do we really care about the lost?
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Yep, love them. Minister to them, care for them, pray for them, and gently guide them in the right direction.
It's not always easy, but it's the right thing to do. We all need improvement in this area, myself included.
It's not always easy, but it's the right thing to do. We all need improvement in this area, myself included.
Live our lives as much like Christ as we can, so we will stand out and be a beacon to them. Yes, we are to actively reach out, but if we are living as close to Christ as possible, they will be drawn (sent) to us as well.
God won't use people as much that aren't setting a good example of him.
God won't use people as much that aren't setting a good example of him.
My wife's favorite saying is, "People don't care what you know 'til they know that you care."
I believe that the word of God is obviously important. But if we call ourselves Christians and fail to walk like Christ not many will give our words much weight.
I believe that the word of God is obviously important. But if we call ourselves Christians and fail to walk like Christ not many will give our words much weight.
Truer words have never been said. Modern Christianity has become scarred with hypocrisy. Politicians preach family values while they're cheating on their wives. "Celibate" clergymen are sexually abusing children in their care. American values and ethics have been replaced with greed and selfishness. And of course, thousands of people are dying every year in wars and conflicts based in disagreement over whose opinion of God is correct. As if anyone should presume to be so knowledgeable of God.
The best way to teach is by example. If you want someone to learn what is a good Christian, DEMONSTRATE IT DAILY. Don't judge others. Be compassionate. Exercise humility and self-restraint.
People today who argue against a single payer health care system, which is the most cost-effective way to provide a basic level of health care to all citizens of a nation, will frequently express the attitude of "Why should I pay for someone else's health care?" I believe the answer to that question is obvious to anyone who follows the teachings of JC. My grandmother simply called it "the Golden Rule".
Christians are great at appearing self-righteous. Humility goes a long way toward restoring credibility.
As the ruling class continues pillaging the global economy to increase their personal wealth, the working class is pushed further into desperation. We will be living in serfdom again soon if the greed is not curtailed. Is this what God prefers? That evil wins? That the greedy succeed in hoarding the planet's resources so they may mete them to the highest bidder?
It's the hypocrisy of the "faithful" which has caused me to lose my own faith. I cannot believe we are anymore than an evolutionary chain of cause and effect, survival of the fittest, from the cellular level and all the way up. The strongest survive. Morals and ethics need not apply.
That's what humanity's taught me in 40 yrs anyway.
I agree with everything that you've said, except for your conclusion. You say "the hypocrisy of the faithful" has caused you to loose your faith. What you're missing here is that the faithful are not hypocrites. There's the big difference there.
The world is infested with those that appear to be faithful, and yet in secret they do the most terrible of things. These are not the faithful at all, they are the hypocrites that Jesus condemned.
Remember too, this world lies in the power of the wicked one until the Lord returns. It might seem like the evil ones succeed and decent people are the loosers, but that's just not true if you look at the big picture.
This life is so short compared to eternity, and the true faithful will be rewarded in heaven while the wicked will be the ones left out because the bible says that they have received their reward in full while on earth. (Or something like that......lol)
Don't just look on the surface, look deeper
My father in law has always said;
"You work with hypocrites, you eat with hypocrites, you go to family reunions with hypocrites, why would you expect that you wouldn't go to church with them?"
"You work with hypocrites, you eat with hypocrites, you go to family reunions with hypocrites, why would you expect that you wouldn't go to church with them?"
You can add me to the "like"
Yes, it's like refusing to go into a hospital because they only treat "sick" people there.
All of these were great answers....example, prayer, through love, but one very important step was missed. You have to listen to the Holy Spirit. He prepares the way. I can't imagine going into the inner city alone handing out tracks to a gang. You need to listen to God, and since He said to test the spirits, He wasn't joking......especially this day and time. You know when the Holy Spirit prompts you. We wouldn't be Christians if we didn't care about the lost. The day I got saved, my next thought was of my son......and it goes from there. This is not only what I think, this is what I believe.
All of these were great answers....example, prayer, through love, but one very important step was missed. You have to listen to the Holy Spirit. He prepares the way. I can't imagine going into the inner city alone handing out tracks to a gang. You need to listen to God, and since He said to test the spirits, He wasn't joking......especially this day and time. You know when the Holy Spirit prompts you. We wouldn't be Christians if we didn't care about the lost. The day I got saved, my next thought was of my son......and it goes from there. This is not only what I think, this is what I believe.
Amen Sister (Cuz) L! Amen! ♥
Before I started vaping, I was able to reach out to more people while I smoked cigars than ever before. People realized I was a goody two shoes (though I have no problem with those that don't smoke and/or vape) and didn't focus on religion. I've heard plenty of stories from other church leaders that their doors opened up more when they were at a bar drinking beer. It puts you at a person's level. I'm not advocating doing something wrong. I'm simply saying that not trying to be perfect allows doors to open. Also, listen to what they have to say. As a youth pastor, I have a few youth who are Buddhist. Instead of judgement, I interact with them and cause them to think about what they believe and why. They've been condemned by most Christians their entire lives, why should I just add on to it? They know what I believe and they listen when I talk.
Welcome luceblueboy, it's great to have you here! Looking forward to getting to know you better!
While I certainly understand your point of view, I have to challenge that someone caused you to lose your faith. We all believe what we believe because we choose to believe it. We then go about building a case to justify our belief. No one's hypocrisy has caused anyone to lose their faith. It may add to one's "wall of evidence" why what I believe is justified, but it doesn't cause you to believe it. People believe what they want to believe... for whatever reason.. usually because they see it as necessary to take care of themselves.
I understand discouragement with the church and religious systems within Christianity... but really, that has nothing to do with whether or not Jesus is real or if what he said is true. Our ability to incorporate his truth into our lives is a statement about who we are ... not about who He is.
to paraphrase your statement.. (Christians are great at appearing self-righteous.) Christians are great at being human. Many times we don't know how to be anything else. And when we learn how to be truly Christ-like, in one small area of their lives, no one points a finger at us and says "look how great they are"... "look at what they've learned and how they've implemented it". Why? Because that is not what the system and society wants to see. The judgment about "self-righteous" is in the eye of the beholder.
On the other subject you brought up....
re: the statement about universal healthcare... trying to avoid getting political.... This has everything to do with the heart of the individual. When the state or the system takes away an individuals choice to give, then it is no longer giving. Organized-forced giving is no giving at all. When an individual gives out of their own charitable heart, God honors and blesses that. When the gov't takes it from us to give to others it is no longer a choice and the heart is eliminated from the equation. Charity is supposed to be an act of one's will out of love. Not because the gov't says so. In reality, the gov't is just another religion, set out to perpetuate itself. It doesn't create anything ... it justifies it's own existence by imposing its will upon others. Gov't ... like religion is designed to impose upon others that which it does not trust they will do for themselves. i.e. force all to give because they believe that others cannot be trusted to be charitable. or worse yet, force other to give so that I get mine. It is a proven fact that people give far more when they choose to than when the govt forces them to. As a side note... food for thought... Christians give 80% of all charitable donations ... world wide. I wouldn't call that hypocrisy.
I've never heard anyone say "Why should I pay for someone else's health care?". That is an assumption of what is being said. I have heard plenty of people say, "I want my charitable acts to be my decision... not the gov'ts". It may be the most effective way to pay for healthcare for all. But it isn't the most effective way to provide it.
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sometimes, i dont care about the lost. im worse for it, and know i need work and help there. when i meet directly with people who do not believe, i care quickly, but when i pass them on the street, i find my self cold. pray for myself and people like me that God would give us a burden to help those forgotten in our lives who do not know the Lord.
regarding the original question... Would it be appropriate to ask... "Who are the lost?" Or should I even approach that issue?? 
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