Saturday, August 2, 2008

There's More Than One Christianity?

Found this in my study Bible during my devotion yesterday morning.

There are 4 types of Christianity (3 are distortions):
Judaized Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians are Jews who have recognized Jesus as the promised Savior. Therefore any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew.
Danger: Tends to add human tradition and standards to God's law. Also subtracts from the Scriptures God's clear concern for all nations.

Legalized Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians are those who live by a long of "dont's". God's favor is earned by good behavior.
Danger: Tends to make God's love something to earn rather than to accept freely. Would reduce Christianity to a set of impossible rules and transform the Good News into BAD news.

Lawless Christianity (distortion)
Definition: Christians live above the law. They need no guidelines. God's Word is not as important as our personal sense of God's guidance.
Danger: Forgets that Christians are still human and fail consistently when trying to live only by what they "feel" God wants.

True Christianity
Definition: Christians are those who believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus' death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a GIFT. They have accepted that gift through faith and are seeking to live a life of obedient gratitude for what God has done for them.
Danger: Avoids the above dangers.

What type of Christian are we?


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