On the contrary, though, I just watched a fascinating PBS documentary on The Mormons which quoted some statistic saying that the religion has grown 10 fold in the last 50 years and that some 800 people join the church on a daily basis. Mormonism is a huge part of Las Vegas culture (believe it or not!) and I have learned so much since living here. One of the biggest perceptions is that they are good, devout, giving, unselfish people. When people learn that we have multiple children close in age, don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t participate in wild nights out on the town, and are busy on Sunday, they ask us if we are Mormon.

How is it that this group of people has been able to create a positive persona and attract so many followers, where as Christianity has not? (As an aside, I am NOT Mormon, nor will I ever become Mormon.) I don’t think I am nearly educated enough on their church goings-ons to attempt to answer the question myself. It is very interesting that they have managed to have multiple scandals and still survive, attractive and unscathed.

God’s doing a work, I know it. I just can’t wait until more and more people read this book (and the Bible) and are changed.

Do we live in such a way that our extra income goes to the poor, needy, & helpless? Do we spend time talking to the homeless, ragamuffins, prostitutes like Jesus did (ie, the “bad” sinners)? Do we pursue a level of personal holiness that is ready to drop anything that is foul or unbecoming to the cause of Christ?

These are just things I’ve been thinking and asking myself. If I believe Jesus to be true and say I want to follow him–then shouldn’t I be doing what he did?

Oh how I want to live for Christ and I want all my actions to point to Him and glorify Him! I don’t want to be a hindrance or form of “say one thing do another.”

I believe in Jesus Christ for my salvation and I want to live like I do!

But, oh how I often I fail…

I am so thankful for God’s grace that He showers over me and I hope that instead of seeing someone saying one thing and doing another, the secular crowd can see someone who is reaching towards a goal, the upward calling of a Christ-follower!

I’m not sure if any of that made sense…lol!

But, my mind is racing after reading your post.

Thanks!

In the same way an unbelieving world will tell us that it’s our fault – that we should be more loving, more open, more accepting. The truth is, when we live for Christ we may not seem loving, open, or accepting to them because what they’re really looking for is for us to compromise our beliefs and say that sin is OK. If we do that – if we ‘make peace’ with the world so they will like us – we have ceased to live for Christ.

We must be salt and light according to the scripture, not compliant and co-operative according to the world’s desires.