Friends don't let Friends be called Hypocrite

I was recently talking to a friend about church. Actually the converstaion started out about whether alcohol should be permitted in the church and went from there. He stated that, "I don't get into all that religious stuff because I don't want to be called a hypocrite." At first I thought it was a weak excuse, and then I realized what he was truly saying. It is probably the only real reason that someone who does believes in Christ doesn't want to accept him as LORD. What it really comes down to is "If I accept Christ then I cannot continue to do the things that I want to do!" It is mainly just a flat excuse out of rebellion on the part of the sinner. This is an example of someone who does not have "The Fear of the Lord!"

I do however resent the fact that what he was saying is, "that all Christians are just Hypocrites anyway." I think that it is just an excuse, but also degrades the whole Christian faith at the same time. It is not that the Church is filled with Hypocrites. It is that the Church is filled with People (Sinners) who have been saved by grace and mess up every once in a while. We are all human. The only difference is in whom we are trying to follow. Are we trying to follow the father of this world, or our Heavenly Father, who sent His Son to die for our sins?

Every other religion in the world is about "man trying to get to heaven by what he does." This is however not what grace is all about. Grace is all about God coming to us to bridge the gap that we cannot fill on our own. It is like trying to jump the Grand Canyon. We can run as fast as we can and jump, but we are not going to get all the way across. Some people are good enough that they can jump a little further, but the fact is that we cannot do it on our own initiative. The only way to get across is getting the Help necessary. Only God can pick us up and place us on the other side. Jesus is like the bridge that connects each side. You just have to choose to take the bridge. Still some try to jump across - the problem is that they are not going to be able to make it on their own.

Essentially the Good News (Gospel) is that God prepared a way to get to him. All we have to do is accept His help. That means trying to follow His direction for our lives. Granted we all make some mistakes, but he will pick us up and dust us off and we can continue on our journey. It is not that Christians are Hypocrites, It is that we are Human.

If you are reading this and want to accept Christ, follow the information provided below and the contact someone that can help you in your new faith Journey.

How to receive Christ:
1. Admit your need - The need for a saviour to help you. (I am a sinner.)
2. Be willing to turn from your sins - essentailly to try and do right before God. (Repent.)
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive him as Lord and Savior.)

What to Pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.

If you want to talk to someone or for Prayer visit:
Clear Lake Baptist Church

Daniel 3:17-18

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. - Daniel 3:17-18

Two differnet Kings are aranged in this segment of Scripture. One king harsh and ready to punish three men for not doing as he says. The other King (The King of Kings) is one of deliverance in time of trouble. These mean were doing the will of God and were not going to go against what they knew to be right, and because of it God saved them. The knew full well that they might lose their lives for the belief that they held of God - even unto death from another king.

This is a great example of Fearing God and not fearing man!

Daniel 2:10

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter; therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician or astrologer, or Chaldean. - Daniel 2:10

It is interesting how the king asked the magicians, astrologers, and the like to interpuret a dream he was not going to even tell them. So the king gave the order to kill all the wisemen of Babylon. If anything the people of the time, knew how volitiale it could be, by not doing what he asks.

This is another example of a "Fear of a King"

Daniel 1:10

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hat appointed your meat and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. - Daniel 1:10

The Prince of the eunuch had the special job of making sure that the eunuchs were taken care of. After a three year tutorage, they would appear before the king and he would test them. If the prince of the eunuchs had the appearance of not doing his job then the king would most likely take his life.

This is one example of "Fearing a King"