YM,
First off, welcome to CU. I would welcome you over in the other section...but I think here is just as good as any.
I am uncertain of some of the points you are trying to make. But let me address a couple
how many churches must i abandon. The reason why non beleivers have such hostile feelings towerds christians is this. hypocrites!! I find most people of the church are too quick to judge others based on back grounds and apperence. T.V.evangelist dont help either with the gold Pinky Rings and $$1000.00 suits.."send me your money"
You are absolutely correct. What was true for the Jews in Romans is true of Christians. By our actions the name of God may be blasphemed amongst the Gentiles.
mild mannord christians on sundays...selfish, unsensitive, money hungry bigots through the week. dont Judge some one by thare hair cut or hair color...do you know this person you are judging? Has Fashion passed you by?
I know fashion has passed me by...when the hair started to drop out and the gut started to push out I knew my clothes were shrinking. And that the days of fashion were gone
when the musics too loud..your too old
When everyone has to listen to your music because it is so loud and you do not show respect enough to turn it down. Who then truly has the problem?
Expression and Influence is a huge factor in todays youth/young adults.
Expression and Influence has always been a factor in youth and young adults. It is a matter of what influence and what expressions. It is not a matter of "conforming" to what mom and dad say, but a matter of what God has written. Jesus should be our influence and what Jesus has done in our life should be our expression.
And Quit pretending the Bible is a Fact. Its not a Fact. we beleive through our Faith. Most Faith is "tought faith". We are conditioned and trained to beleive. It dont happen over night. Keep that in mind when a question pops up...most questions with the Bible are valid ones...Non beleivers Dont have time for a "thats just the way it is" and "Well Its right here in the Bible" Be more understanding and understand That The Bible is verey hard to swallow with this generation.
Now here is a problem. The only reason the Bible is hard to swallow for anyone young or old is because they do not want to swallow it. They want to live their own way and set their own rules. They want to be "influenced" by whomever they want and "express" themselves however they feel.
This is the essence of the original sin. It was not just a factor of disobedience but that Adam and Eve have injected their own will over that of God. They defined what was good and what was evil. They decided that eating of the fruit was not truly evil thus they ate. However God had already defined that evil is disobedience to God. And it is still that way today.
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." If the Word was not true then it was not perfect. If it is not perfect then God is not perfect. If God is not perfect then He is not God. Since He is God then He is perfect. Since He is perfect then the Word is perfect. Since the Word is perfect then it is true.
John 8:45 "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not" Again Jesus said that He is telling the truth. If He was not then He is a liar. If He is a liar then God is a liar. God cannot be a liar. Thus it is true.
John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" See above because Jesus not only said he was telling the truth but that He WAS the truth. Thus God is truth as well. Thus the Word of God is truth as well.
And no a lashing is not always a Christian thing to do. And I can only address your concerns, questions, and feelings with that which God has provided through His truth in the Bible. Again welcome to Christians Unite. I can only pray that you will find answers in the truth and that being in Jesus.
Sincerely
Brother Jerry