googlef87758e9b6df9bec.html A Sure Word: Cafeteria Christians

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Cafeteria Christians

“These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? … From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
John 6:59-61, 66

The buzzword today is, “tolerance.” I’m OK, you’re OK, and we all can worship God in our own way. If anyone says Jesus is the ONLY way, he’s accused of being intolerant.

Too many Christians have bought into this lie. The saddest part is, they apply this philosophy to not only other people, but to themselves as well - “I can believe what I want and God will still love me.” I call these people cafeteria Christians; they pick and choose the parts of the Bible they agree with.

>God is love. OK, that sounds reasonable.
>Preach the gospel to every creature. Isn’t that being a little pushy?
>If you lust after a woman then you’re an adulterer. The term “adulterer” might sound too harsh.
>No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. I don’t believe God means that.

Cafeteria Christians reject the clear teaching of Scripture and replace it with their own “feel good” opinions. By doing this, they create another god for themselves, a god made in their own image. This is a god that doesn’t command them, reign over them, chastise them, or even judge them. They don’t even need to read the Bible, they just seem to know who their god is and they worship him their own way.

But you can’t be a halfway Christian. Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) He said further, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” (Matthew 12:30)

The Bible says 2 people cannot walk together unless they are in agreement (Amos 3:3). When Jesus preached, He had some people who seemed interested for a while. But when He started saying things they disagreed with, they stopped being followers. If someone wants to disagree with the Bible, it’s his prerogative. Let’s just not pretend that we can call Jesus, “Lord” and not agree with everything He said.

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