How Christianity Fades — E.A. Johnston

The New Testament Christianity Compared With Today's Churches

I'll never forget, I was taking my oral exam for my Ph .D. and my two professors were grilling me. I made a comment to one of them that when I read my Bible in the New Testament, the Christianity that is displayed there doesn't resemble the Christianity in our churches today.

And when I said that, my professor got mad and he told me that that was for that time and this is this time. And then I got mad and I realized I better keep my mouth shut and not cause trouble because I needed to graduate.

But it's true, friends. We can make excuses for our brand of Christianity today here in the West, but it won't hold water on review. I believe Christianity should be vital because of who the Christ is we follow.

I like what Vance Hafner said,. If we serve such a dynamite God, then why are so many of us living firecracker lives? In the Book of Acts, it describes the brand of Christianity of that day. In Acts 17 .6 we read,.

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying,. These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. If they said that about us Christianity today, we'd all be standing on our heads.

Christianity Meant to Be Countercultural

You see, friends, Christianity was always meant to be countercultural. Back then, the church went in one direction and pagan society went in the other. And when they met, there was a clash. When the New Testament Christians preached, they had a riot on their hands.

How Christianity Fades Through the Centuries

But we today just preach nice little messages that don't disturb anybody. The problem is, they don't save anyone either. But it's interesting to see how Christianity fades through the centuries. Just take, for instance, what Charles Finney said in the 19th century as he described what a Christian was.

And compare his words to our concept today, and there's a world of difference. The light is burning a lot lower. Listen up to his words, friends, and I will close this message with his fiery description.

Finney's Call to Entire Consecration

The church is filled with hypocrites who were never told to give up the world. No one ever showed them that unless they entirely consecrated themselves to Christ, time, talents, and influence, they would never get to heaven.

Many think they can be Christians and yet float along through life using their time and property for themselves, only given a little now and then to save appearances or because it is convenient. It's a sad mistake.

If they don't use their energies for God, when they die, they will find hell at the end of the path they pursued.