CHURCH MEMES THAT OFFEND PEOPLE

MEME: a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.

CHURCH MEME: a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that comments on some aspect of Christianity or church life that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.  They sometimes offend the sensibilities of some Christians.

Below is a list of several church memes (light examples I will admit) and why you should NOT be offended by them:

#1

That is good stuff and totally funny.  You see, nowhere in Scripture does it say that along with the Holy Spirit one will have a “buzz” or some kind of emotional experience.  It is a mistake to tie our emotions to the Holy Spirit.  For example, Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  Indeed life change is the fruit of the Spirit!  Don’t be offended by this, but rather seek authentic life-changing faith in Christ and not a feel-good feeling.

Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (NIV1984).  Fuzzies were not included.

#2

Any person offended by this has never worked one week in an American church.  Do not be offended because it seems hard-hearted towards the poor.  Hard-heartedness towards the poor is never good, but on a weekly basis “users” come to church doors with stories of being stranded and needing to “get back home.”  It is so very tiring.  People out in the world curse Christians on one hand and misuse us on the other.  Don’t be offended at this one.  It is 100% true.

Ephesians 5:6-10 says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord” (NIV1984).  Easy to read, but hard to live out.

#3

Again, this one is nothing to be offended at.  Well, I guess unless you are a Mormon and you think you are a Christian.  Mormons use the same words as Christians, but they mean different things.  Same with Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Don’t be offended by this meme, but rather seek out why it is true.  Know what and why you believe in Jesus so you can spot false teaching when you hear it.

1 John 2:21-24 states plainly thank goodness, “I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist– he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father” (NIV1984).

#4

Here is another one NOT to be offended at.  The phrase “don’t judge” is taken out of context from the Scriptures like some other phrases.  Any phrase taken out of context can be misused.  Don’t be offended by this, but rather know the entire context of the verse so that you judge properly in all of your relationships.  I personally find the “don’t judge” phrase misused by non-Christians to shame Christians who don’t know any better.

Matthew 7:1-5 says “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

#5

Again, nothing to be offended at.  Sorry, there is no “Sinner’s Prayer” in any book of the Bible.  There is no prayer to pray while slipping your hand up and down while every head is bowed and every eye is closed.

Acts 2:38-39 says, “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off– for all whom the Lord our God will call” (NIV1984).

Faith, repentance, baptism, forgiveness, and gift of the Holy Spirit is the entrance into the Kingdom of God.  Sorry, no magic prayers.  Rather than being offended, dig into why you believe there is a magic prayer.  You will not find its origin in the Bible.

CHURCH MEMES THAT OFFEND PEOPLE

When you see a church meme, let us not allow “offense” to be our first stop.  Perhaps read, think it over, and dig a little bit into Scripture to see what and why you believe about a topic.  Let a silly meme drive you into the Scriptures rather than lead you into anger and offense.

Just a thought.

All memes used from @churchmemecommittee on Facebook

 

Here are some memes I thought of… enjoy!

Yes?  No?

 

TMB