Are you really Christian?
When I first thought about writing this I was going to look up scriptures and offer them as reference. I then realized that it doesn’t take scripture or preaching from the Bible to answer this question, it just takes a little honesty — and a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
We have all heard the phrase “Sunday Christian” and know what it means. For a person to give enough time to God to sit on a pew for a couple of hours on Sunday and then never giving Him a second thought, as if all requirements were met and all rewards assured.
Hardly.
But are those of us who profess our Christianity not only in the words we speak, but in the actions of our everyday lives, doing enough ourselves? Can we stand shoulder to shoulder with Paul, Peter, Daniel or John? Could we declare, like Elijah, that we are men and women of God and have the heavens confirm it? Only you can answer that, I only offer that you should look at your relationship with God and find your answer.
It is important to your walk and your life.
I never gave it much thought as I always try to do my best in my walk with God. However, it was the word “try” that came to my attention recently in a conversation with my daughter. We were watching a movie called “The Messiah: Prophecy Fulfilled” with Nick Mancuso as the Rabbi Yudah. He was preaching in the town square when a bystander named Zechariah declared, “I try to keep all the commandments” and Yudah answered, “trying is not enough, God said that you must be Holy even as I am Holy!”
Now movies, even good ones (and this is), aren’t usually my frame of reference for living a Christian life. But it reminded me of the passage in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father, which art in heaven, is perfect.” Hmmm, there goes that uncomfortable niggle in the spirit again. It was time to get understanding.
I only had to look as far as the above mentioned disciples and prophets and their lives. I had to ask the hard questions like, do I really exemplify the life of Christ in all that I say, do, think and feel? Do I keep my heart in constant contact and prayer with God’s spirit? Do I expect and live in a miracle-filled world? Is my first response to anything a Godly one? And many more like these.
It was an eye-opening experience.
Many Christians are living a life of compromises. They do just enough to feel comfortable with their Christianity while allowing themselves to become part of the world around them. They focus on climbing the corporate ladder, socializing with friends at ball games and the like. They worry about debt, the economy and world events. They fret over what the neighbors think and their place in society. And I ask you, where is God in all this?
Unlike Elvis, He hasn’t left the building.
In the New Testament it states that we are a peculiar (meaning different)Â people, a royal priesthood, an holy nation. Not if no one can tell us apart from the world! And many Christians strive to not stand out in a “worldly” crowd. Where is the testimony? Where is the faith? Where is the Christ-like living? If it walks like the world, talks like the world, does “just like” the world….. well, we know where that all leads to.
Think about it. I know I did.
I could go on, but it isn’t necessary. What is necessary, if you are serious about your Christian faith and your walk with God and Christ, is for your to answer for yourself that question we started this discussion with; are you really Christian?
For me I just gotta know.
Be blessed, be loved and be at peace,
Jonathan
