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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!