Thinking out-loud: “Christian” is a cheap label

A sophisticated society can't rest until their morality is justified by some sort of creed.  The label:             “Christian”seems to be the cheapest of all of them. You can add theword "Christian” to music, books, ideologies and philosophies, which do not find any agreement with the Scriptures. It will be sold, it will be popular, it will be highly emotional, but it will lack of the divine certification since it evidently contradicts the Word which God inspired. A “Christian” song can have an angelical melody but its lyrics will exalt the supposed spirituality of men through humanism. A “Christian” book may have eloquent and fancy writing but be in clear contradictions to the Scriptures. We may “Christianize” a tradition but it may be full of humanism. 

Things that may be labeled as “Christian” can push morals and standards in order to fit into the pseudo       “Christian”category but never be a Christ centered object or practice. It may be introduced into a political system but not into the hearts of man, it may be a push into a reformation but with no conversion. In actuality it denigrates God and exalts men, the majority may agree with it but if God doesn't, it is not worthy of our time. 

The Christian label in people is the most deadly of all.  It can have its assurance in outward expression without ever entering the heart; it can be eloquently superficial but never truly appreciated.  It means to fake conversion without regeneration, you may pretend to be a new creature and still be an old one. 

We should be ashamed of our self preservation, because of it we don't call things by their name, and we would rather have people like us than please God. We participate in the demeaning of our Savior as we share approval of that incomplete philosophy of miss-labeling things as “Christian”that are not. By acting as if His life was not worthy enough, as if His blood were not sufficient, and as if His love wasn't great enough, we insult our Savior by making Him something common or cultural. The label is cheap but the life is costly, it demands our death in order to live in Him. True Christianity is not a label.  It is Christ-centered living and if the Gospel or the glory of God is not the main priority in one of the“Christian” systems then it's not Christian, it is religious self-deception.

Self-Righteous Missionary Mindset

The gospel is our banner, our identification as ambassadors of Christ. Clearly we are called to proclaim it through all the world. It's a message worthy of our lives, because it demonstrates the glory and wisdom of God through it. Could there possibly be wrong or self righteous reasons for us to proclaim it? Why should we preach the Gospel? Why should we do missions? What should be the motivation behind our actions?

Before I keep going, let me define the word self-righteous: it is to pretend to have a moral superiority in contrast to others; a higher status not justly gained, but acquired by pretense.

With this definition of self-righteousness, here are some of the ways we can be self-righteous about our missionary efforts:

1. Ethnic distinctions: although it is true that a lot of indigenous people who live in remote areas haven't been reached with the Gospel, it is not their ethnicity that makes them a target for evangelism. They are men; that's what makes them a mission field. There is no one ethnicity better than another, for all have been damaged and cursed under the same malady.                

This applies as well to people who look at skin color and say that "those" people groups need the Gospel. There is no racial distinction of sinners before the eyes of the Lord; ethnic features are never the problem, but our silly mindsets of inherent racial superiority in who we are, can be an issue. 

2.  First world - third world mindset: some people do missions based on the fact that there are third world countries--as if the country's status made sin any better. This mindset can make people fall into the danger of making communities in third world countries more like first world ones, instead of simply preaching the Gospel. Let it be said that at the final Day, there won't be those distinctions of first world or third world countries, but simply the reign of our sovereign King. To think that men are a mission field just because they live in a third world country is to not see the implication of the missionary calling at all. It's not their sophistication that is at risk, but their spirituality.

3. Rich - poor mindset: this one can go both ways. Sometimes, rich or more wealthy people think that the poor need the Gospel simply because they are poor and they don't have a lot of the privileges the wealthier people have. Yes, there is a call in the Bible to help the poor; indeed, the Bible says that some in the early church would sell what they owned in order to help each other within the church with their financial needs (Acts 2:45). But again, being poor is not the real problem; a person's sin nature is the issue. It is equally wrong for the poor to think that rich people are in need of the gospel simply because they have more; the rich are men and they need the Gospel as well. No financial status makes a person better than another. Although one can harden your heart more, the need for Jesus is an equal reality for both societal classes.

4. Cultural mindset: although some cultures are more open in their paganism than others, it doesn't mean that those cultures where Christianity has been more influential aren't a mission field. There is one thing you need to know about culture: there are men in them, and they are sinners. So sin can spring from open paganism to a false sense of security in performance(??????????????????????????????????????idk what you're trying to say). Yes, there are men who need the Gospel in countries where they physically bow to idols, but there is also a need for the Gospel in countries where going to church is so common that it can give a false assurance. It's not just about going to church, it's about being the church. History tells us that there is no assurance for us that a society where Christianity has been highly relevant will not turn into a mission field later. Therefore, in all cultures we must preach the Gospel, for in all of them there are men in need of a Savior.

So in conclusion, the reason to evangelize, to do missions, is because men are sinners--men from every part of the world. There are unconverted people in the church, in third world and first world countries, among the rich and the poor, among every culture. Therefore, let's preach Christ to all the nations! There is not one human thing that makes one person better than another in our basic need for the Gospel. We all need it.

Without Christ:

The police man is going to be in the same place as the criminal.

The good father is going to be in the same place as the bad father.

The church attendant will be in the same place as the unchurched.

The soldier is going to be in the same place as the terrorist.

The conservative is going to be in the same place as the liberal.

The obedient son is going to be in the same place as the rebellious son.

Before God, we are all the same, which is why Paul says: “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;” Romans 3:9

Loud thinking: Modern Christianity

Christianity, to be a follower of Christ, to imitate Christ in such way where dying for Him wouldn't be a concern but a privilege. Oh Christianity, too  modern now, how much you've have changed, you've changed dignity for reputation, aligning yourself with the trends of the world and the culture to make yourself so relevant. You long to be the cool kid that gets along with everybody but instead have become the obnoxious kid that everyone avoids because you are pretending to be someone else in order to get along with everyone. What God commanded became an option for you, and only you seem to aim to moral changes, your singing is so loud but empty, you can play good melodies with no significant content. Your expositors and preachers can be eloquent, sofisticated and charismatic but so many times they forget that they work for God not for the people. Palatable sermons with too much sugar but no nutrients, too exciting but not instructive.

Your demands must be met because to agree or disagree is more important for you than to recognize Authority of God's word, you stone sincere and true prophets for the sake of just listening to a message of peace. You sell sheep clothing to wolves instead of giving the true Gospel that can turn wolves into sheeps. You claim to believe in fellowship but you don't realize that it just seems to be a mechanic activism of group of people with superficial struggles. You claim to go to heaven, and to be heavenly minded but your judgement is so earthly minded that it makes other religions sound more spiritual. You are willing to fight till the end over things that don't matter and you avoid the battles that will define eternity for many. Easily offended, you think that you are so worthy of respect that no one can confront you. You praise earthly titles and ignore great faith, you use the Bible for prejudices and not to set others free. You trust the arm of your efforts as if the Holy Spirit wasn't a helper but an expectator of your devices.

Oh please repent, that God is not done with you, despite of your silliness and naiveness He still loves you, that if in any form you find conviction of sins He still calling you. Oh can it be that I should gain an interest in my Savior's blood? No I can't, but He is interested in us. A love that wasn't born in us doesn't die in us, a love that dwells in the eternity of who God is remains forever.