Are You Unchristian?
Series:
Part 2
“The Accusations!”
Matthew 23:25-28
Do you realize…
Christianity has a
perception problem!
What people think of you
becomes their reality!
Non Christians’ perception is
they think that Christians no
longer represent what Jesus
had in mind, and that
Christianity is not what
it was meant to be!
They claim that we
have hijacked Jesus!
We are not responsible for the
spiritual decisions of outsiders,
but we are accountable
when our actions and attitudes
have pushed them away!
Do unbelievers reject Jesus
because they feel
rejected by Christians?
Can they see Jesus with all of
the negative baggage that
we surround Him with?
“The Accusations!”
Matthew 23:25-28
What do you think are
the three main accusations
that non Christians make
about Christians that keep
them from attending worship?
Accusation #3 –Judgmentalism
Don’t judge, or you too will
be judged; for others will treat you as
you treat them.
Why are you concerned with a
speck of sawdust in your brother’s
eye when you have a log
in your own eye?”
(Matt. 7: 1 - 3)
“If we claim to be without sin,
we deceive ourselves, and the
truth of God is not in us.”
(I John 1:8)
Do you realize…
that many outsiders
used to be insiders!
Something happened
that caused them to
leave the church!
Christians are too concerned
with judging others,
and converting others!
Outsiders want to know…
“what are they really
after anyway?”
Christians feel their efforts are
genuine and sincere, but
outsiders dispute that claim!
When outsiders question
our motives, it lessens their
interest in Christianity.
Obeying the command of Jesus
to go and make disciples
does not give us
permission to judge them
or offend them!
I Corinthians 9:22 LB
“Whatever a person is like,
Whatever his like and dislikes,
I try to find a common ground;
so that he will let me tell him
about Christ and save him.”
Accusation #2 Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy occurs when you
say one thing, and then
go do something else.
(inconsistent words and actions!)
Matthew 23:27, 28
“Woe to you, teachers of the law
and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You are beautiful on the outside
but on the inside, you are full
of dead men’s bones and
everything unclean.
In the same way, on the outside you
appear to people as righteous, but
on the inside, you are full of
hypocrisy and wickedness.
You snakes, you brood of vipers!
How will you escape being
condemned to hell?”
Everyone is a hypocrite at
some point. It is a common
occurrence…it happens.
The problem is the attitude of
moral superiority that we
carry around with us!
Lifestyle 37%
Growing in faith 31%
Sharing your faith 25%
Worship 25%
Fellowship 23%
Service 18%
Giving of resources 4%
If living a good life is the
top priority of a Christian,
then it only makes sense that
the temptation is to give a
false sense of being spiritual.
Our words do not
match our actions!
“If you claim to be religious,
but cannot control your tongue;
your religion is worthless!”
James 1:26
Christians fail to display
verbal or behavioral
evidence of a
transformed life!
(II Cor, 5:17)
“You are a new creation in Christ;
old things have passed away,
all things now have become new”
Barna Poll
Know a Christian? 84%
See a difference in life? 15%
We have invited the criticism!
People today are drawn to
Christians who are authentic!
Who did Jesus hang with?
We are different in our giving
money, carrying our Bibles,
and going to church;
but after that, there’s not that
much difference between
believers and unbelievers!
23 – 41 42+
Living together 59% 33%
Sexual fantasies 57% 35%
Sex outside of marriage 44% 23%
Using profanity 37% 17%
Getting drunk 35% 13%
Having an abortion 32% 27%
Pornography 33% 19%
Non prescribed drugs 16% 8%
TV shows “f – word” 7% 6%
Accusation #1 Anti-homosexual
If you were to introduce
yourself as a Christian,
you might as well tattoo
on your arms…
“anti-homosexual, gay hater”
and “homophobic!”
I Timothy 1:10
“The laws are made…
for adulterers, for homosexuals,
for slave traders, and liars
and perjurers, and for whatever
else is contrary to the
gospel of Christ which
God entrusted to me.”
Outsiders Perception:
We object to their lifestyle,
be we also have
irrational fears about them.
Being a Christians = hostility!
(Through preaching, politics,
specific laws & policies)
Most people in the
gay community
don’t seem to have a problem
with Jesus, but with those
who claim to represent him!
There is a difference to be
against homosexuality,
and to be against
homosexuals
God created sex to be good,
but it can be expressed
in a wrong way.
We should not treat
people differently based on
their particular sins
they may commit.
So what is homosexuality?
Sin
Sickness
Symptom
Selection
Statement
What I believe…
I believe that homosexuality is a
sin, but it is no different
than any other sin.
Why is it that “Christians”
focus
so much on this specific sin?
(Estimate 3 – 5% of population)
Billy Graham
“I am going to quote the Bible
now;
homosexuality is wrong, it is
a sin. But there are other sins.
Why do we jump on that sin as if
it is the greatest sin? The greatest
sin is idolatry, worshipping other
things besides God. But it is a sin,
and needs to be dealt with and
forgiven, that why Jesus died.”
Judgmental
Hypocritical
Anti-homosexual
Have you been unchristian
this past week?
Show Jesus love to others…
He needs you!
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