one who is sacrificing his/her life for others?

Or as stiff and arbitrary? As a grumbler and complainer?