Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Christianity -- American style vs... | Matt 28:19 | Country Girl | 128109 | ||
I just read a wonderful article and wanted to share it with you. It was written by a christian preacher from Tennessee. Finding Patrick On a recent visit to Tanzania I had the privilege to go with some fellow christians to the city of Wanza up on the shores of Lake Victoria. We drove clear across the Serengeti plains in Tanzania and arrived about dark. Boaz, one of our fellow christian travellers found us a place to stay and then told us he was going to find Patrick, the adopted son of Francis and Margaret Wechesa. Understand, we were in the second largest city in Tanzania with over a million people, and Boaz is on foot setting out at dark to find a man who has no phone and no address! About three hours later Boaz returned to where we were staying and announced, "I have found Patrick and have gotten the address to Isaac's house. We will go there in the morning. Well, my first question was, "Boaz, how in the world did you find Patrick?" Boaz replied, "I tracked him down through his Bible studies. I asked a man if they knew Patrick and he told me he did not know the man's name but there was a fellow who was teaching the Gospel in that area and he gave me directions to the street where he had been teaching. I went there and talked to others who had heard him, and eventually I found someone who knew where he lived." Unbelievable!! A million people, one fellow, no phone, no address, in the dark of the night!! Only in Africa! I got to thinking about my own life and wondered if anyone could track me down by the people I had been teaching the Gospel. I would not be far from the mark to say there was a sudden shame that came over me at the realization that, while I would be considered faithful to the Lord, and evangelistic in nature with a desire to spread the truth, I could not honestly think of any street in my home town where people could tell a stranger that, "We know a man who has been teaching the Gospel and we will take you to him." No question about it -- I must do better. God said to teach His Word and it would not come back void. He said to plant the Seed (His Word) and He would bring forth the increase. That's what I need to be doing. One day someone may be trying to find me and I would hope someone would tell them, "I know that man. He is teaching the Gospel; let me show you where he lives." Thank you, Patrick, for demonstrating what I should be doing in the Kingdom right in my own city. End of article. Oh, if we could only enjoy the wonderful sense and tremendous value of Christianity like Patrick shows his fellow family members. Would anyone have a suggestion as to how we could get a little closer to this standard of real and genuine Christianity? Blessings to you for reading this far. Country Girl |
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2 | Christianity -- American style vs... | Matt 28:19 | EdB | 128110 | ||
Ouch!!!! You have hit the heart of the problem. We are keeping the gospel in the meeting place instead of taking it to the market place. Why? In most instances a Pastor' success and the size of his pay is decided by the number of people attending or size of offering. Where do you think they are going to put their focus? Lay people think it isn't their problem, they paid good money to insure that they don't have to go out and witness. Seems like everyone has forgotten Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts chapter 1 Church is to equip the saints to do the work of the Lord. Therefore it really isn't the pastor's job to win souls it is job of everyone that attends church and that should be everyone that calls himself a Christian believer. I imagine it is going to be real embarrassing in heaven when each person is asked how many they shared Jesus with. And even more embarrassing when asked how many lead another in the sinner's prayer. Perhaps that is the clothing the man hadn't put on when he was cast out of the wedding because of inappropriate attire. I can not see how someone can say they believe in Jesus and not tell everyone they meet that doesn’t know Jesus about Jesus. To me that is a contradiction of terms. And you know what that may just be how God and Jesus see it. EdB |
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3 | Christianity -- American style vs... | Matt 28:19 | Country Girl | 128120 | ||
I appreciate your insight. I'd like to think that everyone will respond that way but the real question to everybody is, "Will I do something to change and make an improvement in my own community?" Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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4 | Christianity -- American style vs... | Matt 28:19 | EdB | 128140 | ||
Country Girl Your right the buck stops here. But until the whole perspective of the church in America changes I doubt much change will take place. For years and years I was taught to come to church, fellowship with other members, pay my tithe and invite someone next week. The Pastor would say if you have an unsaved loved one or someone you would like to see saved bring them next week, were going to have a service where many will be saved. Salvation was the pastors business I was free from any responsibility. In fact we had one pastor that never had anyone saved in two years! Well we got rid of him! Then one day I read my Bible and saw Jesus was talking to me not to church pastors, then I read that He gave church pastors to equip the church. I went back to the church with this new found information and you know what I wasn't being equipped at all. I was getting excellent, spiritual motivational and challenging messages. Each Sunday I would walk out being encouraged, convicted, or inspired to live better, try harder, but I was never being trained to testify, witness, share my story of Jesus with others. Furthermore I wasn’t even being challenged to do that. The biggest challenge I received was give more or bring more people with me. Nearly everything in the church in America is focused at growth and consists of two things keeping the ones that do attend coming back and coming up with something to draw others in. Most church goers have never really shared Jesus with anyone either by word of mouth or, and this is the most disturbing, by their life style. If we were to pick out 50 Christians at random from any church and 50 non Christians and follow them for a week I would imagine it would be very difficult to pick out the so called Christians. Have you ever notice that if you really share Jesus with some one you see every day and your life will change because now you change you life style to show them you’re a Christian. Imagine if every Christian did that, the effects would be seen in all of creation just because of changes made within the Christian body. Another thing that would change this situation would be if every Christian had to wear a sign that said imitate me as I imitate Christ. I’m sorry but I believe the change must come from the pulpits, men and women called to the ministry must begin to fulfill their call. Equipping the saint to do the work of the Lord. And the church must begin looking to them to do that. EdB |
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5 | Christianity -- American style vs... | Matt 28:19 | Emmaus | 128146 | ||
EdB, You and Country Girl might find this document on the Apostolate of the Laity of interest. http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/v2laity.htm Emmaus |
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