Sermon Central
-
Generic Christianity
Contributed by Ron Hicks on Sep 6, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Get real. There is no such thing as a generic Christian.
GENERIC CHRISTIANS
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord , shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
If you don’t like something, you can always go somewhere else and get it.
If you don’t like the name brand churches, You can always find a generic church to go to.
If you don’t the sacrifice and the commitment required at (The Church), then you can always find a generic church where nothing is required of you.
If you look at the label on store brand (generic) medicines, you will read on the label to compare this product with such and such brand name medicine, and it say’s "this product is not made by the maker of that brand name medicine."
This is the definition of the brand name, CHRISTIAN-having the qualities demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, as love, kindness, humility, etc.
Generic Christians are like those in the next two illustrations:
certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
One man thought that he could buy his way in by giving money.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Some folks do give big money supposing that they can give their way in and others use other things as their passport.
The truth is, we need givers to God’s work, but givers who give because of what God has done for them, an expression of love and gratitude for loving them.
Some of you need to give more so that God can bless you more.
I know that comments like these do strike a nerve, but if so, that’s an indication that you need the Holy Spirit to do a deeper work in your heart.
You can’t buy your way into a relationship with Jesus. To assume that you could would make you a generic Christian.
Generic Christians are not always hypocrites (give description),
(Claiming to be something that we are not. They testify by yard, live by inch, and ought to be kicked by foot.)
They are people who have been sold on the Christian idea rather than on Jesus Christ himself.
They are people who have no idea what the meanings of faithfulness, commitment and sacrifice are, and the definition of true humility, moral purity and righteousness.
I feel sorry for some of these people because, where they worship, the code of morality is so vaguely defined that it’s a shame.
They are sincere people, who are happy with the sensationalism of Christianity, constantly being fed the babies milk, and yet haven’t yielded a total surrender to Jesus, resisting deeper truth, living in carnality.
Superficial Christians with no real substance.
Tell me, do you want a sugar pill or the real thing?
Ezek 33:30-31
30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Isa29:13
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
