CHRISTIANITY TODAY

Emmanuel Reyes

TO BEGIN

First off, I’d like to thank God for the blessings he bestowed upon

me, both in good health and also in my moments of weakness. Lord,

without you I am nothing. If it wasn’t for your love and grace, I’d be

like an injured bird, dying on the ground.

CHRISTIANITY TODAY

My name is Emmanuel Reyes; I’m a hopeless sinner who blames God

for my misfortunes... Or at least, I used to be. I was born into the

church, the Church Of God 7th day in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico.

According to my church’s doctrine I was born innocent and pure.

Imagine that, being born to live! To live as a free man, not as a

drunkard or as a slob, but as a free man because of God’s love.

JOHN 3:16

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that

whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

(NKJV)

These words have been emblazoned in my heart. Not because I

earned them, but rather, because God’s love was so great that though

knowing that man was a sinful, cruel and unloving entity (as a

majority), He gave us an opportunity to live

ROMANS 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in

Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)

According to the law of sin and death, we would all be doomed to

eternal damnation. But God loved us and forgave us through the

blood of Jesus Christ.

THE POINT

By now, you’re probably wondering what the point in mentioning

these verses is, and here’s the answer; Because religion isn’t about

having some fancy building, or how loud we sing our praises. It’s

about building a trusting and loving relationship with our Lord.

SO WHAT?

Through my experience, experimenting with different denominations,

I have learned that no matter where you worship, there’ll always be

someone upset about the way you worship. No matter how hard it is

for you to even attend church because of how embarrassed you are of

showing your face in the House of The Lord, there’ll always be

someone ready to kick you down ever lower.

DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE A PROBLEM HERE?

It may be that I’m naive or that I’m too simple to comprehend why,

but I don’t believe that was God’s plan for us. I mean, if you can find

it in The Bible please correct me, but through reading the scriptures

I’ve never encountered a verse telling me to belittle others, spread

rumors, or hurt my neighbor.

THE QUESTION THAT BURNS INSIDE ME…

Are we made to laugh at each other’s flaws? To destroy each other’s

hopes? Are we now authorities on God’s policies? Are we now judges

of right and wrong?

THE PARADOX

v  You call yourself Christian because you own a Bible, but how often do you read it?

v  You call yourself Christian because you attend church, but is that what your life

reflects?

v  You call yourself Christian because you are forgiven, but does that make you any

better than those who don’t know the word of God?

v  You call yourself Christian because you want to make a change in your life, but are

you actually working on it?

v  You call yourself Christian because you follow the example of Christ, but are you

being true to yourself when you look in the mirror and say “I am a Christian”

WE CALL OURSELVES A NATION OF CHRISTIANS

Its time for us to live up to these words!!! Its time to

put down the bombs and bring out the Bibles, Its

time to call back the troops and send in the

Missionaries, Its time, to do God’s will, to follow his

word, and to quit basing our beliefs off of

interpretations and wants!

BUT IT BEGINS WITH YOU

It all begins with one person, one

heart. The will to change comes

from a “realationship” with God!

WHY DO I CARE?

v  I’ve been diagnosed with Major Depression; Manic (I’m Bi-Polar)

v  I’ve been hospitalized 7 times in the last two years for suicidal

thoughts and actions.

v  I’ve attempted suicide TWICE!

v Most importantly, I hate going to church! I absolutely detest going

to a place where I’m supposed to feel loved and accepted, Only to feel

judged and out of place!

YOU KNOW ME, WHETHER OR NOT YOU REALIZE IT. . .

v  I’m that shy “Emo” kid from school.

v  I’m that depressed co-worker who you try to avoid.

v  I’m that lonely old man from the old folk’s asylum who never gets

any visitors.

v You know me, or somebody like me…

v Yet, you’ve never said hello. You’ve never asked me to join you for

lunch or golf or to talk for a while.

WHY DID I ATTEMPT SUICIDE?

v Because I felt unloved!

v Because I felt that I wasn’t good enough!

v Because I was tired of not having that friend... Someone who truly

understood, someone who could sympathize, and help me stand back

up!

v Because YOU NEVER ONCE THOUGHT that a smile from

YOU, COULD SAVE MY LIFE!

MATTHEW 25:41-46 (NKJV)

IF ONLY YOU KNEW…

v  If you knew how valuable kind words are to US. To every

Emmanuel Reyes out there. To the elderly, the forgotten, the

broken…

v  People these days don’t realize the power of saying “I love you!”

v  People don’t understand one simple equation. How can we love

God who we have not seen, when we do not love our brethren who

we have seen?

ONE LAST THING…

v  If you only take one thing away from this presentation, let it be this: God wants

all of us, including myself, to be a ray of light in this dark world!

v  God wants us to teach others how to be a light for Christ!

v  God loves you!

v  God wants you to be fisherman of men.

v  Go forth and bring US to Christ! Bring in all the Emmanuel Reyes’, all the Bob

Somebody’s, EVERYONE to him!

v  You can do it, YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE!

GOD BLESS YOU!! !

Signed, Emmanuel Reyes

A hopeful, loving, Christian

Whose beginning to love church again!