Opinion / Religion
Why are Christians some of the most unChristian people in this world?
23 May 2021 at 04:22hrs | Views
Yesterday, a very good friend of mine forwarded me a document, which I found extremely troubling, but at the same time, profoundly eye-opening - as it listed countries with the highest murder, robbery, gangsterism, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution rates, which suggested that over ninety-nine percent (95%) of these were supposedly predominantly Christian.
I was amazed, but certainly not shocked at all.
What merely amazed me was seeing it in black and white, stark in my face.
However, what did not particularly shock me was the fact that, I knew that, as Christians, we were the most dishonest, devious, and lost people on this planet - in fact, I can bodily declare that, we are some of the most unChristian people in this world.
This is a discussion that has always been a feature in my own household, as my wife (Tinta) and I always believed that we, as Christians, were a great disappointed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because we appeared to disobey, disregard, and sought to dilute and compromise nearly each and every commandment He left us to follow.
As a matter of fact, I have always asserted that, people of other religions, such as Islam and Buddhism, would have made Jesus more proud - since they religiously and faithfully adhere to each and every word written in their own books of worship, without compromise, or attempting to reason, or dilute any part.
One needs to simply look at crime, HIV/AIDS, divorce, and drug abuse rates in mostly Moslem and Buddhist countries, and my point is clear.
Yet, we as Christians are ignorant of the Word of God, or are busy compromising it.
For instance, when Jesus clearly says that we can not divorce, unless there was adultery, and any one who marries a divorced man or woman has committed adultery (Matthew 5:32) - how many Christians have actually being married to a divorcee, or themselves remarried? My point exactly!
Or, if Jesus says, "Love your enemies, forgive all who wrong you, turn the other cheek, or give without expecting to be given back" (Matthew 5: 39, 44, and Matthew 6: 14, 15) - how many of us actually follow these commandments without question or compromise?
Why that is so, I would believe, is that, most of us who profess to be Christians, do not even understand more than half of what our faith entails - largely, as a result of our own laziness in diligently and meticulously studying the Word of God (the Holy Bible) on our own, as we wait to be instructed on what to read, when to read it, and what it means, by our respective pastors.
Honestly, how many Christians have actually read the whole Bible on their own?
And, how many times have we, then, carefully, diligently, and meticulously studied, and thereafter, absorbing and meditating on each and every word we read - of course, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, whom Christ said would teach us all things, and lead us into all knowledge (John 14:26)?
In fact, most Moslems can even recite the entire Koran - word for word - yet, Christians, at best, only know a few choice verses.
I have never enjoyed reading fictional books, or watching fiction movies or television programs - as I prefer factual books, encyclopedia, documentaries, and current affairs - but, when we were growing up, I remember most of my friends would love reading such novels as, James Hardly Chase, Hardy Boys, Famous Five, and girls would read Marlory Towers, Nancy Drew, and when older, Mills and Boon.
Surely, would any of them genuinely claim to have fully understood the stories in those books, if they merely waited for someone else to tell them to, for instance, "Read charter 6, paragraph 19, and then go to chapter 13 paragraph 5", and then explained to them what was happening, and what it all meant - yet, without the reader ever bothering to read the entire novel on their own?
Unfortunately, that is what most of us Christians are doing - as we hardly take time to engross ourselves in studying the whole Bible, from start to end, so that we truly understand the entire story of our God Jehovah, His Son Christ Jesus, and what our faith is all about - but, being merely content with being told by our pastors, and limiting ourselves to daily devotionals, church services, and so-called "Bible studies" (which, again, do not "study" the Holy Scriptures from beginning to end).
If we have enough time and energy to spend endless hours on social media - which does not add much value to our lives - what more the Word of God, that leads us into eternal life?
Even those who study literature at school, know very well that, before attempting to study the various aspects of the book under review, they need to read the whole book first.
The same applies to the Bible - it is a complete story that can not be cherry-picked - reading here and there, and choosing this verse today, and that tomorrow, without studying the story from where it started to how it ended.
No wonder the first words in the Bible are, "In the beginning"(Genesis 1:1), and the last word is, "Amen" (Revelation 22:21) - it is a complete story, that needs to be thoroughly studied from cover to cover...and, just like our other favorite books, not once or twice, but as many times as possible, since each reading reveals ever more amazing truths.
So, how do we expect to be faithful, knowledge, and obedient Christians, when we do not even understand what that means?
Is it then any wonder, that most of us end up being deceived and misled by our pastors - whom, we trust so much, and treat as if they were gods in their own right... praising them, more than we praise and glorify Jesus Christ.
(Have you ever noticed that some Christians actually mention the name of their so-called "man of God" more times than they say, "Jesus Christ", or "Jehovah God" - even placing those human beings' pictures as their social media profile pictures. Really scary stuff!)
Nevertheless, the point is that, unless and until Christians finally take the Word of God, in its entirety, to their hearts - without waiting to be taught by anyone, as even the Bible discourages that (1 John 2:27) - with the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will forever be the leaders in killing, lying, stealing, lovers of money, fornicating, drunkenness, and other things that Jehovah is against.
© Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a Christian social justice activist, writer, author, and, speaker. Please feel free to contact him on WhatsApp/Call: +263715667700 / +263782283975, or Calls Only: +263733399640, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com
I was amazed, but certainly not shocked at all.
What merely amazed me was seeing it in black and white, stark in my face.
However, what did not particularly shock me was the fact that, I knew that, as Christians, we were the most dishonest, devious, and lost people on this planet - in fact, I can bodily declare that, we are some of the most unChristian people in this world.
This is a discussion that has always been a feature in my own household, as my wife (Tinta) and I always believed that we, as Christians, were a great disappointed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because we appeared to disobey, disregard, and sought to dilute and compromise nearly each and every commandment He left us to follow.
As a matter of fact, I have always asserted that, people of other religions, such as Islam and Buddhism, would have made Jesus more proud - since they religiously and faithfully adhere to each and every word written in their own books of worship, without compromise, or attempting to reason, or dilute any part.
One needs to simply look at crime, HIV/AIDS, divorce, and drug abuse rates in mostly Moslem and Buddhist countries, and my point is clear.
Yet, we as Christians are ignorant of the Word of God, or are busy compromising it.
For instance, when Jesus clearly says that we can not divorce, unless there was adultery, and any one who marries a divorced man or woman has committed adultery (Matthew 5:32) - how many Christians have actually being married to a divorcee, or themselves remarried? My point exactly!
Or, if Jesus says, "Love your enemies, forgive all who wrong you, turn the other cheek, or give without expecting to be given back" (Matthew 5: 39, 44, and Matthew 6: 14, 15) - how many of us actually follow these commandments without question or compromise?
Why that is so, I would believe, is that, most of us who profess to be Christians, do not even understand more than half of what our faith entails - largely, as a result of our own laziness in diligently and meticulously studying the Word of God (the Holy Bible) on our own, as we wait to be instructed on what to read, when to read it, and what it means, by our respective pastors.
Honestly, how many Christians have actually read the whole Bible on their own?
And, how many times have we, then, carefully, diligently, and meticulously studied, and thereafter, absorbing and meditating on each and every word we read - of course, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, whom Christ said would teach us all things, and lead us into all knowledge (John 14:26)?
I have never enjoyed reading fictional books, or watching fiction movies or television programs - as I prefer factual books, encyclopedia, documentaries, and current affairs - but, when we were growing up, I remember most of my friends would love reading such novels as, James Hardly Chase, Hardy Boys, Famous Five, and girls would read Marlory Towers, Nancy Drew, and when older, Mills and Boon.
Surely, would any of them genuinely claim to have fully understood the stories in those books, if they merely waited for someone else to tell them to, for instance, "Read charter 6, paragraph 19, and then go to chapter 13 paragraph 5", and then explained to them what was happening, and what it all meant - yet, without the reader ever bothering to read the entire novel on their own?
Unfortunately, that is what most of us Christians are doing - as we hardly take time to engross ourselves in studying the whole Bible, from start to end, so that we truly understand the entire story of our God Jehovah, His Son Christ Jesus, and what our faith is all about - but, being merely content with being told by our pastors, and limiting ourselves to daily devotionals, church services, and so-called "Bible studies" (which, again, do not "study" the Holy Scriptures from beginning to end).
If we have enough time and energy to spend endless hours on social media - which does not add much value to our lives - what more the Word of God, that leads us into eternal life?
Even those who study literature at school, know very well that, before attempting to study the various aspects of the book under review, they need to read the whole book first.
The same applies to the Bible - it is a complete story that can not be cherry-picked - reading here and there, and choosing this verse today, and that tomorrow, without studying the story from where it started to how it ended.
No wonder the first words in the Bible are, "In the beginning"(Genesis 1:1), and the last word is, "Amen" (Revelation 22:21) - it is a complete story, that needs to be thoroughly studied from cover to cover...and, just like our other favorite books, not once or twice, but as many times as possible, since each reading reveals ever more amazing truths.
So, how do we expect to be faithful, knowledge, and obedient Christians, when we do not even understand what that means?
Is it then any wonder, that most of us end up being deceived and misled by our pastors - whom, we trust so much, and treat as if they were gods in their own right... praising them, more than we praise and glorify Jesus Christ.
(Have you ever noticed that some Christians actually mention the name of their so-called "man of God" more times than they say, "Jesus Christ", or "Jehovah God" - even placing those human beings' pictures as their social media profile pictures. Really scary stuff!)
Nevertheless, the point is that, unless and until Christians finally take the Word of God, in its entirety, to their hearts - without waiting to be taught by anyone, as even the Bible discourages that (1 John 2:27) - with the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will forever be the leaders in killing, lying, stealing, lovers of money, fornicating, drunkenness, and other things that Jehovah is against.
© Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a Christian social justice activist, writer, author, and, speaker. Please feel free to contact him on WhatsApp/Call: +263715667700 / +263782283975, or Calls Only: +263733399640, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com
Source - Tendai Ruben Mbofana
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