ARE YOU LIVING AS A CHRISTIAN?

“I am a Christian. I go to church on Sunday.”  This is the most common reply I hear when in a discussion with someone who professes to be a Christian. It reminds me of a favorite quote of my late father-in-law, “If going to church makes you a Christian. Does going to the garage make you a car?”  Many people believe going to church makes you a Christian.  Many people believe that stating they believe in Jesus Christ makes them a Christian.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news but being a Christian goes much deeper.  Being a Christian is easy to define with words but more difficult to live. Why? because your actions give life to your words.

I want you to take a minute and think about people you know, have heard or have seen on TV who, claim by their own words to be a Christian but their actions don’t match their words?  This could be a friend, a family member, a celebrity or even YOU! Have you wondered why this happens and no one challenges them.  One answer is people don’t fully understand what it means to be a Christian.

I am going to say something that will be hard to swallow for some Christians. Ready?  Here goes!  If, you profess to be a Christian you can’t disagree with anything that is written in the Bible. Let me repeat what I said, if you profess to be a Christian you can’t disagree with anything that is written in the Bible. A pretty strong statement! But true!  I know some are finding this hard to swallow. Why do I say this? Well to disagree with what is written in the Bible is to disagree with GOD who is holy and perfect.  How can you disagree with someone who is perfect, who is all knowing and ever present.

I have heard people who live a homosexual life make claims of being a Christian. Wrong! I have heard abusers of many kinds say they are a Christian. Again wrong! We have churches with people in leadership roles, who lifestyles and actions go against what GOD tells us is correct and these churches claim to be doing the work of GOD. Once again wrong. When will the people of GOD stand up and tell these people they are wrong.  Right now some of you are saying to yourself, it is not my place to judge them that is left to GOD.  Judge them. This is your excuse!  Really!  It is our obligation as a Christian to speak out against non-Christian behavior especially, when fellow Christians are exhibiting the behavior.  If you don’t believe me read Matthew 18: 15-20. In these passages of scripture Jesus outlines the procedures we are to go through in dealing with sinners amongst Christians. GOD has given us the authority to speak to fellow Christians when they are living a non-Christian life. By not doing so we are not following what GOD has commanded us to do.  I agree judgment is left to GOD.  When I tell someone their behavior is wrong because it goes against GOD, I have been given authority to do so.  If I tell them they are going to hell because of their behavior now I have judged them. And my pay grade doesn’t allow for that.

I love Christian rock music. It is just about all I listen to. One of the leading Christian musicians is Steven Curtis Chapman.  He does a wonderful job in his song, The Change, summing up what a Christian’s journey through life should be about. I have quoted the opening verse and chorus.

THE CHANGE by Steven Curtis Chapman

Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe

I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID

I got the necklace and the key chain

And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah

I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door

And a welcome mat to bless you

before you walk across my floor

I got a Jesus bumper sticker

And the outline of a fish on my car

And even though this stuff’s all well and good, yeah

I cannot help but as myself

What about the change

What about the difference

What about the grace

What about forgiveness

What about a life that’s showing

I’m undergoing the change, Yeah

I am undergoing the change

So many people believe if I have the T-shirt, bracelet, or a Jesus bumper sticker this makes me more of a Christian. Kind of like the quote about the car and going to the garage. Not true! I had a student a couple years ago who had a cross drawn on his school folders, a picture of Jesus as a screen saver on his cell phone and wore a big old cross around his neck.  I asked him why he had all those things. His reply “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.”  I thought awesome a young fellow Christian. Far from it! This student was a heathen. His language was inappropriate, about every other word was an explicative, he was rude, disrespectful and constantly being suspended from school.  If he really believed Jesus was his Lord and Savior then a change for the good would have been taking place. As Christians we don’t advertise our faith externally we advertise it internally.  Wearing a Christian T-shirt or bracelet, or saying we are Christian has nothing to do with our Christian beliefs. How we act from the change going on inside of us is what tells the world look I am a Christian.

GOD has given us all the answers to living a Christian life.  It’s called the Bible.  If you have a question about what you are to do as a Christian the Bible is your resource. The answers are spelled out in black and white. There are no gray areas for GOD.  Gray areas are created by people in order for scripture or situations to justify their sinful behavior. If you steal a pencil or steal a car it is still stealing in GOD’s eyes. HE doesn’t care what you stole HE is disappointed that you broke one of His commandments and stole.

Time for a small history lesson: The word Christian only appears three times in the bible.  The word Christian was first used by the Romans to identify people who were followers of Christ.  In fact, Jesus himself would call us disciples. John 8:31 Jesus says, “If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples.” So the real question should be, Are you a disciple of Christ?  Does your life hold to HIS teachings?  Do your actions hold to HIS teachings? If your answer is NO to either question then I recommend you fall to your knees and ask GOD for mercy and forgiveness and for Him to send the Holy Spirit upon you. When you have finished get up, grab your Bible and begin reading and studying.  The Bible is GOD’s game plan for a Christian life. Hopefully, you will have a life that’s showing you are undergoing, “The Change”.

Maybe we need to use the word “Believer” when describing a true disciple of Christ instead of Christian. Why? Because when you believe in something your actions will support your words. It is easy to say you’re a Christian. Those are just words. It is more difficult to say you are a “Believer” in Christ. When you believe in Christ your actions will be proof to the world and GOD that you are HIS follower.

In the end, when our time on earth is finished, we will stand before GOD and have to be accountable for all we did or didn’t do. I hope we all hear the greatest words any Christian can hear coming from GOD, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
Gary