A Normal Christians Guide
A to Z
History is full of
fanatical Christians, including Jesus Christ. People who struggled and
sacrificed for the eternal glory of God. This article is not about them, it's
about the rest of us. Normal people; everyday Christians. Folks who contemplate
the best time to attend church. You may be wondering how you can tell if your a
normal Christian.
Here is a simple guide.
- The only time you say
"God Bless You" is when someone sneezes or you’re in the company of church
elders.
- Going to church is
motivated by pending social situations, guilt, funerals, weddings,
christenings, or the desire to see family and friends for short periods of
time.
- If your version of
tithing is adding up all the time, energy and effort you put into Christian
activities, like going to church and visiting with people you really do not
like for the sake of God and the Church.
- You’re polite when
shutting the door on people with opposing points of view, including Jehovah's
Witnesses and those people who just want a few minutes of your time.
- You participate in
essential church activities, such as, softball, bake sales and choral society,
providing it fits in with the rest of your social schedule.
- You smile when you see
a Christian bumper sticker, but refuse to advertise the causes of Jesus Christ
on your vehicle because it may clash with the bumper sticker advertising your
child as an honor roll student.
- Prayers are said when
you’re late for appointments and when you’re lifestyle may be altered in a
negative direction.
- You quote scripture as
a way to stimulate an otherwise boring conversation with people who believe in
themselves more than God.
- You wonder why most
Television Evangelists dress better then the congregations they preach too.
- You thank God for all
of your blessings, with a few exclusions.
- You appreciate and
recognize the small miracles of everyday.
- You know the 10
commandments and practice at least one half of them on any given day.
- As a courtesy, you lip
sink the words to your favorite church hymns if your voice does not meet the
professional standards of the rest of the congregation.
- You keep your religious
jewelry inside of your shirt or blouse instead of outside of it. This prevents
you as being identified as one of those people.
- You feel remorse for
lying on your tax return about the actual amount of money you gave to
charitable causes. Oh and did you fail to remember the promise you made last
year about giving more this year?
- You negotiate with God
for favors.
- You ask God for
forgiveness as a way to improve the quality of your life.
- You consider church
bingo a religious experience.
- You repent only after
you commit a big sin as defined by most of the Ten Commandments.
- The phrase "Jesus Loves
You" is only used when you speak to people twelve years old and younger.
- You assume that people
who sit in the first row of church are related to the pastor, need a favor
from the pastor, or had an especially sinful Saturday Night.
- You are no longer
reprimanded for fidgeting in church.
- You feel awkward when
you share your hymnal with the person next to you in church.
- You tense up when the
collection plate comes around, count and re-count your money before you put it
in the collection plate. Dream about taking money out of the collection plate
instead of putting your money in the collection plate.
- You daydream during
Sunday sermons.
- You are willing to
stand up for Jesus Christ as long as your stand is non-controversial, doesn't
slow down your rise to corporate or social stardom and conveniently fits into
your life.
If you answer yes to any
of the statements above, consider yourself normal. Salvation is a gift from
Jesus Christ; good deeds are not a condition of salvation. Normal Christians
try to change their world one day, one thought at a time.