''whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst". |
Of
over 2 billion Christians in the
world, less than 30% say they ever read through the entire Bible.
The fact is over 82% of Christian Americans only read part of their
Bibles on Sundays while in church. In recent studies, the Pew
research also indicated that only 25% of Americans who cal themselves
Christian now attend church on any given Sunday, significantly down
from 47% in 1990.
Obviously the above figures also
reflect two things, One, that Christians are struggling among
themselves to create a culture that mirrors the values of God as
described in the Bible and two, that many Christian Pastors are generally
doing a poor job in bringing the truth of the Gospel ---God’s
astonishing purpose for mankind, to their congregations.
Another
question which comes up a
lot by many
non-Christians and even some Christians, especially during the past
weeks terrorist attacks is: "what about the Crusades from 1095-1291,
wasn't that similar to what the radical
Muslims are doing today" ?
The answer to this question,
unfortunately, has either been avoided or never been told with any
clarity by the Christian hierarchy or local Pastors. The answer is
double sided - Yes and No.
Barbaric
killings took place during the
Crusades, even in far greater numbers than in all the recent
terrorist killings put together. The difference, however, between
today's radical Muslim terrorists and the crusaders is that the
crusades were considered national state organized military campaigns,
supported by the Vatican and the nations around Europe they
controlled.
Today's terrorists groups on the other hand, including
al-Qaida and ISIS are not
supported by any national state or even traditional Islamic states, at least not officially.
The other question that Christians are
struggling with is the difference between Christianity and
Catholicism – this also has never been quite clear to most average
church goers and often "hush-hushed" by local Pastors as a
"non-question". Sometimes, also, because they themselves were not
quite comfortable about the issue.
The fact is that Martin Luther back in
the 1500's broke away from the Vatican controlled Catholic Church and
initiated the Reformation, the basis of today’s non-violent-Bible
based global Christian movement. It is a reality which needs to
be made crystal clear to Protestant Christians and all the other
Christian denominations that are a result of that movement.
It must also be made clear to the world at large that the Pope is not the spokes-person for Christian around the world.
Catholics might call themselves
Christian, but there are seven key issues which continue to
distinguish their beliefs and practices, making their doctrine not
compatible with the Reformation.
These are: 1) the Magisterium
which refers to the official teaching body of the Roman Catholic
Church and the Pope being the representative of God on earth -
Protestants do not accept this. 2) Tradition, While
Protestants don’t view tradition as equal in authority with the
Scriptures (Bible), the Roman Catholic Church has a different
perspective—one which clearly distinguishes itself from Protestant
churches. 3) Salvation and Grace, Protestants often
express the idea that salvation is by faith alone, through grace
alone, in Christ alone.
The Roman Catholic Church views justification as a process, dependent on the grace you receive by participating in the Church---which is seen as a repository of saving grace. 4)The Eucharist, When it comes to the Eucharist, which most Protestants call ‘The Lord’s Supper,” or “Communion,” the Roman Catholic Church in this holds to the doctrine of transubstantiation—the idea that the edible ritual elements used during the mass literally become the body and blood of Christ.5) Justification, protestants view justification as the moment God declares that a guilty person is righteous because of the sacrifice Christ has done on the Cross for that person..
The Roman Catholic Church views justification as a process, dependent on the grace you receive by participating in the Church---which is seen as a repository of saving grace. 4)The Eucharist, When it comes to the Eucharist, which most Protestants call ‘The Lord’s Supper,” or “Communion,” the Roman Catholic Church in this holds to the doctrine of transubstantiation—the idea that the edible ritual elements used during the mass literally become the body and blood of Christ.5) Justification, protestants view justification as the moment God declares that a guilty person is righteous because of the sacrifice Christ has done on the Cross for that person..
Catholic doctrine does not believe this and looks at man's redemption as a life-long process. 6) Priesthood of All Believers: Protestants see the church as having a horizontal structure, whereby everyone is equal in the eyes of God, while the Catholics see the Church as a vertical structure ( much like today's corporations)..7) Veneration of the Saints and the Virgin Mary, Roman Catholics see veneration, not as praying to the Saints and the Virgin Mary, but as praying through them. As is commanded in the Bible, Protestants do not pray facing statues or other objects jnstead either pray in solitude or ask a brother or sister in Christ to pray for them or with them..
Indeed,
there is a lot most Christians don't know about their own religion, but should know.
As Pastor William Graham Tullian
Tchividjian said from the pulpit of the Fort Lauderdale Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church on Sunday January 11, "Christianity has a major PR problem".
Yes indeed.