DISCUSSIONS PAGE

As youths, it seems very difficult many time to follow God's will especially when our environment seems to communicate different values and moral principles but I urge you to not forget who we are and to stick to what apostle Paul said in Roma

Ma (Marlyn), I thought I should give a little insight to your thought-provoking question. I know this has been on your heart after one of our youth discussion nights. However, in my attempt to give a more elaborate explanation pardon me to use a few theological terminologies, and if anyone needs a definition can refer to WIKIPEDIA. I also want to apologize to our European audience for our “American way” of spelling or writing. One more thing! This blog is necessarily long to provide a somewhat in depth explanation to this wonderful question. Pardon me for that too.
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament and prophesied in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament as the Messiah or Savior of the entire universe.  

The first known usage of the term can be found in the New Testament in Acts 11:26: "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." The term was thus first used to denote those known or perceived to be disciples of Jesus. Similarly, in the two other New Testament uses of the word (Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16), it refers to the public identity of those who follow Jesus. Please read the text for more explanation.

The definition "What does it mean to be a Christian" varies among different Christian groups. Some churches believe to be a Christian an individual must join a church and participate in specific sacraments. Other churches believe all that is necessary is a belief and acceptance in Jesus Christ and others believe a Christian is simply one who tries to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

But what WE as members of ZOE PENTECOSTAL MISSION INTERNATIONAL believe was once summarize by Pastor NAK (Associate Pastor, Seattle-Assembly) as-ABC: ACCEPT, BELIEVE, and CONFESS the Lord Jesus as your Lord and personal savior, then you plant yourself in a BIBLE-BELIEVING Church, where you will be taught the word of God, which is necessary for your growth and victory in Christ Jesus. The book of 1 Peter 2:2 KJV says, “As new born Babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.” Therefore, we reject the LUKEWARM mentality of “trying” to follow the teachings of Christ. We preach total surrender to Christ but know that we are not perfected yet. However, we are not ignorant of the GRACE. To my local youth members, please, don’t try, just be IT, “A CHRISTIAN”

Everyone has someway somehow been judged by their first appearance. It could be by the way you talk, the way you walk, the way you stare, the way you dress, etc, and these are all little details that people analyze to have a sense of who we are. Some of these things could actually be part of our character, especially when people constantly have that same first impression about you.
Negative impressions could however be painful when you're being taking for some else you're not. Has someone ever had a false impression about you? Did you ask that person why they thought like that when they first met you?. Whether people's first impressions about you are right or wrong, there is always something that trigger that thought. I know you've had a false impression about someone before....What made you think that way?

You can obtain favor and acceptance from the very first impression you make or you could be blackmailed and rejected. whether you like it or not this is how it works in the world we are living in.
People's impressions about us don't change who we are but could characterize to what we are. Even though as Christians, we are to live our lives to please God and not men, our reputation in the society is very important.
Sometimes people have to CREATE that first impression in other for them to obtain what they want, and so Perception could be deceptive. But in this case, wouldn't it be a sin since you're not manipulating someone? ......well I don't know......
What do you think?

Has someone ever had a negative false impression about you for the first time meting you? or have you had one about someone and later realized you were wrong? Share your story..........