“And the way you can tell the difference is that a Real Christian is somebody who sees everything that comes as a gift. In other words a real Christian sees that you are totally in debt to God, but a religious person is someone who is working hard and making an effort and trying to be good, going to Bible studies and just saying “no” everywhere, and denying themselves a lot of pleasures, and so forth, and a religious person is someone who is trying to put God in their debt. That is the difference. A religious person is someone who is trying to save themselves through their good works. A religious person is somebody who thinks they are putting God in their debt since they have tried so hard. A Christian is somebody who sees themselves as in God’s debt.”
I am not certain how to answer this erroneous conclusion. A true Christion ought by reason of imitating Jesus Himself - be doing works of mercy. We are called, after all, to be the eyes, ears, hands, and heart of Jesus on earth. That is why He established a church. That is why he left us with the Holy Spirit. So, when people do charitable works no Christian ought to criticize or judge why the Christian is being charitable. Jesus also taught the following - when each of us is called to judgement, we will be asked when we fed the poor, clothed the naked, etc.. So, it is obvious that Jesus expected that we do charitable works. He also told us to be a light to the nations, to not hide our light under a basket.
How on earth have Christians become so judgemental against other Christians who do acts of charity? I wish someone would explain this clearly to me.
The answer lies in how you answer the following question:
God to gumdrop at your judgment: “Why should I let you into my kingdom?”
(Be careful that you don’t confuse your justification with your sanctification)
How on earth have Christians become so judgemental against other Christians who do acts of charity? I wish someone would explain this clearly to me.
Why are the works being done? Is there an expectation that your salvation hinges upon these works, or that by doing them God owes you something?
Amen. We need to be careful in trying to determine motives. Sometimes they are clear, but when they are not, we should leave it to God.
So, it is obvious that Jesus expected that we do charitable works.
Absolutely. As Eph 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
I think you’re not catching what he really means. Many churches think good works is the way to salvation. If you do enough of them you can work your way into heaven. I think he’s saying that that’s what ‘religious’ people think and it’s wrong thinking. There’s nothing wrong with doing acts of charity. It’s thinking you’re working your way to heaven and salvation that is wrong.
In what way did Jesus teach us to do charity? See Matthew 6:1-4. Many people completely overlook that.
I don't like how the author packaged this either. Just for different reasons. I think preachers are often too driven to divide and contrast to make their point more impressive, and sometimes it begins to say something different that I read in Scripture. I don't think a sense of wonder is the acid test of true Christianity. Neither do I think a person who delights in obeying God and understands the justice of God, that we reap what we sow, is automatically a legalist attempting to earn points with God. Nor do I see a person caught up in the human weakness of failing to see God's plan in their circumstances as an automatic red flag of a grace rejecting non-believer. To me his analysis lacks grace for the struggling and growing Christian. To make his point he oversimplifies and walks some danger lines that could be misunderstood and misapplied.