In response to a fellow student’s question in reply to my paper, “Three Steps to Get Out of the

Church & "Church Fluff”” he asked, “Do you think that those that you mention falling short of
the expectation are really Christians?”

I have to ask, what is the expectation of being a Christian?  Even more important, what is God’s
expectation of us as Christians? Are we not justified through Christ’s blood sacrifice?

Romans 3:22-28 - This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who
believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented
him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice,
because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to
demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who
have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of
observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart
from observing the law.

Throughout our life as Christians we should be working through the process of sanctification
with the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Sanctification is a continual work of the
Holy Spirit in us to conform us to the image of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit's work to bring
practical holiness and the fruit of the Spirit our life. This is a continual process until we are taken
to be with the Lord, where we will receive glorification, the ending of the sanctification process.
At which point, only when we are in Heaven, we will be made righteous in our nature. Until
then, we have to fight a constant battle between our sin nature and our "God nature", given to us
by the Holy Spirit.

We cannot expect our self or other Christians to never sin, by doing so, we only bring a spirit of
guilt, judgment, and condemnation to our self and to each other.  (I do not equate guilt with
conviction of the Holy Spirit. In our relationship with God and in the process of justification, I
only see guilt as a negative and not from God.)

I do not feel that God has any expectation for us not to sin but instead wants our hearts to seek
him.  If we fail [here's another curve ball coming] we don’t have to ask for forgiveness. We are already
forgiven! However, we should repent; choose to follow God’s will through the Holy Spirits
guidance. This is the process of justification.

In response to the same student who stated in response to the question of a deacon going to a bar
to form meaningful relationship in order to share God’s love and his own testimony on how God
has changed his life. The student stated,

” … I might remind you of this passage from Romans, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do
anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” Witnessing is good and showing love is good, but if the
weaker brother sees the deacon (who might be strong in faith) coming out of the bar, the weaker brother
might think that he can handle that, too, which might not be the case. However, since that doesn’t concern
you, may I suggest this verse for you? “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if
you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16)”

I think many people in Christ’s time and culture would have had a very hard time seeing this
Jewish man sitting down talking to a Samaritan woman who was just above prostitute status in
her community.  

Two different ways to share the gospel, which one do you think will bring more people to
Christ?

a) Go into the bar to form meaningful relationships in order to share God’s word, Jesus’ love,
and how He changed our life

b) Stand on the edge of the bar property  preaching, maybe even screaming so that we know they
hear us, God’s word so patrons of that bar may come to hear and know about Jesus

I know this is taking two opposite methods of sharing the gospel and there could be many other
options, but I honestly see nothing wrong with the first option and I feel that the second option
will fall on deaf ears.