Native Christian: Are you a "NATIVE Christian?" Pt. 2

Are you a "Native Christian?"

What is a Native Christian? Native Christian is a funny name that came up during a Bible study last year. We used the term to define people who don't really know why they are "Christian" - - and quite frankly, they most likely are not. They are simply identified with Christianity because of their parents, or because they go to church on the weekend for social activity, or because they want to be the same as others... for a variety of different reasons, they identify themselves as a Christian.

Are YOU a Christian simply because you were born into a Christian household? Have you ever considered what it means to actually be like Christ?

Are you "Christian because your parents are Christians?" Are you a "Christian" because "you were raised in a Christian house?" If someone asked people who know you, what would they say about you? Do you KNOW if you are really a Christian?

How can you really know if you are a Christian?

This blog will be dedicated to the following:

- Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ

- Determining the difference between a "Native Christian" and a sinner who has been reborn and regenerated to new life

- Discussing and answering questions about Christianity and refuting some common myths and misunderstandings about the Bible

- Addressing problems with other world religions and other cults that claim to be of the Christian Church

- Addressing current social/political issues from a Biblical and Christian world-view

This blog will not do the following:

-Engage in hostile argumentative debate or allow offensive or inappropriate comments. If you are simply here to pick a fight, or if you just want to make rude inappropriate comments, they will be removed immediately and ignored.

I hope you enjoy my blog, for whatever its worth to you, and I although I am no scholar, no professor or high profile pastor, I hope that I can communicate with you all in a direct and effective manner that is edifying to you, and glorifies the Lord!

Thank you, and God Bless!

Friday, August 31, 2007

Are you a "NATIVE Christian?" Pt. 2

NATIVE CHRISTIANS...

HEY YOU! Yes YOU...Are you Christian?

Are you "Christian because your parents are Christians?" Are you a "Christian" because "you were raised in a Christian house?" If someone asked people who know you, what would they say about you?

Do you KNOW if you are really a Christian?

How can you really know if you are a Christian?

To be "Christ-ian" literally means to be "Christ - like" - "one who is like " [-ian] Christ [Christ. ]

Much like this picture illustrates, we can be raised to love Christ, but we need to actually KNOW HIM and LIVE FOR HIM in order to actually BE LIKE HIM. Further, we can believe in Him/accept Him as our SAVIOR, we can "accept" who He is - (as also the demons know who He is and tremble at His name) - and be "Christian" by title, but by not living for Him, and not bowing our knee to him as our LORD, in no way are we Christians by function or purpose.

Are you simply "Christian" by name... perhaps because that is what your parents believe? I hear a lot of people saying they are Christians because they "believe in God", because they are "good people," or because they "go to church." But none of these things actually make you Christian.

A lot of people believe in God (Christians, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, and others), but what "god" or in some cases what "gods" do they believe in? A lot of people think that they are "good" by/of themselves (because they are self-righteous), but the Bible says "There is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:3 NASB). There is also many non-believers, and non-Christians who attend church, whether it is because they are appeasing someone else (spouse, parent, boyfriend/girlfriend), still "checking it out", or looking for "more evidence" - or they may be a false convert... either way, these things DO NOT make you a Christian. [[By the way, in Romans 1:19 (because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them) we see that you DONT NEED ANY MORE EVIDENCE!!)

The next several posts on this blog will be dedicated to finding out the following from a Biblical perspective:

-Do I believe in God?

-Am I a "good" person?

-Am I a Native Christian or Regenerated Sinner?

Please check back soon to hear more...