There was a riff of one-liners in the middle of the post that I was very proud of. That should have been my first sign that it was wrong. Pride goeth before the fall.
Here's the entire sequence:
Being a Christian isn’t like being a bowler. It’s not something you do to pass the time; it’s not a hobby, it’s not an avocation, it’s not a social club.
If your Bible isn’t open on any day besides Sunday, you’re not really a Christian; you’re just here for the potato salad.
If prayer is something you never do outside the church building you attend, you’re not really a Christian; you’re just a person trying to keep from feeling guilty on Sundays.
If your behavior during the week would make your pastor cringe, you’re not really a Christian; you’re just acting the role on Sunday mornings.
If you can’t describe what it is that Jesus wants you to do and be as a follower of His,you’re not really a Christian; you’re more like a blind man trying to pass a driving test.
If you miss church on Sunday because of what you chose to do on Saturday night…you’re not really a Christian; you’re whatever you were on Saturday night.
If you go to church but you’re not really a Christian… you’re a hypocrite. You’re better off not lying about it anymore and just tell the truth about not being a Christian.
But if you are a Christian…then you have a job to do. One job.
The Great Commission.
I stand by the general point, which is that you're not a Christian just because you go to church on Sundays, or whatever. If you're really a Christian, then you pray more than just on Sunday...you pray wherever you are all week long...your behavior matches what the Lord told us in the "good book" to do...you know what the Lord expects us to do and be,,,all of that is valid.
But if you go to church and you're not really a Christian, that doesn't make you a hypocrite! The church is a hospital for sinners, not a sanctuary for saints. If a church is worth anything, it welcomes ALL parishioners into its services. If you are new to the faith, or even an agnostic or atheist, any church that claims to be Christian should welcome you with open arms. If you are dressed to the nines, or dressed from the 99-cent store, they should welcome you like a lost brother or sister. If there is an odor wafting from your body that signifies a possible allergic reaction to showers? All right, you may have to apologize to whomever you end up sitting next to, but come on in!
The point is this: The people who need to be at church the MOST are usually the ones who COME to church the LEAST. They're the ones we should be welcoming with open arms!
However...
If you ARE a Christian, and if you aren't living like a Christian, then you need to find the Holy Spirit in your soul and let Him guide you. And if you can't find Him in there, it's time to get on your knees and pray for Him to make Himself heard in your soul.
Then...hush....
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