Double Dipping Christians


For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  2 Peter 2:20-21

I know when I was growing up, it seemed that what everyone else was doing often looked like a lot more fun than what I was doing. Sometimes, as Christians, we have the same type of decisions that we have to come to terms with. There was a song by the Loving Spoonful called: Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?  There's a portion of this song that was written by John Benson Sebastian, that says: Did you ever have to finally decide? And say yes to one and let the other one ride....

Well, it's easy for us to be Double Dipping Christians, where we attend church weekly, but once we are out of church, we are involved in a party-hearty live style. We want a close relationship with Christ, when it's convenient, but want to be involved with friends with lifestyle choices that speak of worldly decisions.

The thing is, this Bible Passage says that it is far worse to have known Christ in your life, and chose the worldly life. I know it's not easy, but He can help you with these decisions, because I don't think, from this passage, that Christ likes us straddling both life styles.  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  2 Peter 2:20-21

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Self-Serving Christian

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again. Matthew 20:18-19

What a Self-Serving Christian I am! I read this passage and think of how selfless that Jesus was. He knew in advance that he would be tried, spit upon, hit, mocked, crucified on a cross, die, and be buried. He went through all of that so that He rise again on the third day to save us all from our sins.

When I think about all of that, I am hard pressed to determine that I would go through with it all for others, especially for those who would spit on me, hit me and taunt me the way they did to our Lord and Savior. He didn't let that stop Him, though.

I pray that I am a better example of how Christ works in my life, that I am more open to sharing my faith with others regardless of what they might think of me or how they might treat me. Jesus didn't let things like that hold Him back, why do I? I feel so ashamed that I let these concerns interfere with being the person that Christ wants me to be.  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again. Matthew 20:18-19

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Can't See Beyond the Nose on Your Face Christian

We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John:19-21

Well, for years I used to take this passage very literally. I have to admit there are times when I was not always the best example of being a loving sibling, especially when they made life style choices that I thought were counterproductive. I had to be prayerful about my attitude and being judgmental of my siblings and their choices. I had to be prayerful about having a forgiving and open heart to them regardless of their actions. I can't tell you that I'm where I need to be, but Christ has made a miraculous change in my attitude and in my interactions.

I was a Can't See Beyond the Nose on Your Face Christian. I was only looking at my interactions related to my siblings. Once Christ drew my attention to my narrow focus, I realized that I needed to look beyond my siblings. Do I love those who snubbed me when I was heavy? Do I love those in the world who make poor life style choices? Do I love those in the world who sell drugs to others? Do I love those who don't love Christ and persecute those who do? Do I love those who traffic people? Do I love those who are against my country? Do I love those who have a different skin color? Do I love those who oppress others? Do I love those who........?

I won't lie to you, but am prayerful that Christ leads me in this goal to being a better example of the Christian He wants me to be. We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John:19-21


Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Looking for Jesus in All the Wrong Places Christian

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.  The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He.  John, Chapter 4, verses 24-26.

Have you ever watched movies where men or women are looking for their true love, but have a good friend they overlook because they are looking for the ideal partner?  The majority of the movie is focused on the main character pursuing people who are attractive, popular, etc., but never are satisfied.  Later, in the movie, they find that the ideal person for them is their true-blue friend who has been there, all along.

It’s like this lady who is desperately searching for Jesus, without realizing He is right in front of her.  He isn’t attractive, popular, etc., so He might go unnoticed.  He is our true-blue friend and Savior who is there to save us, but do we notice Him?  Like the song says, “Looking for love in all the wrong places,” do we want to be a “Looking for Jesus in All the Wrong Places Christian” or should we stop to realize that He has been right here in front of us, all along?

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.