Satan has been very clever to get people to call themselves christian, and then have them all rolled up into things Jesus never said anyway, act according to the flesh - which he is a master to tempt - so that the outside world would hate God for it, and think that this is christianity.
I don't understand how so many people get fooled by it though. It certainly is not because it is logical, because it is far from it. The reason people get fooled by this is because they like their sins, their lies, their stealing of items and time and other peoples respect etc, they like their sexual fornication, whether in mind or body, they like their hatred and self-justification of it while judging others for the same things. THAT is why non-christians so easily think that people who call themselves christian and act nothing like Jesus, are real christians; I mean, isn't it just another chance for them to talk down on someone, and acting like they are better? Sure, even a christian can do wrong, just about everyone makes mistakes right? But the outside world seem to have much less patience with a Christian, they simply expect better. And in one way, I think they are right to do so. Christians do have a powerful help in the Holy Spirit, not to mention that the very nature of their person is changed, in that we have received Gods nature and is a "new creation". Again, do not mistake me for saying that Christians should be perfect all the time, cause we/they are not. We are re-born as spiritual babies, and need to grow in our knowledge and journey with God. The difference is that - and for the illustrations sake, bear with me in this, while a non-christian might be a "pig" - rolling himself in sin and dirt is natural, and he likes it and will always go back to it, the Christian on the other hand, has been transformed and is no longer a pig - the mud, dirt and sin is no longer a place of habitation that he is comfortable in. HE CAN STILL FALL IN THE DIRT THOUGH! - Because the world IS just about nothing but dirt. But if we fall, we get up and try not to do the same thing next time. Another thing is that unfortunatly today most Christians are still spiritual babies, not growing up, or at least not growing very quickly. This is hugely because of the lack of leaders or good leaders. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:
1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
The fact that Christians are so divided, seperating themselves from each other to make our own organizations, thinking that BUILDINGS are churches - "my church", "his church" and whatnot - all the while ignoring that ALL Christians are family and is supposed to love each like Jesus loves us, and grow together until we come to the unity of the faith - this is a major reason why so many people never grow up in God.
Paul warned about it, and it happened.
Jesus says in John 13:34-35
Joh 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
How often do we get non-christians coming up to us and saying "Hey, you must be a disciple of Jesus, because I see how much you guys love each other"? Never I'll tell you. Why is that? Is this not a huge flashing sign that something is horribly wrong!? Most every Christian I talk to agree that we should be together and love each other, and work together. The ones who disagree on this are the leaders.
Paul knew this was coming, and he warned his fellow christians strongly:
Act 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Act 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Act 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Act 20:33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Act 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Act 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
Act 20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
Paul said that wolves would come and draw the flock of believers to themselves. They are not interested in building the Church of God, but their own church, their own organizations, their own name. Clear examples of this are tele-evangelist who wear diamond rings and tell you to give "faith-money" to their ministry, for your miracle.
The thing is, Christians may fail like any other person. The non-christians have a special hatred for Christians who fall, though they do the same thing. But the horrid and outrageous things we read about "christian priests or whatever" do, are usually not real christians. A tree is known by its fruit.
Luk 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Again, we can read about the same in Matthew, with some additional information:
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Read these verses and the emphazised verses in particular and you will know what I mean.
Lastly, I want you to notice the 2 last verses I quoted, and I will retype them here:
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
They were ASTONISHED at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having AUTHORITY.
How many leaders, or normal Christians (Every christian is a priest btw - remember that - YOU, my brother and sister in Christ, are the priests who are called to encourage your family -meaning ALL CHRISTIANS, and show Christ to the world) -how many talk with authority???
Do you OBEY GOD?
Do you LIVE every day only to SERVE HIM?
Are you denying yourself, taking up your cross and FOLLOWING HIM every single day?
Because the world is falling apart. And so many Christians are more than happy just being saved, doing little to honor Jesus, doing little to show the fallen world their need of forgiveness and peace with God.
If a Christian really decided to live for God, no matter the cost, that person will talk with the same authority that Jesus did. Remember that this does not mean people will automatically think you are correct, nor smart or logical, they might not get saved or think you are doing a good job representing their preferred version on christianity, but their hearts will feel something, and the devils will tremble.
This might have gotten to be the most out-of-place comment ever, and certainly win the award for "trailing"
But it had to be said.