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This article is called, “Christian In Name Only.” Think about that statement for a moment. Someone is probably thinking I don’t get it so what does that mean? It means that people have a religion without Christ. They do not know Jesus Christ personally. They only know religious things, and works for salvation. People claim this for many different reasons. I went to church with my parents and I was taught things about the Bible. I come from a Christian family. I was involved in Sunday School and church functions for many year.

I was the member of a church. I have heard about Christ being a  Savior, all my life.  I even believed there is a God and a Jesus.. I do not know much about Him but I believe He exist. My parents believed in God, so I did also. I was never going to call my parents liars. 

As I grew older I changed Christianity by finding and attending another church that I liked better. It was a lot more exciting in this church and there were plenty of events with more people my age. Finally I felt welcome and a real part of them, I was accepted and made a lot of new friends. I felt like I finally belonged there. I felt that I was no longer a child following mom and dad and needed the belonging and acceptance from my own generation and that alone made me feel worthwhile and valuable.

I love what I am doing “FOR GOD,” and I am blessed. Friends tell me I have many wonderful spiritual gifts from God. The praise and worship services are so wonderful and I never dreamed I could feel this way. I am also part of the “SPIRIT TEAM.” It is hard to describe what all I have experienced. 

Of course my church and generation progressed and moved on in a greater modern way, with a lot of progress and new and better ways of worship. I realized that I had finally grown up and was living my generations Christianity, and I loved it. I mean “GOD CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR MY GENERATION.” This is why I am a Christian and have been since I was a small child. 

CHRISTIANITY OR RELIGION

Dear Reader, do you know the difference between Christianity and Religion? Or do you just consider Christianity as one of those religions? Is there a real difference? Every thing I stated above sounded very nice but it was the thoughts of “RELIGIOUS THINGS.” In the 3 paragraphs above that I wrote, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS MISSING CONCERNING REAL CHRISTIANITY? What is really missing? It definitely showed what individuals are doing. 

FOR OR WITH GOD? That was the question. I went to friends at church and asked them this simple question. Many were confused and said, I do not understand the question. I wanted to understand church members response of are you doing something FOR GOD, or are you doing something WITH GOD? There is a very big difference in for or with. If you are doing something FOR God you are the only one involved, and God is not involved, but is excluded. If you are doing things with God, then you and God are both actively involved together.

Dear Reader, TOO MUCH OF TODAYS SO CALLED WORSHIP IS ALL ABOUT “MAN CENTERED SPIRITUALITY. NOT GOD CENTERED.”  How often is God excluded from what you are doing? If you are a real Christian that means the Holy Spirit of God lives in you. Jesus said the Holy Spirits job is to lead you, not follow you. And how often is He, excluded in your life, because you can handle everything you self, and you are doing things without Him. Neither you nor I are a match for Satan and his demons, we need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in every Christian.

WHAT IS MISSING?

I asked 3 paragraphs ago, “WHAT IS MISSING FROM THE FIRST 3 PARAGRAPHS regarding Christianity? I will answer what is missing. God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, The Bible, Sin, Forgiveness, Salvation, the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. Also conversion, faith and trust, Spiritual growth and being led by God. These are the things that truly makes you a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ. To many people are claiming to be a Christian without Christ. It is not what you say you are doing for Him, IT IS WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE FOR YOU.

Many churches today are centered on material blessings rather than Spiritual Blessings. (As in the health and wealth gospel.) Worship should not be based on receiving but rather your giving to God. As Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” It is not, I give to get, so the more I give the more I get and God is obligated to give to me. THAT IS PURE BULL CRAP, YOU CANNOT OBLIGATE GOD TO DO ANYTHING. 

I want to show you the difference and perfect example of what Jesus said. And this is what “Christian In Name Only Means.” They profess it but do not possess it. They prefer their works rather than God’s Works. They think they are controlling their salvation by what they are doing.  Matthew 7:22-23 “ Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” It does not get any plainer that that. People wear a “LABEL” called Christian but they are not Christian. Click this blue link called “NOMINALISM” for a better understanding.

CONCLUSION

Many people profess to be Christians but they do NOT possess Christ. They have a form of godliness but do not posess HIM. Jesus Christ has been replaced with so many other Religions and worldly programs. A church building is simply a building, it posesses no power or authority to make you a Christian. No building or institution has ever bestowed forgiveness of sin, Salvation or made any person a new creature in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The sin issue has been all of mankind’s and God’s problem from the beginning. God did not create all of mankind just to burn us in hell. Look in the mirror and tell me the person you see has never sinned, never did anything wron in their life. We have all screwed up and sinned. Roamns 3:23 aned Romans 6:23. Sin is a killer and that is why we all die. God will never accept sin because of who He is. BUT HE WILL FORGIVE SIN-JESUS PAID THE CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR SIN.God never created ROBOTS, He gave all of us a great gift called FREE WILL, and you have it also. You have the CHOICE to accept or reject God and his forgiveness of sin.

God provided the way of forgiveness for us. He sent his perfect only begotten son JESUS to pay the consequences of sin for us. Jesus took our place as our substitute and suffered and died on a Roman cross for ALL SIN-EVERYONES SIN, so we could be reconciled back to God and FORGIVEN. II Corinthians 5:21 “For he (GOD) hath made him ( JESUS) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

This is your decision; it is so eternally serious because the consequences will also be eternal. If you have never been saved by the grace of God, I ask that would you bow your heart, (ASK GOD) right now, and ask God to save you and come live in your life. Receive him by faith. Place your faith and trust in Jesus. I John 1:12 “¹² But as many as received him, to them HE gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

I find it hard in this world and Culture today to see the difference in the Church and the world, THAT IS A REAL SHAME. I am not asking you to join any church or affiliation. I am asking you to enter a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for Salvation.  HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE THE EVIL IN THIS WORLDS CULTURE, TAKING OVER? Romans 10:13 says, “For who so ever shall call (ASK) on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you have done this, and received Jesus Christ, then please let me know in the comment section below, so that I can rejoice with you.

Your thoughts, opinions and comments are welcome so leave them in the left, bottom, REPLY comment section below. Please listen to this beautiful  song.  RAY.