Where have you been? and my rambling thoughts

I've recently been doing a bit of a survey amongst non-christians, getting their take on Christ, Church and Christians etc. My motive for this has been to help me understand the mind and thoughts of non-christians that I may better guard myself against anything which could bring reproach to the church, Christ or Christianity in their eyes, and that my method or approach to non-christians may be one that is aware of their thoughts and pre-conclusions on Christianity, doctrine, Christ etc. It is not to change, bend or water down doctrine or truth which the Bible holds but, as someone who's been a christian for over 10 years now I find myself often wondering what Non-Christians are thinking. So this is something I hope will help me to better deal with issues, false beliefs about Christ, and ultimately present Christ's gospel to others.

I'm not necessarily going to Blog about it, though I will deal with some questions that are being asked about Christianity.

The following is an answer to a question I asked on church, from someone who was influenced by Christianity for a few years;

o What is your opinion of church?

"I don't like a church where I am constantly lectured on what I do and when I do it, and if I miss a week I'm asked where I have been when really it's no ones business but my own."

From this my thoughts go along this line;
We need to be careful not to be preaching moralism, traditionalism or legalism. But we ought to be preaching Christ and everything ought to come back to Him.

We can teach righteous living, call people to attend church 3 times a week, yet they may miss the salvation offered in Jesus Christ. Someone who lives morally and a good life yet has not trusted Christ will ultimately perish.

Now, I do believe in Church Discipline, and I probably hold to it stronger than many. Yet I believe that it ought to be for Christians involved in sin and that the practice of Matthew 18 set down by Jesus ought to be the method of this.

Yet I think that it is important not to assess peoples spirituality, nor discipline them simply on tradition, legalistic issues or even on frequent 'church attendance', as mentioned in this answer.

For non-Christian's I think we would do well to heed John Owen;
"Mortification (of sin) from a self strength, carried on by ways of self invention, unto the end of self righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world."

and

"I say then, mortification is not the present business of unregenerate men. God calls them not to it as yet; conversion is their work-the conversion of the whole soul-not the mortification of this or that particular lust."

We do not want to call to false religion, not to strict rules and regulations, but to the life, reality and relationship that Jesus offers. Telling one not to commit adultery, drunkenness or any other vice is not our primary duty, it is to call people to faith in Jesus who will forgive sin and give new desires that they may desire righteousness and long to live a life that honours Him.

I think it is good and necessary to call and teach Christian's to righteous living as the Bible sets forth, but because we have a heart that loves God and because He has redeemed us and taken out our old heart of stone and given us a new one that we may love Him and desire righteousness!

And I think that this persons use of the word 'lectured' depicts not just a loving chat but a continuous talking to about these things perhaps even with a tone of anger and lack of love.

We are called to speak truth, but not that alone, we are instructed as to how;
Speak the truth in Love (Eph 4:15).

For me, I know I respond better to genuine questions about my walk with Christ and battle with sin rather than questions about why I wasn't here or there. Questions on personal devotions, victory over lust and my responsibilities before God as a husband and father tend to get more responce and respect from me as I see genuine interest in my spiritual walk!

Let us, if we are concerned for someone, concern ourselves with their hearts and souls, their walks with Christ rather than their fitting our expectations of traditionalism, moralism and legalism!