Changing the Face of Christianity

We help you and fellow Christians to authentically love God and others

We help you and fellow Christians authentically love God and others. Learn how?
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You are here: Home / Archives for Changing the Face of Christianity

Want to Create More Christian Disciples in 2014?

December 31, 2013 By R. Brad White 9 Comments

bigstock-Silhouette-of-man-and-sunshine-18659549When I talk with fellow Christians, many say that they would like to share their faith, bring more Christians in the door, and help other Christians grow in spiritual maturity. But they often don’t know WHO or HOW. It’s usually just a lack of self-confidence.

That’s understandable. But it doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference for God’s Kingdom. You Can!

What if there was an organization already helping Christians grow? What if there was an organization already working very hard to create Disciples of Jesus Christ? And what if you could make a difference…not by doing the work yourself, but by supporting an organization already doing the work?

Well, that’s what we’re already doing. And you can help us keep doing it in 2014’…all for God’s glory, by simply supporting us with your year-end, tax deductible financial gift. Read a testimony of our impact below. 

The result of your partnership with us is Christ-transformed lives.

Donate

https://changingthefaceofchristianity.com/donate/

And if you want to get involved further and actually help us with the work, we need more spiritually mature Christians to act as mentors (disciples) for others. And if you don’t feel as strong in your faith and biblical understanding, why not ask us for a Christian mentor to help you? Our email-based Discipleship program is thriving doing just that; connecting Christians to help one another; creating Disciples of Jesus Christ. Just follow our discipleship program link to get connected.

Testimony from K. Wade: “The idea behind the mentoring program may be primarily to help the mentee but I was getting just as much help as she was. God was keeping me on my knees in prayer about the worthiness of my own spirituality to be guiding someone else’s as well for the mentee that I grew to love in just a few short weeks as if she were my own daughter. I was blessed beyond measure through this program.”

Filed Under: Christian News and Insights Tagged With: Changing the Face of Christianity, christian love, disciple

Experience the Joy of Discipleship This Christmas

December 24, 2013 By R. Brad White Leave a Comment

Experience the Joy of Discipleship This ChristmasWhen you partner with us to disciple someone, you’re helping change that person’s life…forever! Miracles can happen when authentic love for God and loving others change the world they live in…even with global results.

Discipleship is a crucial piece of the puzzle that is missing in Christian communities today. People are busy. Churches often need help. Families are fragmented.

The solution is simple. Your financial partnership helps us to collaborate with churches and individuals who long to see all Christians respond, in unity with spiritually mature lives, to a world of confusion, turmoil, and suffering. 

The result of your partnership with us is Christ-transformed lives

With your prayers and financial help, YOU can be part of the solution.

Help us grow Disciples in Jesus and become a part of our GOD-SIZED vision of the future. If you believe in our cause,
please contribute by December 31 and see your donation doubled up to $2,500.

bigstock-Donate-Button-13675682 [Read more…]

Filed Under: Christian News and Insights, Christians Doing Good Tagged With: Changing the Face of Christianity, christian love

A New Bold Vision Of The Future

December 18, 2013 By R. Brad White Leave a Comment

Our Mission and Vision

Every few years, it’s good to revisit what you are doing and why. This ministry is no exception. In fact, through the help of some very wise counsel, we have actually defined our vision of the future for the 1st time since founding Changing the Face of Christianity.

We have always been focused on reversing negative Christian stereotypes and I thought that was actually a vision/mission. As it turns out, that was really more of an anti-vision. In other words, we knew what we wanted to change (negative stereotypes), but we never clearly defined what we wanted to change TO. In comes the vision….

Our Vision

Our Vision is to See All Christians Authentically Loving God and Loving Others (Matthew 22:36-40)

What’s Next?

Our Vision is to see all Christians authentically loving God and loving others

 So, does this mean we are no longer focused on reversing negative Christian stereotypes? Not at all. One of our strategic goals will continue to address that problem. However, what it does mean is we have a clearer focus on what we are working towards. Our mission will be to work on strategic, purposeful goals that will lead us to fulfillment of the vision. In my view, negative Christian stereotypes will be reversed when we start authentically loving God and loving others. I’ll post more on our redefined mission statement as well as our strategic plan in an upcoming article. If you want to see our Strategic Plan google doc, click here. We’re busy working on a three-year strategic plan, with measurable goals, benchmarks, core values, etc. Check out the google doc to see our progress.

We hope you will enthusiastically join us in passionately pursuing this new bold vision of the future. Leave a comment and share your thoughts about our new vision below. Thanks!

Filed Under: Being Like Jesus Christ, Christian News and Insights Tagged With: Changing the Face of Christianity, christian love

Don’t Rebuke Children with Tough Bible and Spiritual Questions

August 12, 2010 By R. Brad White Leave a Comment

Article re-printed with permission from Changing the Face of Christianity.

What happens when a young child asks a probing question, a REAL question about God, Christ,…the truth? Imagine a young child in her teens in a Christian school. Imagine a young man in “Sunday School” at church. Imagine them asking real questions such as “Why can’t I see God?” or “In the Bible, Jesus keeps referring to God as His father. But you say God and Jesus are the same thing. How is that possible?” or “Why would God take my younger brother away in that car accident?”, etc…

How we answer these questions can have a profound impact on the future spirituality (or lack of spirituality) of those impressionable children.

We have two choices when kids ask these questions:

  1. We can attempt to explain as best we can these mysteries, doing some real research and soul searching ourselves so we can thoughtfully respond. We can take these children seriously as honest seekers who just want honest answers. We can expose them to a greater understanding of the fullness and complexity of God by digging deeper into the Bible with them.
  2. We can tell them to stop asking questions and to just take it on faith…just believe. We could scold them as class disruptors. We could ridicule them and make them feel silly or stupid for asking questions. We could even punish them for having the audacity to question the teacher or to question God or the Bible.

Now, I hope you are equally shocked by even the possibility of responding the 2nd way as I am. You may even be saying, “Does that really happen? Are you serious?” I am.

I’ve encountered MANY atheists, agnostics, or non-believers who started out as children of Christians…going to Sunday School, Catholic school, or a private Christian school of some sort. They had questions…lots of them. How questions were answered, in many ways, determined their lack of belief.

There are people who can hear a simple truth and believe it without needing to dig much deeper. Jesus referred to this as the faith of a child in Mark 10:15.

Mark 10:13-15 (NIV)
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Then there are people, much like me, who require more intellectual responses. We don’t just WANT to understand…we NEED to understand.

So, how do you deal with intellectually leaning children…especially when they are young, confused, questioning…and yet still open?

Again, two choices. I  urge you to choose #1. Treat them like true seekers that are important enough for us to give a reasoned response….regardless of their age. If you don’t know the answer, tell them so. Work WITH them to find the answers.

Here is what happens when you rebuke a child with questions:

Here is a quote from author Stephanie D. Norris about her book called “Crisis of Religion” . “I could distinctly remember that as a little child (1st or 2nd grade), I instigated some probing questions into a couple Biblical issues that hoisted conflicting contradictions in my head. Instead of my Sunday school teacher answering my questions, and addressing my deep concerns, he conversely scolded me, hauling my rational queries over the coal. He then admonished me to desist from asking such probing questions anymore, but to just believe and accept whatever the church told me.”

Here is another quote from a conversation I had with another Atheist: “When I was 12, the nun who was my teacher grabbed me and shook me while telling me I would go to hell if I didn’t stop making trouble by asking questions in catechism class.”

The result is skepticism and disbelief…not faith. The result, more often than not, is a lost soul.

Here is the bottom line: We don’t need to fear questions. We don’t need to be ashamed or embarrassed when we don’t know the answer. There ARE answers for many of these questions…you must find the answers.

  • We MUST NOT reject the person asking the questions (regardless of age).
  • We MUST NOT ask these types of students to believe on faith…when they need more.
  • We MUST NOT tell them to be quiet and just behave.

These children require special attention…yes MORE than you may have bargained for. It might require you finding answers yourself to questions you’ve never thought to ask. It might require a greater sacrifice of your time to invest in the lives of these special children (who God loves) to truly Disciple them…and teach them.

Being a teacher of children is serious business. How you respond to difficult questions can lead to a lost soul, or to an eternal blessing for generations to come. It’s your choice. Choose wisely.

Where to find answers? Google “Christian or Bible answers” and you will find many sources. Here is one source I found: http://www.rbc.org/bible-study/answers-to-tough-questions/home.aspx

Lastly, I invite you to share your stories with me. If you have a positive story about an inquisitive student who’s faith was strengthened after a teacher took the time to disciple them through their questions, please share it with me. If you have a story where questions were rebuked with negative consequences, I’d like to hear those as well. Email me at: brad@deeperbiblestudies.com.

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Filed Under: Opinions and Editorials Tagged With: atheist, Bible, Changing the Face of Christianity, difficult people, questions, relationships

Religious “Tracts” – Good or Bad?

August 4, 2010 By R. Brad White 6 Comments

Article re-printed with permission from Changing the Face of Christianity.

A few months ago, I picked up a religious “Tract” that was left by a person with very good intentions…to “save” a soul.

For those of you who’ve never heard of “Tracts” or never seen one, it’s a small pamphlet that talks about Jesus and why we should confess our sins and accept His free gift of salvation and eternal life. Sounds harmless…and I think some are.

In this case, the tract was “over the top”. It was Scare tactics 101 – basically “you are a SINNER! and you WILL burn in a torturous and fiery eternal hell unless you repent right now!” It only gets worse from there.

After I read the Tract, I was seized by the question “Is this Good or Bad for Christianity’s reputation?” And, “Isn’t there a better way?”

Since stumbling upon that tract, I’ve discussed it on Facebook, chatted with friends, and tweeted about it. What I’ve heard is that YES…it does occasionally save people…no doubt about it.

However, the overwhelming majority of people I’ve talked to are repelled by such Tracts. As I’ve discussed such things with non-believers, it’s Tracts such as these that give Christianity a bad name, and a bad stereotype. It positions US as if we are in the judgment seat.

Instead of coming across as loving, we come across as judgmental…even hateful. Instead of showing God for the loving God that He his, we position Him as exclusively wrathful and angry. Non-believers are repulsed by such attempts to “save their soul”.

My opinion is these Tracts do more harm than good. Remember, it’s not about our “intent”. Non-believers are turned OFF by these…not turned ON. So much better is to relate to people in your circles of influence in a personal and real way…and show the Love of Christ.

But hey, we want to hear what you think!

  • Comment about this below
  • Send this to your friends and ask them what THEY think?
  • Talk about this in your church community groups, life groups, small groups etc…

Filed Under: Opinions and Editorials Tagged With: atheist, Changing the Face of Christianity, christian love, evangelism, tracts

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