This is an article I am submitting to my school newspaper. My school is dominately catholic (
http://www.calverthall.com) (it is a catholic school) But I know for sure that the majority of the students are not saved. So You may know the article I wrote last year, well here is another one that will be published.
(the other one:
http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?t=14485)
It's still in it's early stages and expect a LOT of heavy reivision in the final one (I will post the final one when the newspaper is published)
well here you go. Comments or questions or anything is appreciated ^^
"Men of Faith"? Not really...
Sure believing in God, going to Church, reading the Bible, praying, and having an A in religion class is good and all, but did you know that doesn't make you a Christian? Choosing to have a living personal relationship with Christ is what makes you a Christian. I mean you could know everything
about Jesus, but if you don't
know Jesus, then nothing matters. Everywhere around you, the same students who say "I believe in God" and "I believe in Jesus and that he died for my sins" are the same students who spit out foul language left and right, who view pornography and lust at women, and who do drugs and alcohol. Listen, the Bible says you cannot serve two masters; you cannot follow what society says, and at the same time follow what God says. They are two extreme opposites! Society says to go have sexual intercourse whenever you feel the need to. God says to stay sexually pure until marriage. Society says to seek vengeance on your enemies. God says to love your enemies. You cannot do both, for they are contradictory! If we cannot follow directions that somebody trusted us to do, then we are not followers we are backstabbers! And in a sense we literally stabbed God, and you know how? With the crucifixion of Christ. The High Priests of that time were not the only ones who put Jesus to death. We all murdered him! Every single one of us killed him. But because God loves us so much, he grants us unlimited second chances and always forgives us. But we take advantage of his love and forgiveness and do whatever the heck we want. It is true that humans are fallible, and even Christians give into temptation. The difference between a follower of the
world and a follower of the
Word lies in the fact that Christians realize their mistakes, attempt to correct them and seek to set things straight with Christ.
Now if you are a Christian, that is good! But your job isn't complete. We can't simply say "Since I am a Christian, I have been redeemed, and I can do whatever I want because I am going to Heaven!" The Bible says for us to grow in our faith and belief, and strive to be like Jesus as much as we possibly can. 1st Peter 2:21 says:
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." You may be thinking "Why should I give up what I like to do for Christ?" Yet do you realize that worldly things are
nothing compared to what God gives you? You focus too much on the
price, not the
prize. Do you
know what the prize is? Not just Heaven, but you will have that joy and inner peace on this earth, much more than what you can get from worldly things, because God will bless you immensely. You just have to be willing to make that sacrifice.
For Jesus had not only come to give you eternal life, but life more abundant."
You have the opportunity to do one of two things. You could hold on to your pride, downright ignore what I am telling you, laugh at what you're reading, and think I'm on crack. Or take it to heart, examine your life and see where you are right now. Don't worry about what your friends will say or think, because
they cannot get you to Heaven, only Jesus can. If you were to die at this very moment, where do you think you would go? Most of you would probably say “I don't knowâ€