The Angel In You And The Devil In Me!

Over lunch, a close friend, Ann Gee boasted that she never misses attendance on Sunday church!

Thanks to her statement, allowing me the opportunity to rant about church attendance, something I wanted to do for a long time. I am brassed off by the constant harassing practiced by many inconsiderate, desperate Christians who are trying too hard to please their church leaders, simultaneously boasting to their church mates how fruitful they are by luring people to attend their various church services.

I could literally hear 2.5 billion "Christians" screaming I am guilty of blasphemy and should be nailed to the cross!. As a Christian myself, how could I betray my own belief and faith? In opening, I already exclaimed that I have wanted to rant about this for a long time.

Most Christians view church attendance with critical importance but failed terribly when it concerns attending to people especially those who are with financial needs. I am bored with the rationale that the church is imperfect! So, when does it start working towards perfection?

Owing to her near perfect attendance on Sundays, Ann believed that her heaven bound destination is undeniably secured. People like me, she is worried, might not even get the opportunity to just stand outside the gates of heaven and peek inside.

"So you are the angel and I am the devil?", I quipped.

On a more serious note, I want to share that Christian living is not about going to Church on Sundays. And this statement is going to raise unnecessary controversial ~frown~

Throughout the Bible, we were asked to be obedient to Christ's teachings and lived a life to honor and glorify our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus.

I broach this to her, asking whether she is also mindful when attending to pleas for various support by her brothers/sisters in Christ and non believers? Do you bolt without a doubt and hesitation to a brother/sister or a non believer's adversity?

Our Lord Saviour, Jesus reminded us about being merciful in our way of life. Then there is also a reminder to apply His love, even in foolish situations, as evidence that His love for us on the cross was not in vain. What I meant is, when our Saviour obediently went to the cross, he did not question the Father whether he is dying for friends or enemies? If we hear clearly from the Holy Spirit gifted to us and live in our hearts to guide, teach, counsel, protect and comfort us, we should obey without any doubts.

What is important is whether we obey the teachings of Jesus. As Christians, I believed the most important rule is to do what Jesus has taught us. Our Saviour expect our lifestyle to bring honor and glory to our heavenly Father. Our Christian lifestyle should be above the benchmark of ordinary people.

I told Ann that she may be going to Church everyday for the rest of her life, but if she do not show mercy in situations demanded of it, then she is still nothing. In fact I quoted 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 only in my last post. It's all about ministering to people with love and humility that will please God, our Father and Father of our Saviour Jesus.

The Devil is not intimidated by what we know and how much we know about the Bible, how regular we attend Church, but I am confident we will rocked the Devil by how we obey and apply the teachings of Jesus in our daily earthly lives. It's our lifestyle ministering in His love and humility towards others that will cause the Devil to tremble.

Ann Gee wasn't happy when I mentioned this: How can Christians shake and rock the Devil when most of our Christian lifestyle strayed from what our Lord has taught us? I questioned further about whether as a Church we ministered to each other with the true love and humility of Christ that is alive in our hearts?

While attending church is of extreme importance; The biggie question is do we congregate as a church in His love and humility where Christ is the Head or do we just congregate to worship and failed in every other departments of His teachings.

As a Church, do we care for each other because each of us belongs to the bigger body or are most of us fakes where we live selfishly apart from each other? Do we boast about our perfect attendance in our church services but failed miserably when the demand to minister with love and humility to our brothers/sisters and pagans?

Those who are knitted into the body of Christ care for each other with the love and humility of our Saviour Jesus Christ because we know we are One in Him!

Allow me to add another question: Are we living in His truth? How much do we understand about Church which is the body of Christ, our Saviour?