What does it mean to be a Christian? And by “mean,” we’re talking about being much more than a Christian in name only — being much more than a Pew warmer or a Sunday holy roller, but a weekday sinner.
A lot of Christians seem to have forgotten that Jesus Christ is the very center of our faith. By Almighty God’s will, Jesus was sent to live among us and teach us how to live and, to ultimately die for our sins. Jesus quite literally gave His life so that we might have eternal life through salvation. God also told us that He was creating a new Covenant with man and that Covenant is Jesus and the New Testament. Clearly then, God expects us to live as Christ teaches us to live and to seek His forgiveness and to repent of our sins.
I saw this on social media recently and it makes perfect sense:
“Christianity is about helping others and controlling yourself. When it becomes about controlling others and helping yourself, it ain’t Christianity.”
And that is so true. God’s will is Jesus and Jesus is our Savior — only through Jesus can we enter Heaven and to do so, we must seek His forgiveness and we must try to always repent of our sins. It’s also very much about what Jesus came here to teach us and obviously, He expects us to hear, learn and live His words:
- Love God with all of your heart, soul and mind
- Do good things because you want to serve God and not to impress others
- Truly follow Jesus — don’t worship other people or earthly things
- Pray with sincerity and be humble
- Don’t worry, because God knows all of what we need
- Trust in God with all of your heart and not in any earthly treasures
- Love your neighbor as you do yourself, treat them as you want to be treated
- Love each other the same way Jesus loves His disciples
- Love all — our love for each other shows the world we are Jesus’ disciples
- Do good always, even to those who hate you
- Don’t judge or condemn others and instead, gently help them
- Forgive others
- Repent of your sins
- Be merciful, kind and generous
In Luke 19:10 it says “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” and in John 3:3 Jesus says: “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
God’s will is that we change from our old ways, to the new ways in the new covenant — we are not to judge harshly or condemn others, because none of us are worthy to enter Heaven, except through Jesus. Jesus came to find every “lost” soul to show that no soul need be lost and, He is telling us to be reborn in faith and that faith is to learn, love and live the teachings of Christ.
If any Christian sits in judgement of others, they fail to heed Jesus when He said “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7). And truthfully, not one of us could cast the first stone. Jesus came to save and not condemn and He certainly did not force anyone to believe. So the pew warmers who go out from Church on Sunday to angrily condemn and judge and boast how they are “f0llowers of Jesus” or “good Christians who Love God,” beware — if they were true Christians who truly loved God, they would follow what Jesus teaches us.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:1-5
One can declare “I am a Christian” but words do not necessarily make it true. To be a true Christian is to not just say it, but live it, by being kind, gentle, forgiving, generous, faithful, repentant and good. Christianity is not in any way meant to be oppressive or controlling — anyone who believes or behaves as if it is, is not a true Christian.
Today, let every Christian throughout the world commit to be the type of Christian we are meant to be, by being kind, generous, just, forgiving and fair.
