9 Things That Don’t Make You A Good Christian

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attitudes, faith, how to, Jesus, music, relationships, salvation, the church, wisdom, worship

Wearing a cross necklace doesn't make you a good Christian either...

Since I’ve started this new, wonderful relationship with God, I have noticed that people are trying to prove to me that they know God too! It’s kind of weird, because there are people who have misquoted the Bible in front of me or been accidentally blasphemous, trying to show me that they know the Bible just like me.

People should strive to explore God personally and corporately through a church where they belong and not try to compare their experiences to someone else’s. So I’ve come up with a list of things that people should examine to make sure that they are working toward having the most quality relationship with God that they can have for them, and not for other people.

1. Not accepting Jesus Christ as your savior

If you don’t understand and accept what Jesus did for us, then you are not a Christian. Accepting that Jesus died for our sins is the first requirement to being a Christian. You may attend church, and you might believe in a “higher power” but if you don’t know or understand the sacrifice, you should do everything you can to understand that first and foremost.

2. Forwarding “Christian” emails

We all get emails from people talking about a sick kid or someone who died tragically that makes you want to cry, then tells you to forward it on to eight people if you are a “real Christian” and some “miracle” will happen. For like 10 seconds I feel bad for not forwarding those things on, then I remember that we cannot treat God like he is a chain letter or pyramid scheme. If you want to share testimonies or information about God, that is great, just don’t put stipulations on it that make people uncomfortable.

3. Knowing the Word and not doing the Word

There are so many people who can quote the Bible, yet do not apply its wisdom to their life. Even the devil knows the Bible! He uses it to confuse us! Knowing the Bible verbatim is wonderful and shows that you study, but knowing it and not doing it is a futile practice. It shows that you can memorize. A thing that people often pray is that they want to “not just be hearers, but doers of the Word.” Praying that God will help you to apply what you hear is a blessing!

4. Having a stanky attitude

God wants you to be nice and be happy. Point blank. Not, nice when people are nice to you. Not happy when all your bills are paid and people are acting right. Galatians 5:22-23 says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Going to church, reading the Bible, but being mean to your waiter or cashier is not what God wants you to do. Waking up everyday, being sad and pitying your self is not what God wants you to do. If you are unhappy or have an “attitude problem” seeking advice from the Bible, and asking God for help is the way to change.

5. Threatening people with the Bible

When people talk about homosexuality, abortion and politics, they often beat people over the head with the Bible. They will tell people they are going to hell if they are gay. They will quote Leviticus and tell them they are dammed. I know what they Bible says about sexual immorality, but teaching people with love reaches them before beating them over the head with the Bible. It takes more energy to actually get to know a person and understand why they do what they do, and I think that’s why people choose to just write others off.

6. Not having a real relationship with God

A relationship with God is personal. It’s not going to be the same thing your mom experiences, or your best friend knows. It will touch the most important and specific parts of your life. I have a friend who took years to find her artistic niche in molding and sculpting clay. One day, she told me she was reading Genesis and noticed how God was a ceramicist too. That is a personal, meaningful relationship. You establish that by asking God to reign over your life, putting everything on the line. You allow Him to use your gifts to say what He wants to say. And you thank Him for your life, and pray to Him to help you and others. So many people fake that to their own detriment, just to sound like a Christian in front of other Christians. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)” I surely don’t want to be on the other side of that fence.

7. Worshiping other things than God

Imagine on Judgment Day that there is an account of all the money we’ve spent, the time we’ve spent doing everything we’ve done in our lives and what has moved us the most emotionally and intellectually. How much time, money and energy have you spent on knowing God versus knowing other things in life. Have you been more engrossed and involved in sports, music, career, TV, dating, drama, etc. than learning who God is? It is an emotional, intellectual and spiritual experience that takes a lifetime of learning. Are you dedicated to that or something else?

8. Listening to Gospel music

Gospel music may help you feel better, remind you of scriptures and can serve as an alternate form of entertainment, but do not base your relationship with God off of it. Music can help you to praise and worship God, but it should not be the only source of your Word and relationship with Him. You should be able to feel better, know scripture and worship God with and without an organ present or a Mary Mary CD. Gospel music definitely fills a gap, and helps us to praise and worship God, but it is only a tool and does not make you sanctified.

9. Being a Professional Sinner

Not wanting to change and not wanting God “all in your business” will lead to a life of professional sin. We all sin, so they doesn’t necessarily make bad. Recognizing your sin and changing your life makes you a person who really understand what God is all about.

What’s Your Definition?

Tags

attitudes, happiness, salvation

I write bios for a living. So I read the stories of a lot of people. Truly successful people define themselves by their successes. This is not to say they have never failed or did anything wrong. But those failures do not define them. Reading the bios of people who are leaders in their communities and their fields, you rarely hear about their failed relationships, failed ventures and failed opportunities. Their paths of greatness are inspirations to others.

Some bios I write from artists are totally different. They want to glorify their struggles and their mistakes. Rappers always want to talk about how they sold drugs, used to be pimps and thieves and those are the things that make them skillful rappers and hustlers. I meet a lot of women who tell me their stories of how they have never been successful in relationships, and how their lives chronicle one failure after another. So many people know the details of their wrongdoings, and ignore the steps to their successes.

You may be a person who hasn’t accomplished much in life. You may be someone who seemingly has made one bad decision after another. But guess what? You are still here, so God obviously has a plan and a purpose for your life that is victorious. What is your personal story and definition? Are you a person that lives their life defined by missed chances, bad decisions or failures? Or can you define your self by transformation, success and deliverance? If you cannot say you have triumphed or been changed, is that a personal goal of yours? If so, make it a part of your definition!

I challenge readers of this blog to re-write their personal definition to include their strengths and greatness, not their mistakes. If you would like to share your stories and definitions with The Chosen Chick audience, you can email them to me at donnamarbury@gmail.com and I will post them! In 300 words or less tell me who you are. Send your photo and blog, Facebook link or whatever and I will post it! Let me know if you have any questions!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

I’m Saved, Now What!

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how to, Juanita Bynum, salvation

I didn’t get saved at church. I had been attending New Covenant for a long while, so I can say my church laid the foundation for me being saved. My mom read me the Bible verses over the phone and I was saved via landlines! But you don’t have to be saved at church. When you are compelled to give your life to God and believe in Jesus, then you can confess, repent and you are saved. Maybe you are at a church and the message touches you deeply. Maybe you are at a church and you aren’t necessarily emotionally moved, but you feel being saved is the right thing to do. Regardless of your reasons, thank God you made the choice!

What happens to a lot of people is that they get saved, and don’t know what to do afterward. You might experience some great euphoria, and you might not “feel” anything. So how do you begin to acquire this abundant life that Christians talk so much about?

This is an excerpt from my Juanita Bynum Topical Bible that can help new Christians and Christians who are lost on their journey. If you follow these steps, you will begin to understand what being saved is really all about!

Now That You Are Saved

1. Receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit

2. Find a Bible believing church that is on fire and alive (read the book of Acts)

(my note: It’s okay to go to a church and not like it. Take suggestions from friends, family and associates and visit churches until you find a place that speaks to you. It may take a while, but ask God to lead you.)

3. Pray and read God’s Word everyday of your life

4. Obtain a Bible that you can understand (Living Bible, NIV Bible, or the Amplified Bible)

(my note: You are not any less Christian if you don’t dig King James!)

5. Learn and know your inheritance in Jesus Christ

6. Obey the Word of God

7. Don’t be decieved

(my note: I thought it was interesting that Bynum feels we have a duty not to be deceived! That means we must be proactive)

8. Know and use your authority in Jesus Christ over satan

9. Tell others what God has done for you

Where Are You Going?

Tags

death, salvation

Recently, a high school friend of mine was killed. At least once every other week on Facebook, there is mention of someone who has died. I can’t help to think about these people and wonder, “were they saved?”

I remember one of my cousins passed away a few years ago. he was a non-practicing Muslim. His funeral was so heartaching. As his closest friends and family members spoke about how he was a good person, a good father….they talked about how he loved life, everyone knew he hadn’t been saved. So we all were sitting there grappling with the idea that he could be in Hell that very minute.

One thing I don’t dig about some rappers is that they talk so much about not being afraid of death, but don’t talk about our responsibility here on Earth. If your friend was drowning in the ocean, would you save them or just say, “don’t be afraid of death.”

We have a responsibility as Christians to bring people to heaven with us. Nothing is more important than that. That touches me even more now that some of my old friends are now passing away. Attending a funeral or memorial of someone who is not saved is a failure on all of our parts.

In the next week, can you be bold enough to ask someone close to you: “Where do you think you are going when you die?” You do not get into heaven by being a good person. The grace of God is the only way we get there. There is nothing we can do, but accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Just in case you aren’t sure whether you are saved or not, here is how:

1. Read Romans 10:9:

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

2. Admit that you have sinned and confess to God and repent

3. Speak out loud that Jesus is Lord-the Son of God

4. Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead

Romans 10:10

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.