Posts Tagged ‘Christian’

#Halloween #Rant

Posted: October 31, 2012 in culture
Tags: , , , , ,

OK…I just have to get this off my chest.

HEADS UP:

In about 4-5 weeks Christians are going to begin complaining that America has abandoned God and forgotten the “true meaning” of Christmas. They’ll quickly point out that “Jesus is the reason for the season” and they’ll fight to defend their “right” to put a Nativity Scene in their front yard or town square. They’ll tell you that exchanging Christmas presents and putting up a Christmas tree are completely meaningless if you don’t acknowledge the birth of Christ (God’s “gift” to us…who “hung on a tree”). In other words, THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AND WORSHIPING JESUS (“Christ Mass”).

They are correct.

For an increasingly large percentage of America, celebrating Christmas is a CULTURAL EVENT — NOT a religious holiday. It has no spiritual or religious significance to it whatsoever & is simply a fun thing that people do with their family and friends. Many people LOVE Christmas, but don’t know CHRIST.

Very true.

The funny thing is, the VERY SAME PEOPLE who will complain about “the secular celebration of Christmas” will browbeat people for “celebrating Halloween” because it is a pagan religious holiday.

ATTENTION PHARISEES:

If it’s possible to celebrate Christmas without worshiping Jesus, then it is also possible to celebrate Halloween without worshiping the devil. Why? Because it is a CULTURAL EVENT.

Now CHILL OUT and love people like Jesus. (And PLEASE don’t give Chick Tracts to the kids who come knocking on your door tonight. A piece of candy and a “God bless you” will do just fine.)

That is all. -Kraig

Are you sick of boring church services? Are you tired of listening to sermon after sermon? Are you turned-off by door-to-door evangelism? Have you ever wondered, “What’s the point?” Do you long for something big, important, and significant enough to dedicated your life to — but you can’t seem to find it in church as you know it?

In this message I challenge the modern form of Christianity and ask, “XXXX XX XXXXX?!”

Francis Chan asked, “If I only had this as my guide … if all I had was the Bible … and I was to read this book and then start a church, what would it look like? Would it look like the thing that we’ve built here and all refer to as church? Or would it look radically different?”

That seems like a great question to me … so I decided to talk about it. If you’ve missed the BASIC series, here are all seven sessions:

Part 1: Fear God

Part 2: Follow Jesus

Part 3: The Holy Spirit

Part 4: Fellowship

Part 5: Teaching

Part 6: Prayer

Part 7: Communion

 

Want to join the conversation? Meet me at Niceville Assembly on Wednesday nights at 6.30 PM.

Click here for more information on the BASIC film series by Francis Chan.

What does this sign tell you about the Thai Pepper Restaurant?

If your answer has anything to do with their grand opening or the price of the buffet, please slap yourself on my behalf.

This sign tells me they don’t care about quality and they don’t understand our culture.

This sign tells me I do NOT want to eat there.

In a digital age filled with HD everything, this type of advertising is absolutely unacceptable. For $20 they could’ve had a similar sign professionally made (at the graphics design shop located 100-feet down the street).

Do you think they would’ve gotten their money back (by gaining 4 customers)?

I do!

This sign is costing them more business than it’s creating by repelling potential customers. It is counterproductive.

The same thing happens through misguided evangelism attempts.

I know that people mean well, but honestly, some people would serve Christ better by keeping their mouths shut.

News Flash: This is not 1950.

Effective evangelism in the 21st century requires authentic relationships based upon genuine concern and heartfelt compassion for people who don’t know Christ. It requires love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

Any other approach is counterproductive.

Please, on behalf of the Christ, I’m begging you to throw away your Bible tract and sandwich board and just love people into the Kingdom.