[b]Matthew 16:23[/b] [color=990000]But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for you do not mind the things of God, but the things of men.[/color] Or in other words, "They think like everyone else and not like God."
They have a man centered religion, everyone need a Christ centered view on who GOD is.
Their religion is based on humanism instead of faith. Humanism is a system of thought that centers on humans and their values, capacities, and worth. Humanism concerns with the interests, needs, and welfare of humans:
There are 5 kinds of Christians that are taken from a sermon of Paris Readhead, four are Humanistic and only one is the true walk of faith. We know them by how they relate to Jesus. [b]1)[/b] Those who have met the "[u]forgiving Christ[/u]." That is, they have "accepted Jesus" primarily [b]to escape hell, suffering, and punishment.[/b]
[b]2)[/b] Those who have met the "[u]utilitarian Christ[/u]." That is, they have found that [b]God can help them get what they need[/b] -- their whole interest in Christianity is that they should be taken care of by faith.
[b]3)[/b] Those who have met the "[u]status-giving Christ[/u]." These have joined the Church because they wanted fellowship and to be around the people. [b]Position within[/b] the group is also typically very important within this group, and any [b]achievement[/b] is hailed as part of the "glory of God."
[b]4)[/b] Those who have met the "[u]emotion-satisfying Christ[/u]." Their whole purpose in Christianity and religion is to [b]satisfy their emotional needs[/b]. They look for everything that will make them laugh, cry, or both.
[b]5)[/b] Those "who have met the Holy God and the Sovereign Christ." They have seen their terrible sinfulness and have known forgiveness, their prayers have been answered, they have found status as God's Children, and they have been filled with the Joy of God. But in addition to all this, this group is living only for God's glory and to walk according to the Cross. Only this fifth group is the true Church of God.
Which group do you fit in?
Lets be done, once for all, with Humanistic Christianity that makes God a means, instead of the glorious end that He is. |