The Gospel
Christians often tend to think of the gospel (the story of Jesus) as something that needs to be preached and that non-Christians just don’t get it. I would like to argue people don’t understand because they haven’t been taught. Non-Christians don’t understand the gospel because they have been hurt by Christians or have seen Christians act in negative or hipicritical ways. If someone doesn't understand the unconditional grace of Jesus and we are not showing them with our actions, they will not simply understand because we tell them to.
If we as a whole can't join together and show non-Christians that we are not all ignorant, and bigoted, people will never see, or understand, the gospel. I am not trying to attack Christians, just point out that we are, as DC Talks says “the number one reason for atheism” in the United States.
In The Ragamuffin Gospels Brennan Manning also addresses the way Christians act. He states that "the greatest single cause of atheism in the world today...is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is simply what an unbelieving world finds unbelievable.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today... is Christians...
If we as a whole can't join together and show non-Christians that we are not all ignorant, and bigoted, people will never see, or understand, the gospel. I am not trying to attack Christians, just point out that we are, as DC Talks says “the number one reason for atheism” in the United States.
In The Ragamuffin Gospels Brennan Manning also addresses the way Christians act. He states that "the greatest single cause of atheism in the world today...is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is simply what an unbelieving world finds unbelievable.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today... is Christians...
We, as humans (religious and non) also have a habit of blaming people for their negative situations.
People might make bad decisions but they do not choose to to have aids, to be homeless, or to be mocked and bullied for being gay. We cant blame these people for their situation but we can reach out, have a conversation and get to know and understand him so that we can help him. This is grace. You do not have to agree with a person or their decisions to understand them. It is important that we as Christians take the time to get to know people that are different from us.
More (link coming soon)
People might make bad decisions but they do not choose to to have aids, to be homeless, or to be mocked and bullied for being gay. We cant blame these people for their situation but we can reach out, have a conversation and get to know and understand him so that we can help him. This is grace. You do not have to agree with a person or their decisions to understand them. It is important that we as Christians take the time to get to know people that are different from us.
More (link coming soon)