CHRISTIANITY: DISTORTION GROUP 2

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) Almost from the beginning there were forces at work within Christianity that could have destroyed or sidetracked the movement. Of these, three created many problems then and have continued to reappear in other forms even today. The three aberrations are contrasted to true Christianity.

b) Below is one of the three distortion groups.

1. Distortion Group: Legalized Christianity

a) Their definition of a Christian

i) Christians are those who live by a long list of "don'ts."

ii) God's favor is earned by good behavior.

b) Their genuine concern

i) Recognized that real change brought about by God should lead to changes in behavior.

c) The danger

i) Tends to make God's love something to earn rather than to accept freely.

ii) Would reduce Christianity to a set of impossible rules and transform the Good News into bad news.

d) Application question

i) As important as change in action is, can you see that God may be desiring different changes in you than in others?

The End ...