[CS-FSLUG] Convenience or Conviction?

[kellyarmstrong at prodigy.net]

It seemed to me the whole plot of the movie was that he was sent forward 
in time to see what his book on Christian morals without Christ would 
lead to. He saw churches that were social clubs instead of being Christ 
centered. My favorite part was when he told the kid it was wrong to 
steal and the kid responded " says who". Without Christ and the Word 
who is to say what is right or wrong.
  The part where the cops said "I think we missed the rapture" struck me 
as a realization that they were missing the whole point in their 
church.
In Christ,
Kelly


No Brian, that was not my point. I admit that I have met some "so called 
christians" whom knew nothing about church and the scripture except 
what they were taught about the "so called " rapture (bear in mind that 
I am an amillenialist, but that is a topic for another time).

Here then is my point: there are too many people that seem to call 
themselves Christians and yet many of them are merely in church for the 
sake of a "social activity" and that is about it. They pick up there 
faith when they enter the church and check it at the door when they 
leave. They may say to somebody at work that they are a christian or a 
church goer, but then they do not seek to live according to that 
confession. Indeed, they are often unable to answer even simple 
questions pertaining to who Christ Jesus is.
Even worse, if threatened, they are often the first to deny their faith. 
Now then, are we that way? This is something that we must each ask 
ourselves on an individual level. Oh, just for a reference, the two 
Lutheran groups had more interesting answers. They seemed to think that 
the question is a relevant one for the modern church.

In Christ,

Christopher

P.S. Brian, I do not mean to attack you, and if you feel that I did, 
please accept my apology.

--------- Original Message ---------

DATE: Fri, 7 May 2004 08:52:27 
From: Brian Derr <bderr at myrealbox.com>
To: christiansource at ofb.biz
Cc: 

>On Thu, May 06, 2004 at 07:17:25AM -0700, Christopher l Rose wrote:
>> This is a question that I struggle with daily and I decided that I
>> would some input from others in the matter. The question is this: Are
>> we Christians by Convenience or by Conviction? I know that the 
question
>> may sound absurd to some of us, but for others, it is something to
>> think about.  I bring the question up because of a movie I recently
>> watched called "Time Changer". Towards the end of the movie, the main
>> charactor is being "tailed" by two police officers who are members of 
a
>> church he was visiting (mind you that the main charactor was from the
>> year 1890 and was sent forward in time by one of his colleages). The
>> two police officers witnessed the main charactor's return to his own
>> time and one of them made a comment about missing the rapture. Hence,
>> I again ask, are we Christians by conveniece or conviction? If our 
faith
>> is based upon doctrines like the rapture and upon church activities,
>> then I would argue that we are lost and damned. If our faith is based
>> upon God's Holy Word and the sacrifice of Christ Jesus upon the 
Cross,
>> then we have salvation and full forgiveness for sin. I am sure that
>> more could be said, but then again, that is why I am sending out this
>> question: so more can be said.
>
>Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you but are you saying that if we are
>eagerly awaiting rapture we are Christians of convenience?!  I've got a
>lot more to say if that is your point.  I'll let you respond to clear 
up
>any misunderstandings.
>
>Brian
>
>-- 
>The just man walketh in his integrity:
>his children are blessed after him.  -- Proverbs 20:7
>