tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post3367568947861741534..comments2023-09-07T04:43:10.746-04:00Comments on Building His Body: Why Christians are HypocritesAnne Lang Bundyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-43043290045593090512013-01-31T09:17:50.751-05:002013-01-31T09:17:50.751-05:00Susan, I most certainly do NOT equate a false Chri...Susan, I most certainly do NOT equate a false Christian with an immature Christian. The latter is sometimes called a "baby Christian." The former is no Christian at all. I'm so sorry if that wasn't clear. I agree that every single one of us is continuing to mature in grace. The more "mature" (LOL) I become as a Christian, the more I realize how much I need to grow—how much grace I need from God, every moment of my life.Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-10281095128845644342013-01-30T14:19:11.501-05:002013-01-30T14:19:11.501-05:00I'm not sure I would equate being a false chri...I'm not sure I would equate being a false christian with being an immature christian. We never outgrow our need for grace at each stage of our journey. Perhaps I am misreading what you are saying. S. Etolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01847206680320012887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-55588551332747842622013-01-30T10:03:08.878-05:002013-01-30T10:03:08.878-05:00P.S. Mary, I really appreciate wrestling with diff...P.S. Mary, I really appreciate wrestling with difficult comments like this one! Thanks for making me think!Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-90337049031388406732013-01-30T10:01:53.811-05:002013-01-30T10:01:53.811-05:00Mary, your comment about accountability has given ...Mary, your comment about accountability has given me a few days of pause. (And I don't consider it the least bit off-topic.) <br /><br />I certainly agree that the mature Christian—and certainly someone allowed to be a Christian preacher!—readily accepts accountability from another mature Christian. I feel a little less certain about whether the "lack of desire to be held accountable" marks a false Christian—or a less mature one. My experience has been that the willingness (let alone <i>desire</i>) to be accountable is given more lip service than heart submission in the church at large.<br /><br />In my own life, I have a desire to live in a manner pleasing to God. I desire accountability to the Holy Spirit. I <i>think</i> I'm generally accountable to Christians whom I trust, especially when their words are confirmed by the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />I also know that I can STILL struggle with sin and a reluctant heart toward God where the way is difficult. I think I've also erred at times when accepting direction from other Christians who are more legal-minded than spiritually-minded, without necessarily discerning the difference, so I've become a little more cautious about those who "impose" accountability. On a bad day, I probably blow them off fairly readily. On a good day, I look past the messenger to the message, and ask the Holy Spirit to help me weigh its application.<br /><br />All that said, even a "baby" Christian should show the willingness to be accountable to God.Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-67217481017062749442013-01-26T04:33:20.340-05:002013-01-26T04:33:20.340-05:00I think another thing that usually sets a false Ch...I think another thing that usually sets a false Christian apart from a sincere one is their lack of desire to be held accountable by other Christians. We should be willing to listen and carefully weigh any confrontation and/or correction brought on by any other true Christian, and then make changes as the Holy Spirit leads. Maybe this falls into your "ignorant Christian" category, or perhaps they are just of a hard heart. <br /><br />I guess I Corinthians 5:11 or Matthew 18:15-17 would have to be sufficient answers if we refuse accountability. Sorry if I seem to have gotten off subject here, but I think this is very closely related.<br /><br />Thanks for the wonderful post!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16249781779587825262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-85517030338245906062013-01-25T11:58:33.854-05:002013-01-25T11:58:33.854-05:00Makala, an explanation is not always an excuse. BU...Makala, an explanation is not always an excuse. BUT, to the extent that we are simply honest about the situation—that we acknowledge ourselves as a work in progress, incomplete in maturity and knowledge—I do think we are blameless. When we are lazy, apathetic, willful … yes, we are then without excuse.Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-79238204404124593292013-01-25T11:55:45.942-05:002013-01-25T11:55:45.942-05:00Denise, I return the blessing to you and ask God t...Denise, I return the blessing to you and ask God to MULTIPLY it to you!Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-5205685747942881852013-01-25T11:55:08.749-05:002013-01-25T11:55:08.749-05:00Thanks for the affirmation, David. Ironically, the...Thanks for the affirmation, David. Ironically, the more we try to protect ourselves and our reputation, the more we are hypocrites. The less emphasis we put on ourselves, while pointing directly to Jesus, the more like Him we become.<br /><br />As for not having it all together yet, that's one more reason to be patient with ourselves, just as God is. : )Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-16542807064650783762013-01-25T11:51:41.109-05:002013-01-25T11:51:41.109-05:00Churchians, Nataša, are often those false Christia...Churchians, Nataša, are often those false Christians who think there is a way to be good without actually submitting to God. Religion is no substitute for truth—never a substitute for Jesus! Right you are, Jesus and truth are what make us free.Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-15199019817080999622013-01-24T05:00:28.298-05:002013-01-24T05:00:28.298-05:00Yeah, we are hypocrites. There is, it seems, no e...Yeah, we are hypocrites. There is, it seems, no excuse though for it. He gives us everything we need to Live and Love and Grow... yet we reject His power and richness in our lives and go our own way... simply amazing how stubborn we can be. I have seen (in my own life and others too) that He literally has to almost kill us before we yield to His wonderfulness.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00950654383192982742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-11368364897190354622013-01-24T04:00:26.027-05:002013-01-24T04:00:26.027-05:00Totally agree, bless you sis.Totally agree, bless you sis.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09275456448997619944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-13083702775969043812013-01-23T11:12:20.297-05:002013-01-23T11:12:20.297-05:00Your summary is really good. Too often, Christian ...Your summary is really good. Too often, Christian are lumped in with others.<br /><br />The way you break down the hypocrite is spot on. Some are just ignorant because of bad or incomplete teaching. They don't know the right way to live. <br /><br />Others are more blatant about it. They know the right thing to do and just don't do it. <br /><br />And your third summation is equally right. We just don't have it all together yet.<br /><br />A really great piece.David Ruperthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765017700988820676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-71921152780918255312013-01-23T10:27:49.877-05:002013-01-23T10:27:49.877-05:00Agree with you. We shouldn't pretend but be ho...Agree with you. We shouldn't pretend but be honest... with God, with ourselves, with others. Admit our failure, admit our imperfection. But strive to live according God's standards. <br />The most of ignorant Christians are to be labeled as Churchians 'cause real Christians want to discover truth 'cause only truth make us free. Churchians like their church doctrines more than God's truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com