May 22, 2009

Unsure Christians

American Christianity loves the idea of Jesus. We love how nice Jesus is, how gentle and meek, how gracious and kind. We love that Jesus died for our sins and descended into hell for us. We love Jesus who's our friend and who's always by our side.

American Christianity loves the idea of Jesus.

But that's the problem. Most Americans understanding of Jesus doesn't come from knowing the Biblical testimony of Jesus but primarily from heresay. Granted, most church going folk here from preachers, but it's still heresay.

And here's the problem with heresay Christianity - heresay Christianity doesn't have what it takes to undergird persons through the trials and storms of life.

Heresay Chrisitianity is fine for the good times, the mundane times, and even some of the hard times. But when life throws down its gauntlet and the storms of life come crashing down, the sand castle of faith has no chance against the oncoming tide.

Jesus diagnosed the problem when He said, "Are you not in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?" (Mark 2:24).

When we don't know the scriptures and what the Bible says, we have no assurance, we have no power.

The children's song says, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

Jesus loves me - this I know - how? How do we know without a shadow of doubt, regardless of the circumstances we find in life that Jesus loves us?

For the Bible tells me so.

But what happens if you don't know what the Bible says? And that's the problem. There is no assurance and no power with heresay Christianity.

With heresay Christianity, you have unsure Chrsitians. And until Americans get back in the discipline of reading the Bible for ourselves on a daily basis, that's what we're going to end up with - unsure, powerless, heresay Christians.

James <><
Check out what God is doing @
www.trinitypresbyterian.us

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