Comments on: Viral

By: Arzabala

Arzabala — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:42:57 +0000

The early church was viral; they appealed to everyone because they operated out of the Love of Jesus Christ and served ahy and everybody. They put themselves last as Jesus did! This is contagious; because serving others, helping others is natural…it feels good to help. Once you help 1 person you want to help another and then another. People under your realm of influence begun to notice and talk and people want to help. When you serve the lost you develop a reputation with them, you gain their trust, and they see a Jesus Christianity and not an American Christianity. These people get infected and infect others, and it is an ever growing virus of Love of Christ spread among the U.S. and world…problem is the American Church is viewed as judgmental and hypocritical because we point fingers trying to expose the sins of others but we are ignoring the sins within the church. ;

By: Paul Steinbrueck

Paul Steinbrueck — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:30:39 +0000

That's awesome!

By: JD_Jones

JD_Jones — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:47:29 +0000

Sorry if my reply came off that way. I agreed with everything you said, I was just clarifying my thoughts on a couple things.

By: bufanator

bufanator — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:42:34 +0000

"I would argue that the unchurched have good reason to equate Christianity with perfection – many Christians do the same. I'm not saying it's right, but when you're constantly told to "clean up your act" or something similar then you're going to think Christianity = perfection."
- thought is what I said…

"Point being, if you've got the actions to back up the words, keep talking. "
-I agree here too, my point isn't this thread but in general conversations I have heard. Everyone talks as what they should do, or what they are doing wrong, but time goes by and they have not had any change…they are just talking.

I have no disagreements and wasn't trying to imply anything…

By: JD_Jones

JD_Jones — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:31:10 +0000

I would argue that the unchurched have good reason to equate Christianity with perfection – many Christians do the same. I'm not saying it's right, but when you're constantly told to "clean up your act" or something similar then you're going to think Christianity = perfection. That's why I love seeing the look on someone's face when I show them in scripture that God loves them where they're at; that He doesn't expect them to change before coming to Him. As for talking, as long as someone is walking the walk, I got no problem with them talking. Without talking (whether it's dialogue, questions, conversation or even confrontation) there is no change. I can name people who wholeheartedly believe they're seeking Jesus with all their hearts and yet they don't have it all together, but if you were to talk to them they think they do. Just look at the UPC as an example. They teach that you must be baptized in water and the Holy Spirit to be saved. That's not in the Bible; but you can't argue with them because they've created a culture where questions = doubt and doubt = sin.

Point being, if you've got the actions to back up the words, keep talking.

By: bufanator

bufanator — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:41:51 +0000

Simply said lets quit talking, Seek Jesus with all our hearts and obey the Word! Lets put the hand to the plow and get to work!

By: bufanator

bufanator — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:40:50 +0000

But if as a whole, a interdenominational unit served everyone, lived as we are no better than any man, showing the Love of Christ willing to give up everything we have for Jesus we would be viewed as loving and helping, set a part and when we shed light on sin through Love people might be willing to listen. When someone hears you are a Christian they might actually want to hear you or at least listen out of respect instead turning a deaf ear. Jesus Christ is the virus we just have to infect ourselves first in the Love of Christ in order to infect others.

By: bufanator

bufanator — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:40:43 +0000

The early church was viral; they appealed to everyone because they operated out of the Love of Jesus Christ and served any and everybody. They put themselves last as Jesus did! This is contagious; because serving others, helping others is natural…it feels good to help. Once you help 1 person you want to help another and then another. People under your realm of influence begin to notice and talk and people want to help. When you serve the lost you develop a reputation with them, you gain their trust, and they see a Jesus Christianity and not an American Christianity. These people get infected and infect others, and it is an ever growing virus of Love of Christ spread among the U.S. and world…problem is the American Church is viewed as judgmental and hypocritical because we point fingers trying to expose the sins of others but we are ignoring the sins within the church.

By: bufanator

bufanator — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:39:12 +0000

A simple thought…the church back in the day is not the church of today in America. We are self centered, gluttonous as you would say, lazy, and egotistical! We have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof! Many churches stick to themselves, the 4 walls of their churches and most American Christians, and make absolutely no difference in their communities or for the Gospel of Christ!

I know here in the Bible belt the secular world equates Christianity with Perfection! THIS IS SO FREAKING WRONG! Christianity equates to Love, love that God has for us, working through us to reach the world! We are no sold out, we are not carrying our cross, we are not obeying His commands, we are not praying, we are not fasting, we are not reading His Living Word, we are worthless as part of the body of Christ, if we can even say we are apart…that maybe a facade in itself…I do not know only God does but the American Church stats and fruits do not line up with the Word as I am reading it. Enough of that rant…

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:35:41 +0000

Thanks for the input. Sadly you’re right. Reading your comment I’m reminded of a story Shaun King (Courageous Church, ATL) told. He said his wife was getting her hair done and the stylist asked her if her church has an outreach ministry and his wife responded, “No, our church IS the outreach ministry.”