Rationalizing Christians

Then in the audience of all the people He said unto His disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.  Luke, Chapter 20, verses 45-47.

This reminds me of old westerns I used to watch on TV.  It would show the banker (not to imply this is the way bankers are or this behavior is limited only to bankers.)  He would appear nice enough, saying hi to the husband, tip his hat to the wife and did “coochie coos” to her baby.  This banker is a good upstanding churchgoer.  He appears to be the pillar of society, a role model to others.
Then as the plot thickens, the banker and his cohorts try to squeeze the farmer and his family off their land.  He secretly knows there is a lot of profit to be gained by that particular piece of property.  The husband dies in a freak accident which is highly suspicious.  Then the banker comes to give the grieving wife his condolences and tell her how sorry he is about her loss.  He says that out of the goodness of his heart, he will give the wife an extra month’s extension on paying what is owed on the property before he forecloses on their mortgage.
The rest of the movie is dedicated to showing how the banker and his cohorts try to make it difficult for her, and those that befriend her, to pay the money owed.  Of course, in the movie, good wins out over evil and the lady and her baby get to stay in their home.  But, in real life; that doesn’t always happen. 
There are some who are very cunning and would have no remorse for evicting the widow and her child from their home, because they are within their rights as far as the law goes.  These people would continue to go to church without a guilty conscience, because they have rationalized their actions.  The thing is…God knows what they do as Rationalizing Christians and no amount of rationalization is going to cut it with God for those who take advantage of widows and orphans!
Here is a related passage:
*Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.  Matthew, Chapter 23, verse 14.

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.

Rambling Christian

And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives: and His disciples also followed Him.  And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.  And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow.  And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  Luke, Chapter 22, verses 39-46.

As a Christian, it’s easy for me to say, “Oh, no problem.  I love You so much, Jesus; that there’s no way I will slip into temptation.”  Well, if the disciples who loved Jesus very much could slip into temptation, then we need to learn from their actions and realize the importance of praying for God to keep us from temptation.
I recognize that sometimes when I say the Lord’s Prayer each night, I tend to ramble through it even though I know I shouldn’t.  I’m not sure that God acknowledges prayers when we just ramble through them in a repetitive manner.  When I say my prayers in the morning, I ask God to take care of all sorts of things: my family, the world, and me; but I don’t ask Him to protect us from temptation.  As a Rambling Christian, this has made me extremely aware of my need to add that to my daily prayers and to slow down and focus on what I’m praying.
Here are some related passages:
*Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew, Chapter 26, verse 41.

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.

Side-Line Christian

And they watched Him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of His Words, that so they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor.  And they asked Him, saying, Master, we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?  But He perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye Me?  Show Me a penny.  Whose image and superscription hath it?  And He said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.  And they could not take hold of His Words before the people: and they marvelled at His answer, and held their peace.  Luke, Chapter 20, verses 20-26.

I keep having problems with this one.  I’ve sold several different products in side-line businesses for the sole purpose of trying to give Caesar a little less of what seems mine.  (Now there is nothing wrong with having a side-line business or selling things to gain a profit.  My goal was distinctly motivated toward being able to legally keep more of my money, although I did everything in my power to do it legally.)
Writing this book has made me more aware of my motives.  I have given up the side-line businesses, since my motives weren’t in-line with what God would want me to do.  I keep letting worldly things sneak in and put a wedge in my relationship with God.
I guess I have two options when God makes me aware of these things.  I can try to ignore them and pretend that I have blinders on and don’t really understand what He is showing me, or I can make the changes necessary to be in-line with what God wants.  As a former Side-Line Christian, in order to do that, I am donating the profits I get from this book to a non-profit organization or a charitable cause.  Money wasn’t the reason I wrote this.  I felt strongly led to share these insights with you, with the desire that you would better understand the positive influence the Bible can have in your daily life.

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.

Ungrateful Christians

Then began He to speak to the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.  And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.  And again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.  And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.  Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.  But when the husbandmen saw him they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.  So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?  He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.  And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.  Luke, Chapter 20, verses 9-16.

After reading the parable, this is my opinion of what God might say.  “I protected My people and promised them a Savior (Jesus).  Then I sent them prophets to tell of Jesus’ coming and they ignored them.  I thought that they just didn’t understand that I’m trying to help them turn their lives around so that they can have Salvation with Me.  So, I decided to send John the Baptist and they ignored and killed him.  I figured surely they will acknowledge My only begotten Son, Jesus, so I sent Jesus to them.
“They totally ignored the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, and then they had the audacity to kill Him.  That way they didn’t have to feel guilty anymore for living their worldly lives not focused on My teachings.  They didn’t have any idea about who they were dealing with, because Jesus arose from the grave on the third day to fulfill the Scriptures.  He conquered death so that all who truly believe in Him will have eternal life in heaven.
“You are ungrateful people!  You killed My only begotten Son and don’t deserve the gift of Salvation that Jesus has provided for you.  I’m going to give that gift to anyone who believes that Jesus is their Savior, because you aren’t worthy of it, Ungrateful Christians!”

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.

Sorry, Charlie, Christian

And as they heard these things, He added and spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us.  And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.  Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.  And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.  And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.  And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou did not sow.  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.  Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money unto the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?  And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.  (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)  For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.  But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.  Luke, Chapter 19, verses 11-27.

Jesus may say on the Last Day, “You were all given the same task to be examples of how I work in your lives and to share your love of Me with others.  Did you do it?  When you had problems you turned to Me but when I solved those problems for you, you didn’t even take the time to thank Me.  You just turned back to your life like I didn’t exist until the next problem or religious holiday came around.  Then, you were so focused on showing off your new clothes at church that you didn’t even pay attention to Me and the real reason for the season.  Sorry, Charlie, you’re not making it to heaven!” I don't want to be a Sorry, Charlie, Christian!

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.