I recently came across a book entitled, “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God, but Living as If He Doesn’t Exist”. While I didn’t read the book, the title intrigued me and got me thinking: how many of those who call themselves “Christians” live this way? We continue to live like the small child who believes he can’t be seen simply because he is covering his eyes and can’t see his parents. We can’t see God, so it won’t matter if I indulge in a secret sin here or there, as long as no one knows, or no one sees. We proclaim a faith in Christ, but live as those His sacrifice means nothing.
In my Method & Praxis class one Monday night, we were discussing Kant’s impact on theology and the modern church. Kant taught a philosophical outlook on the world that consequently reduced religion (of the Christian persuasion) to moral living and God to a Santa Claus type figure. I think this is the brand of Christianity a large number of believers have adopted. We opt for the package deal not involving responsibility for our actions or sacrificing our old lifestyle for one embracing surrender and actual change. We talk about bringing Light to a dark world, but how can we do that when we look just like the world?
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Christ with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” –Brennan Manning
This is the reality and consequence of carrying the name of Christ and living like a child of the Devil. If we have truly embraced the redemption of the Divine Savior it should make a difference! Steven Curtis Chapman, a popular Christian artist, wrote a song describing your stereotypical, average Christian of today: WWJD bracelets, Christian bumper stickers, and an ichthus fish on our cars, “but what about the change? What about the difference? What about the grace? What about forgiveness? “In the next line he declares the desire of his heart, and the desire that should be at the center of every believers cry, “I wanna live a life that’s showing I’m undergoing the Change”.
God saved us from our sin, for something greater! Why are we still living like we’re in chains? Why are we living as though the power that raised Christ from death is not living in us? Why are we living less than “worthy of the call”? We have been called out of darkness into GLORIOUS LIGHT! And the world is watching. So “what about the change”?
In my Method & Praxis class one Monday night, we were discussing Kant’s impact on theology and the modern church. Kant taught a philosophical outlook on the world that consequently reduced religion (of the Christian persuasion) to moral living and God to a Santa Claus type figure. I think this is the brand of Christianity a large number of believers have adopted. We opt for the package deal not involving responsibility for our actions or sacrificing our old lifestyle for one embracing surrender and actual change. We talk about bringing Light to a dark world, but how can we do that when we look just like the world?
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Christ with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” –Brennan Manning
This is the reality and consequence of carrying the name of Christ and living like a child of the Devil. If we have truly embraced the redemption of the Divine Savior it should make a difference! Steven Curtis Chapman, a popular Christian artist, wrote a song describing your stereotypical, average Christian of today: WWJD bracelets, Christian bumper stickers, and an ichthus fish on our cars, “but what about the change? What about the difference? What about the grace? What about forgiveness? “In the next line he declares the desire of his heart, and the desire that should be at the center of every believers cry, “I wanna live a life that’s showing I’m undergoing the Change”.
God saved us from our sin, for something greater! Why are we still living like we’re in chains? Why are we living as though the power that raised Christ from death is not living in us? Why are we living less than “worthy of the call”? We have been called out of darkness into GLORIOUS LIGHT! And the world is watching. So “what about the change”?
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