Is something wrong here?

[ozark]

I want to get saved and become a Christian for the benefits. It would let me go to heaven when I die and only a fool would chance burning in hell for an eternity.
It would put me in Gods favor and He would answer my prayers providing me with all I ask for.If problems do come all I would need to do is send up a prayer and He would fix things for me.

Yeah, I know I would need to try to keep His commandants. I can't hardly keep from coveting. Maybe coveting is why I want this Christianity. It is probably a sin, but His son died on the cross for my sins so there is really no worry.

I have been told I need to serve God. I don't rightly know how to do that and with His enormous power He doesn't need anything I could give.

I think one of the promises is that by following Him we will have life abundantly. Abundantly sounds just fine with me.

It looks like a big package of benefits to me. I don't think this line of thinking is going to cut out my welfare check, stop my food stamps or prevent me from drawing disability. I am disabled because I am allergic to work. They call it by some long medical term but they use letters only. I think it is CTTS. Someone said it was Critical Tendency to Sponge.

Now for the 64 dollar question (That ages me). Should I use these thoughts to create a church? I already have a tentative name. "BENEFITS EVERLASTING"

[wilmsmeyer]

You're my idol. ;D

Questions and more questions. A thinking man is a wise man.

If the powers that be would condemn these thoughts, then the powers that be are cruel....playing with us, Can't imagine that.

If that's the way it is, we cant do anything about it.

Good post Ozark.

[dougedwards]

Without quoting the many scriptures on this subject I can say that Jesus emphasized that folks should count the cost before dedicating their souls to the Lord. Jesus was always very straight forward concerning the hardships of following Him.

Jesus said "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first but I have overcome the world".

When two disciples, James and John, in an attempt to coerce Jesus to allow them both to sit on each side of Jesus on the throne of heaven, Jesus asked them if they were able to drink of His cup. They replied that they surely were willing and able to which Jesus replied that they would indeed drink of His cup.

Even though the two disciples didn't know it, Jesus was referring to martyrdom. Both of the disciples would experience horrendous deaths in the name of Jesus.

Yes, Jesus promises us hardship and trials and persecution but He also promises a yoke that is easy to bear. We have no ultimate control over our health or circumstances that surround us but we, who love Christ, do have an assurance that He will be with us always.

Yes, there will be many who will enter into the faith and will quickly fall away. There is a vivid depiction of this in the parable of the sower of seed. There will also be those who will promise a bed of roses if you just come to Jesus but these are not the words of Jesus. Jesus promised that if you abide in His ways then you shall know the truth and that truth will set you free.

Hardship?....yes / Persecution?......yes / Trials and Tribulation?......yes / Mockery?......yes

All who would come to Christ should first count the drastic costs.

The only benefit is life everlasting with the Prince of Peace and a peace that passes all understanding.

Ozark.....I must say that even though you and I share a certain disdain for hypocrisy.......by the messages that you post on this subject it almost appears that you are obsessed with this subject. Time and time again you are quick to point out that there are those who claim to know all the truth but lack the love of Christ in their hearts. While this may be true it is harmful for us to focus on all that is wrong instead of the tremendous blessings that God has bestowed upon us. Always focusing on the negative is unrealistic and robs us of our peace. We are both getting too old to live the rest of our lives in such self inflicted turmoil.

Doug

[ozark]

Doug, I do have disdain for hypocrisy, but I am not always focusing on the negative. In fact, I am not sure that I am as much against hypocrisy as I am in seeing those who are misled into believing that they are true Christians when they have yet to be born again. As you know it is said: Verily, Verily I say unto you except a man be born again they shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. (May not be exact quote). Many have been misled into believing that they have met all the requirements and meerly have to believe and go on faith. Many honestly think that they have crossed all the Ts and dotted all the I s. Some influencial preachers ask their listeners to say a prayer with them and then state that if you have said this prayer we believe you have been born again. IMO revivals, preachers or individuals cannot save us. I think that is in the hands of The Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and God which I see as one. These misled folks are not intentional hypocrits. Just misled. Now the pretenders who know they are not true Christians but claim to be for the social standing and the hope that they will be respected and looked up to are my major disdane. Anyone can put on the stars of a General Officer but that doesn't make you a General. It makes you a fake pretender. While it may be harmful for me to focus on the negative aspects and perhaps it does rob us of some peace and tranquility. But it is a war that I believe in. It is a war that I believe God approves of. It is one that I must fight until my time is up. Those who know me well, know that I am not a negative oriented person. I appreciate your council and concern but the battle rages on and I must stand up and be counted. Thanks Doug

[dougedwards]

Good points Ben! I remember some time ago I was away at a church type of men's retreat and was surrounded at a table of "old sages" who were so holy that they could take no advice or direction but only knew how to give it. One young man sitting at the table admitted that he had a very difficult time when at the ocean front at Virginia Beach because he couldn't help but feel lust in his heart when he saw all the almost nude babes walking around. All these guys could do is criticize him for his feelings and even shunned him for the rest of the session. I was enraged inside but I said nothing.

Later I spoke with the iterate speaker of the event who had admitted to sexual addiction as well as alcohol addiction in his life. I admired this man for being so transparent and honest and I thought I would ask him a question in private. The question was from me to him "I see that you have been through many phases in your life and you don't seem ashamed to admit your shortcomings but I think I need to admit a shortcoming also. I am finding it very difficult to tolerate people who parade as God's special people with some special knowledge that no-one else has the privilege of knowing. They behave as if they have a special pipeline to God but they are not humble people at all. Why does this bother me so much and how have you learned to be so tolerant of this type of person?"

He responded"Doug, I am no more tolerant of that type of hypocrisy than I ever was but you have to understand there are two types of people of God. ONE is the family of God people. My wife is one of those. She feels compassion for these hypocritical type of people and knows that this is just the phase in life that they are going through. She loves them anyway and she is right."

He continued "The other type of Christian is the army of God soldier. That is my type. I see these seemingly holy people as being in the way and an obstruction to seeking pure and forth coming souls who are ready to surrender to the Lord and I am right."

Then he said "Doug, if you are feeling a burden about this it is because God has put it there but remember this. Jesus was a whole lot more tolerant of sin than he was hypocrisy."

I thanked him.

[ozark]

Very good Doug. It is amazing at the difference between the genuine and the artifical.

[deadon]

Doug, I am going to get some mileage out of that post, Hope you don't mind.

[dougedwards]

Jun 25, 2010 16:02:29 GMT -5 deadon said:

Doug, I am going to get some mileage out of that post, Hope you don't mind.

Yes, get all the mileage that you can from that one. I know that those words have stuck with me for some time.

Doug

[swampman]

"Praise de lord o' my soul cause I get's all de benifits"~ Old African American Preacher