May/June 2000
Confused about Christians?
by Elaine Hardt
Confused about Christians? Sorry about that. Christians have made a muddle of a lot of things.
Why All the Confusion?
1. Denominations can be confusing. Today's churches have come from a variety of geographical and historical backgrounds. When they immigrated to the United States, Germans wanted to associate with Germans, Dutch with Dutch, etc.
Denominations started because people wanted different styles of worship, different rules for their organization, etc. Some emphasize one thing; others, something else.
2. Names can be confusing. The affiliation of a local church may not be evident from their name. The sign over the door doesn't tell you what goes on inside.
3. Churches can be confusing. A stranger who wanders in can easily become lost when handed a bulletin with nine loose pages, a nine- pound hymnal and nine minutes of announcements. Many churches are not "user-friendly." People may even speak a strange jargon.
4. Terminology can be confusing. For years there was only the King James Version of the Bible, with "thee," "thine," "thou," "hast" and "wouldest." Now there are many different translations of the Bible. It can be difficult to follow along when someone is reading from an unfamiliar version of the Bible.
5. Ritual can be confusing. Some churches are heavy on formality, others are very flexible and unstructured. A person could lose sight of the essentials in all that is superfluous.
6. The Bible can be confusing. If you've ever started reading the Old Testament and gotten bogged down in ancient history; sorry about that. To get to the heart of Jesus' message read the Gospels, the first four books in the New Testament. Later you'll read the rest of the Bible with greater understanding.
7. Christians can be confusing. Not all who call themselves Christian have the same level of commitment to Jesus Christ.
For all of the confusion we have caused, we Christians must apologize. If what we've said and done has caused you discomfort, we are sorry. If we've come across as "better than you" this, too, is in error.
| A stranger who wanders in can easily become lost when handed a bulletin with nine loose pages, a nine- pound hymnal and nine minutes of announcements. Many churches are not "user-friendly." |
This is What We'd Like You to Know...
1. We are not promoting our own brand of religion. As Christians we have found answers to the deep spiritual needs everyone experiences. We have come to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
2. It doesn't matter which denomination, or local church or version of the Bible you prefer. What matters is this: Have you accepted eternal life that Jesus died to give you? God is not asking your affiliation; he is looking for a heart that sincerely wants to know the truth.
3. It doesn't matter if you don't attend OUR church. What matters is that you look for a group where the whole Bible is preached, where you are welcomed and have an opportunity to grow in faith. Men's opinions are only human; God's truth is eternal.
4. All believers are in God's family. All people who have accepted Jesus Christ as the one and only way to forgiveness are in one family, the family of God. Heaven will not be divided up into denominations or groups of any kind!
5. Be aware of counterfeits. There is an actual enemy of our soul; the Bible calls him the Devil and Satan. He is against the truth.
6. Don't continue in confusion. Don't let the apparent shortcomings of big-name Christians or even your neighbors distract you from the real issues of life and faith. Don't let pride or complacency rob you of real peace and joy that comes from knowing that your sins and shortcomings have been totally forgiven by your Maker.
7. The choice is yours. Ultimately, it's just you and God. It's the biggest and most important decision any of us will ever make. Ask him to make it clear to you so you won't make a mistake. It's your life. Don't waste another minute in confusion.
If we Christians have said or done anything that detracts from your spiritual search for truth, please forgive us. What we really want to do is reach out in a caring way and let you know we are concerned.
We'd like everyone to have the peace and satisfaction and joy that come when the "Big Issue of Life" has been settled between you and God.
Here is one of the most famous verses in the entire Bible:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Everyone who wants to be saved comes to God by grace, through faith. It's not a matter of earning it, deserving it or automatically getting it.
Have you ever prayed "the Prayer?"
Here it is. Read it now. Sooner or later you will want to pray it.
Dear Father in heaven, your Word says you love me and do not want me to perish. I admit that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sin and shortcomings.
I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he paid for all my sins with his blood on the cross. I call on his name to save me.
I now receive his life. I believe Jesus is living in me, that I am forgiven and now I am a Christian. Because of this free gift of eternal life, I will go to be with Jesus when I die. Thank you, Lord, for saving me. Amen.
One final wordplease remember this: Don't neglect God's salvation. Don't be confused.
Elaine Hardt, a freelance writer published in numerous Christian publications, lives in Arizona.