Are Christians good adverts for Christianity?

Good question? Here's another one. Is Christianity in principle wholesome? Clearly from reading the New Testament - Yes. Indeed very strongly yes.

But back to Christians. If I asked you what your mental picture of a Christian was I wonder what you would say? The bible teaches that Christians should be like their Saviour - the Lord Jesus Christ. That's a pretty tall order but in essence that's the biblical truth of following Christ. The purpose of God is to change Christians and make them like the Lord Jesus in thinking and in behaviour.

How is this possible you may be thinking! For this reason. God credits a believing person with righteousness because of the death and resurrection of Christ. That is he legally deals with our sin and guilt and as a result the Christian has an acceptable status in the sight of God. God also guarantees that on the day of redemption (when the Christian dies or the Lord Jesus returns to take the 'church' to heaven) that they will be made perfect not just in principle but in practice.

In the meantime God is working with believers every day (as much as the believers lets Him) to change them and mature them to be and behave like the Lord Jesus.

I am a believer and do not feel I do too well in this respect but I wouldn't change my place with anyone even a lottery winner. What about you? Are you saved or do you still face the prospect of God's judgement for sin. Don't let a bad example of Christianity put you off discovering the most life changing experience you could ever have.

Responsibilty for our actions

I hear all the current chat about whether children are aware of what they are doing or if they should be held responsible for their actions which has started again on the back of the Bulger case. I know that there will always be exceptions but surely we must start from the basic standpoint that we are all responsible for our actions. Children and their parents are or should be accountable for their actions. The failure to accept this belief is a reflection of the state of a society where there is rarely now an acknowledgement of right and wrong or of peoples responsibilites for their actions.
The ability to do wrong is inbuilt in everyone of us. By one man, Adam, sin (evil) entered into the world. We teach and train people to do what is right, it does not come naturally. Part of the responsibilty for the actions of children must lie with parents and society.
For the rest of us we remain responsible and answerable to God as well as to society. Ultimately our general guilty behaviour will catch up with us and condemn us before God. Please read some of the earlier blogs to see how God has made provision for us. We can be guilt free and saved by the grace of God. I pray that you will come to know the blessing of God's salvation.