CHRISTIAN OR COWARD?

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(I TIMOTHY 6:12)

As I see most Christians these days it’s no wonder that it’s so hard to teach others about God. When I speak to some non-believers they tell me things that sicken me. “Why should I be a Christian? My friend is a Christian and he drinks and smokes and does pretty much the same thing I do, so why should I be a Christian?” It’s really hard to answer them when they have such strong arguments. “My parents are Christian, but they told me it’s my decision and they never raised me to believe in the Bible”. “My mother is a Christian but she told me its okay if I don’t go to church”. “I had a friend who was a Christian, but he was always broke and asking for money”. “I don’t rent to Christians, because they can never pay on time”. I used to go to church, but I could never talk to the pastor and the people there always treated me as an outsider”. “I’m a Christian, but I don’t see nothing wrong with drinking, smoking, and sleeping with my boy/girlfriend”. “My family claims to be Christian but they’re always doubting God’s word and making excuses for their actions and blaming God for when they’re sick or can’t pay their bills. The only time they get up early on Sunday is if its football season and they’re all coming together to watch. They don’t read the Bible and then they wonder why their family is suffering, they’re children are depressed and their marriage is falling apart.” Don’t think I’m saying these without knowing what I’m talking about, especially if you read that last one, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I’ve been on all three sides. When I was going to church before I had a girlfriend die and when I went to get advice and seek counsel, the pastor told me it was my fault she died because God was punishing me for my sins. That’s when I decided to walk away from God. When people tried to tell me to come back, I told them I didn’t want to serve a God who killed people just to punish others. Of course now I know that God doesn’t kill people or allow them to die, Satan does. But I’ve been the hypocrite to. Just ask my friends. I’d tell them about God as I was on my second or third Long Island Iced Tea. I told girls I was a Christian, just so I could sleep with them. I’d invite my friends to church, knowing full well that I had gotten drunk with them on Friday night and they watched me beat the crap out of some guy just for accidentally bumping me. Is this the example of a Christian we share with others? Sadly, it is. Now and days to be called a “Christian” just means you go to church on “Easter” and Christmas. People think just because they accepted God into their hearts once a long time ago that they’re eternally saved. They don’t realize that because they made that choice, they are held accountable for everything thing they do and say. If you think you’re a “Christian” and you drink, smoke, sleep with anybody other than your spouse, and even associate yourself with worldly friends then you are guilty of a sin worse than the world. You’re guilty of knowing the truth and ignoring it, which God says is worse than being unsaved. Lukewarm Christians seem to be the example the world sees these days. What ever happened to the on fire Christians that God called us to be? Whatever happened to the Christians who would rather spend all day at church than sit there and hope he doesn’t go over twenty minutes? What happened to the Christians who stood on the corners and shared the word of God with the whole world? Instead we have Christians who are too scared to share the knowledge they know with their friends, family and neighbors. Well let me tell you something. If you had a chance to share the healing, freeing, peace giving, strength building, spirit building word of God with someone and you didn’t and you find out they die, then they’re blood is on your hands. This is the life of a Christian. This is the fight we’re meant to fight every day, and not just when it’s convenient for us. This is the race we’re supposed to be running all day, every day without ever stopping. Then and only then can we deserve to call ourselves Christians and be worthy of the blessings of the Lord.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
(II TIMOTHY 4:6-9)