Sorry JJ50 that the people in our world including too many of those called Christian by themselves and/or others miss the mark. They do and too often admittedly, so do I. This where we sometimes are even if we are approaching more closely to God.
You have read the Bible and made conclusions based on what? Your own heart and/or mind, which is/are filled with bad experiences and poor examples. You have read the description of Jesus as he is depicted in the 4 gospels and must understand that the mess he encountered there in the ancient land of Palestine has many similarities to the mess you see here today among too many of those who are called Christians.
Jesus saw the mess but he did not throw out the whole mess. He looked for the hearts desirous of something better. He found really only a few and those few needed a lot of help. Consider that maybe, just maybe, the mess you see today is similar. There are a few hearts that really have immersed themselves in the Lord and have found the truth of God. Unfortunately, you have looked for the evil and because that evil has been your experience , I would say that that is what you have found. This is what the ancient Israelites under Moses and under most of the kings of ancient Israel found. They, for the most part, found none of the good of God, because they really did not want to...
Today, many (most?) of those who bear the label Christian have found none of the good of God, because they really do not want to...no matter what they may say: "By their fruits shall you know them". They find that which they really want as did those ancient ones. People, men of flesh and blood, too often have not changed nor have they been changed. But... don't throw out the baby with the bathwater:
Perhaps you recall this verse or have had it mentioned to you previously:
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb 11:6
Don't look so much to the masses of Christians who seem so often to show such poor examples. There are some good examples, but good examples are not necessarily rich in material things nor are they necessarily the best of Bible students. According the way you are really seeking will be determined the way and the kind of answers you will receive.
Studying the Bible will do you no good if the study is done with the wrong attitude for the wrong reasons.
I won't try to convince you that God is. I know in my heart that He is, but I cannot transfer that knowledge to a heart that is not open. Jesus could not, and I am not Jesus. God gave each of us the right to go along our own ways and you are certainly not the first one to go along those ways. No one can win you to God against your will. Many people are willing to help, but the ball is really in your court.
You have read the Bible and made conclusions based on what? Your own heart and/or mind, which is/are filled with bad experiences and poor examples. You have read the description of Jesus as he is depicted in the 4 gospels and must understand that the mess he encountered there in the ancient land of Palestine has many similarities to the mess you see here today among too many of those who are called Christians.
Jesus saw the mess but he did not throw out the whole mess. He looked for the hearts desirous of something better. He found really only a few and those few needed a lot of help. Consider that maybe, just maybe, the mess you see today is similar. There are a few hearts that really have immersed themselves in the Lord and have found the truth of God. Unfortunately, you have looked for the evil and because that evil has been your experience , I would say that that is what you have found. This is what the ancient Israelites under Moses and under most of the kings of ancient Israel found. They, for the most part, found none of the good of God, because they really did not want to...
Today, many (most?) of those who bear the label Christian have found none of the good of God, because they really do not want to...no matter what they may say: "By their fruits shall you know them". They find that which they really want as did those ancient ones. People, men of flesh and blood, too often have not changed nor have they been changed. But... don't throw out the baby with the bathwater:
Perhaps you recall this verse or have had it mentioned to you previously:
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb 11:6
Don't look so much to the masses of Christians who seem so often to show such poor examples. There are some good examples, but good examples are not necessarily rich in material things nor are they necessarily the best of Bible students. According the way you are really seeking will be determined the way and the kind of answers you will receive.
Studying the Bible will do you no good if the study is done with the wrong attitude for the wrong reasons.
I won't try to convince you that God is. I know in my heart that He is, but I cannot transfer that knowledge to a heart that is not open. Jesus could not, and I am not Jesus. God gave each of us the right to go along our own ways and you are certainly not the first one to go along those ways. No one can win you to God against your will. Many people are willing to help, but the ball is really in your court.