Living Christian in the 21st Century

By J. Bennett Collins

“If it looks like a goat, eats like a goat and smells like a goat, it is probably a goat." What is Christ-like living in the realm of government, family, entertainment, associations, doctrinal belief, workplace, etc? This book is written in simple, straightforward language by an evangelist with years of experience with many professing Christians. It explains the right to be called Christian

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Bennett Collins
• Release date: Apr 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458170477

J. Bennett Collins

I, Evangelist Collins was saved at the age of seven in Fayetteville, North Carolina, while kneeling between his mother and brother at family prayer. I was called to preach at the age of fifteen and at seventeen began a full-time ministry. I attended Greenville Bible Institute and took special courses at Bob Jones University. I received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Indiana Baptist College. I have twelve years experience as a pastor and fifty-two years experience as an evangelist. I married Helen Sherrill from Statesville, North Carolina, and we have one child Bill Collins. Bill has two children and five grandchildren. One of Dr. Collins’ grandsons, Brian Collins, is a missionary in Singapore. Along with my evangelistic ministry, I am Director of Sermon and Song, Inc, a radio ministry of forty-six years which is heard on more than fifty stations including the Fundamental Broadcasting Network. I have a website: www.sermonandsongministries.org. My main desire in life is to preach the gospel and see others come to know his Savior. My books are simply written and true to the Bible. I am evolved in a mission ministry in Pakistan. 100s are coming to know the Lord. Full information is on my web site. When time permits, I like to hack away at golf. If my preaching is no better than my golf game "Have mercy on the congregation" Please contact me if I can be of spiritual help.

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Living Christian in the 21st Century

by

J. Bennett Collins

Copyright 2011 J. Bennett Collins

Smashwords Edition

525 Twin Lake Rd.

Greenville, SC 29609

Living Christian in the 21st Century

It is said that one day Billy Sunday was walking down the streets in Chicago when a drunk came up to him and said, Hey, are you really Sunday the great evangelist? I'm glad to see you. I am one of your converts. Sunday stopped long enough to say, You must be one of my converts because you sure aren't one of God's.

The main religious curses of our day are false professions of faith and worldly living Christians. If everyone who claimed to be a Christian was actually saved, the world would be a different place in which to live. The Bible says in II Corinthians 5:17 that when we get saved we become a new creature in Christ Jesus. In these days we find ourselves looking long and hard to find those who are worthy to be called Christian.

It is my earnest desire that this booklet will open your eyes to what a real Christian is, not only to help you discern about others, but to cause you to examine your own heart and life. It would be impossible to cover the many thousand circumstances of life. We hope these we discuss will be enough to set the proper principles of the Christian life. Please do not close the book and throw out the baby with the bath water when you disagree. Surely you can find some help here and that is our desire.

Acts11:26: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

You can call a hog a sheep if you choose to do so but however emphatically you call him a sheep, he is still a hog and will act like one. Just as a hog will follow his instincts and enjoy wallowing in the mire, and just as a sheep enjoys the green pasture because his nature calls for it, a Christian will act like a Christian for the simple reason that he is a Christian. In the day in which we live this word, Christian, has surely lost its meaning and you never know who is going to be called a Christian next. It behooves us to know not only the meaning of the word Christian but what kind of living is required of us that we may be worthy to be called by such a special and meaningful name.

In this treatise it is our premise to show from the Bible exactly what a Christian is as well as to emphasize that we do not have the right to change the definition of the word to suit our particular society. Nor do we have the right to add into the equation our personal preferences when we describe living the Christian life in this century.

The word Christian came into use first in reference to the members of the church in Antioch. Before that time those who were the followers of Christ were called disciples. The word disciple means a follower. The twelve apostles that were selected by Jesus were called disciples because they left everything they were doing and followed Him. As others came to know Him as Savior and Lord, they too began to follow Him on every possible occasion and were called disciples or followers. Therefore, the name disciple was a very fitting nomenclature.

It was not the members of the church who called one another Christian but those on the outside who recognized that the life the folks were living was very much like the Christ that they had heard about. Therefore, the use of the word Christian (Christ-like) described them as the world saw them. According to the use of the word in the Bible, a person who is not striving to live Christ-like should not be called Christian.

It is obvious that we could never live perfectly as Christ lived. It is also a fact that the time period in which Christ lived was far different from the time period in which we live. There are many things that Christ did that we cannot do. Also there are many