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Seldom do I come by articles which say things that I think about, but these things I NEVER hear from those who claim to be "Christian". BEING a "Christian" (a believe and follower of Jesus Chris), and CLAIMING the name of "Christian" are two completely DIFFERENT things.

We are told in the Bible that "few" will find the "narrow way"...Matthew 7:14. Yet, thousands upon thousands of "denominations" (splits in the "one body" of Christ) claim they are the "few". THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY BE!

At one time in history, people who believed, and followed the teachings of Jesus Christ had no real name/title except they were followers of "the Way" (Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...see John 14:6).

It was at Antioch where the DISCIPLES were first called "Christians"...and that name was DEROGATORY to them as followers of Jesus Christ. Being called "Christian" was tantamount to spitting on them. (History records this fact). But today, the name has a source of "PRIDE" to those who call themselves by that name....see Proverbs 16:18.

And also today, REAL followers (believers/faithful) of Jesus Christ, through study of the Bible alone, are beginning to understand that calling themselves "Christian" is again becoming somewhat derogatory. Being called a "Christian", today, is more and more becoming something that is meaningless. Stop ANY person on the street and ask them if they are "Christian", and 9 our of 10 times they will say, "Yes", or "Of course, I am a Christian." But, chances are that NONE OF THEM have even opened a Bible ONCE in their lifetime.

What reason do they give?

1. My parents brought me up "Christian".
2. I go to church every Sunday.
3. I try to be a "good" person.
4. I don't want to go to hell.
5. I want to be in heaven with my spouse/son/friend, etc. when I die.

THIS IS NOT CHRISTIANITY...and these are NOT "Christians".

What is a "Christian?" and "Who is Jesus Christ?"...good article by Lynette Woods:


http://www.unveiling.org/Articles/jesus.html


Piece of the article:

Many Christians talk about "accepting Jesus" when in fact they haven't accepted Jesus, but instead have accepted a religious construct. Others claim to have accepted Jesus, but have often accepted a self-made god; a "Jesus" who is made in the person's own image, according to what they like and don't like. And He is not recognisable as the Jesus of the Bible. "You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed." (2 Cor. 11:4).

Jesus said difficult, offensive, even harsh things to others, including His disciples. That challenges what many believe about Jesus today. He called Peter a devil, telling him he was offensive and that He didn't know God (Matt. 16:23). He told His disciples that they had very little faith and trust (Matt. 8:26; 14:31; 16: and said to them, "Don’t you see or understand yet? Have your hearts been made like stone? You have eyes - don’t you see? You have ears - don’t you hear? And don’t you remember?" (Mark 8:17,1 . To two of His disciples He said: "How foolish you are! You're so slow to believe everything the prophets said!" (Luke 24:25).

Jesus offended many people, even His own followers (John 6:60-61). As Scripture says, "I am placing a Rock in Zion that people trip over, a large Rock that people find offensive" (Isaiah 8:14). Both Paul and Peter used that Scripture in reference to Christ (Rom. 9:33, 1 Pet. 2: .

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The "Jesus" of the Bible was not a pushover! He spoke His mind when people angered Him. Listen to what He tells the leaders of the Jews in Matthew 23:

Vs.23.."Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, JUDGMENT, MERCY, AND FAITH: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

Vs. 24.."Ye BLIND GUIDES, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

Vs. 25.."Woe unto you , scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND THE PLATTER, but within they are FULL OF EXTORTION AND EXCESS."

Vs. 27.."Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto WHITED SEPULCHRES, which indeed APPEAR BEAUTIFUL OUTWARD, but are WITHIN full of DEAD MEN'S BONES, AND OF ALL UNCLEANNESS."

Vs. 33.."Ye SERPENTS, YE GENERATION OF VIPERS, HOW CAN YE ESCAPE THE DAM*ATION OF HELL?"

Those are the actual words of Jesus Christ....the REAL ONE! He is NOT the "Baby in a manger", nor was He always "meek and gentle". HE TOLD THINGS AS HE SAW THEM!! And these SAME THINGS he said to those Pharisees apply to the "leaders" (Pastors) of today's "churches".

If he saw lies, deceit, and "religious pretenses", HE CALLED PEOPLE OUT ON THEM!!

So, if I occasionally do this myself when I see some of the hypocrisy and LIES spoken by people who should be "followers of Jesus Christ", but don't; and call themselves by the name of "Christian", and they don't show the "fruit" (and this includes speaking the truth of what the Bible actually says) of being a follower of Jesus Christ....then I am doing EXACTLY WHAT JESUS, HIMSELF DID. I love our Lord Jesus Christ, and I will defend the truth of the Bible as long as I am able.

Arlene