Here’s the thing:

[Pearl]

I read this quote on Facebook the other day but it's gone now - deleted or something so content not available:

Yes, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and drunkards and outcasts.

Here’s the thing, though - by the time Jesus was finished with these people, they weren’t prostitutes or drunkards or outcasts anymore.

Jesus came to transform people, not indulge them. Christianity is about surrender, not comfort. We are to align ourselves with his standard, not the other way around.

- Kaeley Triller Harms

 

[Pearl]

@Nancy @Helen @Rita

 

[Rita]

The reality is that Jesus has changed all of us that have encountered him- but the point is that he was willing to come alongside people that many of his people today would simply outrightly reject. Many read the list of all those who they believe will be rejected but miss out the part that says. ‘ you were once like them ‘.

None of us can stand before God and say ‘ we were ok ‘
Jesus is in the transformation business, but he has a unique view - He knows everything - the why’s and wherefore’s , and also knows what words, what truths, need to be heard to bring about change.

I have never forgotten who I was before I came to faith, but many do - and then they take the moral high ground and proclaim judgments on others. Many perhaps never really messed up in life, so would never understand what it’s like to make really wrong choices.
Rita

 

[mjrhealth]

I read this quote on Facebook the other day but it's gone now - deleted or something so content not available:

Yes, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and drunkards and outcasts.

Here’s the thing, though - by the time Jesus was finished with these people, they weren’t prostitutes or drunkards or outcasts anymore.

Jesus came to transform people, not indulge them. Christianity is about surrender, not comfort. We are to align ourselves with his standard, not the other way around.

- Kaeley Triller Harms

Jesus came to show the people who God is. so they can make an "informed" decision because teh "religious" made Him out to be something He is not. If you have seeing me you have seeing teh father.Here we have the same problem, just take a look around, who is God.???

 

[Nancy]

I read this quote on Facebook the other day but it's gone now - deleted or something so content not available:

Yes, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and drunkards and outcasts.

Here’s the thing, though - by the time Jesus was finished with these people, they weren’t prostitutes or drunkards or outcasts anymore.

Jesus came to transform people, not indulge them. Christianity is about surrender, not comfort. We are to align ourselves with his standard, not the other way around.

- Kaeley Triller Harms

Hi Pat,
Yeah, it seems that some do forget whence they came. I cannot fathom ever forgetting! And regretting but there is no looking back ( I do retain liquids, can't do salt ) It is a sad thing that many Christians try to form their own little God so as to make Him on our level...Ha! It's hard to believe these folks can become so blinded to who they once were and only see the faults of others. So not Christ like in the least and so not humble.
Don't know about you my sister but, I'm really looking forward to who i'll be this tie next year! Amen! Good post
xo

 

[Nancy]

The reality is that Jesus has changed all of us that have encountered him- but the point is that he was willing to come alongside people that many of his people today would simply outrightly reject. Many read the list of all those who they believe will be rejected but miss out the part that says. ‘ you were once like them ‘.

None of us can stand before God and say ‘ we were ok ‘
Jesus is in the transformation business, but he has a unique view - He knows everything - the why’s and wherefore’s , and also knows what words, what truths, need to be heard to bring about change.

I have never forgotten who I was before I came to faith, but many do - and then they take the moral high ground and proclaim judgments on others. Many perhaps never really messed up in life, so would never understand what it’s like to make really wrong choices.
Rita

Amen Rita,
I have often wondered about the Christians who never really messed up in life, or who were born and raised in Christian homes...they really don't have much of a testimony, do they? Lol. Nothing to compare the way's of God (if bought up in a "good" Christian home) to so...I can see some like this having a judgmental attitude towards others.
But, there I go judging! Ahaha... Good post!
xo

 

[Prayer Warrior]

I read this quote on Facebook the other day but it's gone now - deleted or something so content not available:

Yes, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and drunkards and outcasts.

Here’s the thing, though - by the time Jesus was finished with these people, they weren’t prostitutes or drunkards or outcasts anymore.

Jesus came to transform people, not indulge them. Christianity is about surrender, not comfort. We are to align ourselves with his standard, not the other way around.

- Kaeley Triller Harms

Excellent quote! Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Heart2Soul]

I read this quote on Facebook the other day but it's gone now - deleted or something so content not available:

Yes, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and drunkards and outcasts.

Here’s the thing, though - by the time Jesus was finished with these people, they weren’t prostitutes or drunkards or outcasts anymore.

Jesus came to transform people, not indulge them. Christianity is about surrender, not comfort. We are to align ourselves with his standard, not the other way around.

- Kaeley Triller Harms

Yes absolutely true...
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
— Romans 5:19 (KJV)

 

[Pearl]

Jesus came to transform people, not indulge them. Christianity is about surrender, not comfort. We are to align ourselves with his standard, not the other way around.

This is the part that grabbed me.

 

[farouk]

The reality is that Jesus has changed all of us that have encountered him- but the point is that he was willing to come alongside people that many of his people today would simply outrightly reject. Many read the list of all those who they believe will be rejected but miss out the part that says. ‘ you were once like them ‘.

None of us can stand before God and say ‘ we were ok ‘
Jesus is in the transformation business, but he has a unique view - He knows everything - the why’s and wherefore’s , and also knows what words, what truths, need to be heard to bring about change.

I have never forgotten who I was before I came to faith, but many do - and then they take the moral high ground and proclaim judgments on others. Many perhaps never really messed up in life, so would never understand what it’s like to make really wrong choices.
Rita

Hi @Rita I find that Ephesians 2 is a sober and wholesome reminder of what we were without Christ, and then the passage shows how the transforming power of Christ by faith is all by God's wondrous grace.

 

[farouk]

Yes absolutely true...
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
— Romans 5:19 (KJV)

@Heart2Soul Great verse there!

 

[Enoch111]

Jesus came to transform people, not indulge them.

You could have added "radically transform". And the apostle Paul is a good example.

But Christendom -- by and large -- is presently catering to the world, and asking Christians to conform to the world. Let's take a very simple example. There was a time when a church service was strictly for reverential worship. Today the church leadership in many churches is allowing (1) sloppy dress codes, (2) bringing food and drinks into services, (3) allowing iPhones to be used during the service to distract hearers, and (4) using blaring music equal to hard rock within the service. Hymnals have been done away with, and Bible in the hands of believers have been replaced by handbooks.

And no one is standing up and saying "None of this is acceptable".

Oh, and since I see that Farouk has a response, there are some like Farouk actively promoting tattoos and piercings on Christians, so that the neo-pagans and Goths will be delighted with the way Christians look.

 

[amadeus]

You could have added "radically transform". And the apostle Paul is a good example.

But Christendom -- by and large -- is presently catering to the world, and asking Christians to conform to the world. Let's take a very simple example. There was a time when a church service was strictly for reverential worship. Today the church leadership in many churches is allowing (1) sloppy dress codes, (2) bringing food and drinks into services, (3) allowing iPhones to be used during the service to distract hearers, and (4) using blaring music equal to hard rock within the service. Hymnals have been done away with, and Bible in the hands of believers have been replaced by handbooks.

And no one is standing up and saying "None of this is acceptable".

Oh, and since I see that Farouk has a response, there are some like Farouk actively promoting tattoos and piercings on Christians, so that the neo-pagans and Goths will be delighted with the way Christians look.

Creeping worldliness in churches seems to be picking up speed!

 

[Rita]

Interestingly enough Jesus tells us that it is what comes out of a persons mouth that reveals so much-
I so wish we had dislike buttons for posts !!! Rita

 

[Pearl]

Creeping worldliness in churches seems to be picking up speed!

Exactly John, that was the point of the post.

 

[Pearl]

Interestingly enough Jesus tells us that it is what comes out of a persons mouth that reveals so much-
I so wish we had dislike buttons for posts !!! Rita

Was it my post you dislike Rita?

 

[Rita]

Was it my post you dislike Rita?

No, although you did agree about the worldliness, which amedeus was agreeing with Enoch - I came to faith in church that had modern worship, I hated the fact that everyone wore Sunday best though because I could never compete - so when I moved I was pleased to be part of a church that accepted dressing normally.
Not been a real part of a church where phones have become a problem, but yet again the dig at farouk about tattoos !
My point was really that many critique the externals, when Jesus was concerned about the attitudes and what lays at the root and heart of what we say!
Rita

 

[Nancy]

Creeping worldliness in churches seems to be picking up speed!

And fast. But, it really was more subtle I would say. As the culture changed, and the Pastors relied more on the congregants than God for provision, we see the culmination now.

 

[farouk]

Interestingly enough Jesus tells us that it is what comes out of a persons mouth that reveals so much-
I so wish we had dislike buttons for posts !!! Rita

@Rita Exactly; the true mark of spirituality is inward...

 

[farouk]

... yet again the dig at farouk about tattoos !

Don't worry, @Rita.....