In faith we talk about 'the fruits of the Spirit', which is a real religiousy way of describing that when Christians are really living faith, they will display certain characteristics: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. So that is how we should see Christians behaving. If we described our lives, those words should be present if we are living our faith.
Now here is the rub: John 10:10 (looked at in the last post) "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I (Jesus) come to give you life, and to give it abundantly." I don't think it is much of a leap to say that an abundant life would be characterized by plenty of joy, peace, faithfulness, patience, gentleness...etc.
Let's jump to the obvious point, we Christians don't have an abundance of these markers. We are in fact known as the opposite, judgemental, isolationistic, unkind, etc...
Why? Wouldn't it be a fantastic witness if we lived these - shoot, wouldn't it be fantastic for us and our families, let alone the world as a whole?
So what is the thief up to that Christ's Church is living so inversely? What lies have we bought that erode love? What is the destroyer destroying to erode joy in the world through Christians? What essentials have been hikacked that prevent kindness?
Makes all those rousing sermons against so and so seem misguided, eh?
Now here is the rub: John 10:10 (looked at in the last post) "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I (Jesus) come to give you life, and to give it abundantly." I don't think it is much of a leap to say that an abundant life would be characterized by plenty of joy, peace, faithfulness, patience, gentleness...etc.
Let's jump to the obvious point, we Christians don't have an abundance of these markers. We are in fact known as the opposite, judgemental, isolationistic, unkind, etc...
Why? Wouldn't it be a fantastic witness if we lived these - shoot, wouldn't it be fantastic for us and our families, let alone the world as a whole?
So what is the thief up to that Christ's Church is living so inversely? What lies have we bought that erode love? What is the destroyer destroying to erode joy in the world through Christians? What essentials have been hikacked that prevent kindness?
Makes all those rousing sermons against so and so seem misguided, eh?