Christianity needs to go back to basics - it's not about behavioral modification or performance - by RM

''whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst".

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary estimated there were 34,000 Christian denominations in 2000, rising to an an estimated 43,000 in 2012. These numbers have exploded from 1,600 in the year 1900.

Of over 2 billion Christians in the world, less than 30% say they ever read through the entire Bible. The fact is over 82% of Christian Americans only read part of their Bibles on Sundays while in church. In recent studies, the Pew research also indicated that only 25% of Americans who cal themselves Christian now attend church on any given Sunday, significantly down from 47% in 1990.

Obviously the above figures also reflect two things, One, that Christians are struggling among themselves to create a culture that mirrors the values of God as described in the Bible and two, that many Christian Pastors are generally doing a poor job in bringing the truth of the Gospel ---God’s astonishing purpose for mankind,  to their congregations.

Another question which comes up a lot by many non-Christians and even some Christians, especially during the past weeks terrorist attacks  is: "what about the Crusades from 1095-1291, wasn't that similar to what the radical Muslims are doing today" ?

The answer to this question, unfortunately, has either been avoided or never been told with any clarity by the Christian hierarchy or local Pastors. The answer is double sided  - Yes and No.

Barbaric killings took place during the Crusades, even in far greater numbers than in all the recent terrorist killings put together. The difference, however, between today's radical Muslim terrorists and the crusaders is that the crusades were considered national state organized military campaigns, supported by the Vatican and the nations around Europe they controlled.

Today's terrorists groups on the other hand, including al-Qaida and ISIS are not supported by any national state or even traditional Islamic states, at least not officially.

The other question that Christians are struggling with is the difference between Christianity and Catholicism – this also has never been quite clear to most average church goers and often "hush-hushed" by local  Pastors as a "non-question". Sometimes, also, because they themselves were not quite comfortable about the issue.

The fact is that Martin Luther back in the 1500's broke away from the Vatican controlled Catholic Church and initiated the Reformation, the basis of today’s non-violent-Bible based global Christian movement. It is a reality which needs to be made crystal clear to Protestant Christians and all the other Christian denominations that are a result of that movement. 

It must also be made clear to the world at large that the Pope is not the spokes-person for Christians around the world.

Catholics might call themselves Christian, but there are seven key issues which continue to distinguish their beliefs and practices, making their doctrine not compatible with the Reformation.

These are: 1) the Magisterium which refers to the official teaching body of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope being the representative of God on earth - Protestants do not accept this. 2) Tradition, While Protestants don’t view tradition as equal in authority with the Scriptures (Bible), the Roman Catholic Church has a different perspective—one which clearly distinguishes itself from Protestant churches. 3) Salvation and Grace, Protestants often express the idea that salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone.

The Roman Catholic Church views justification as a process, dependent on the grace you receive by participating in the Church---which is seen as a repository of saving grace. 4)The Eucharist, When it comes to the Eucharist, which most Protestants call ‘The Lord’s Supper,” or “Communion,” the Roman Catholic Church in this holds to the doctrine of transubstantiation—the idea that the edible ritual elements used during the mass literally become the body and blood of Christ.5) Justification, protestants view justification as the moment God declares that a guilty person is righteous because of the sacrifice Christ has done on the Cross for that person.. 

Catholic doctrine does not believe this and looks at man's redemption as a life-long process. 6) Priesthood of All Believers: Protestants see the church as having a horizontal structure, whereby everyone is equal in the eyes of God, while the Catholics see the Church as a vertical structure ( much like today's corporations)..7) Veneration of the Saints and the Virgin Mary, Roman Catholics see veneration, not as praying to the Saints and the Virgin Mary, but as praying through them. As is commanded in the Bible, Protestants do not pray facing statues or other objects jnstead either pray in solitude or ask a brother or sister in Christ to pray for them or with them..

Indeed, there is a lot most Christians don't know about their own religion, but should know.

As Pastor William Graham Tullian Tchividjian said from the pulpit of the Fort Lauderdale Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church on Sunday January 11, "Christianity has a major PR problem".

Yes indeed.

EU-Digest