4 minute read
What It Means To Be A Christian
True Christianity is not a religion.
By Gary S. Hatrick
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There are still a lot of people who will say that they are Christians when they have to check a box on a survey or if the talk turns generally to church.
Some however, will qualify their claim by saying something like, "but I'm not one of those born-again Christians" or "I'm not one of those evangelical Christians."
They say this for two reasons. One is that born-again and/or evangelical Christians do not have good reputations these days, admittedly, some for good reason. The Church established by Jesus Christ made of every believer in the world has done a better job of showing that they are still sinners than proclaiming and demonstrating that they have been made a new creation by the blood of the Christ. The world is not completely wrong about what it says about Christians. We as a church, have been silent and self-absorbed; but let me qualify those statements: even if we were to live as Christ lived, they would still hate us as they did Christ Himself.
The other reason people don't want to say that they are born again or evangelical Christians is that they are not a Christian at all.
You see, saying that you are a Christian, but not a born-again Christian is like saying I'm a human being, but I have never been born. I can say that because Jesus made that clear when he was talking with the Pharisee Nicodemus. He said directly, "Do not marvel that I said to you 'You must (emphasis mine) be born-again.'" (John 3:7) If one is not born-again, one is not a Christian at all.
Saying that you are a Christian and that you are not an evangelical Christian is like saying I'm a follower of Jesus Christ but I do not obey His commands. I can say that because to be evangelical means to adopt a lifestyle of evangelism which for the Christian is the goal of spreading the gospel to those who do not believe. Christians call that witnessing because Jesus said just before He went back into Heaven, "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8). If you are a Christian and you are not evangelical, that is, you do not tell others of Jesus Christ, you are not an obedient Christian. I am not saying you are not a Christian, but you do not appear to be heading for a "Well done My good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25)
Some do not pay attention to these two conditions at all. They just check the box or make the claim because that is what they have always been and what their family has always said. After all, they are not Jewish or Hindu, or Buddhist or Muslim or Baha'i, or Zoroastrian or Satanic.
These contend that since they were born in a "Christian" family in what they believe is a "Christian" nation, they are a Christian. That is tantamount to saying, as it has been said many times, that if a cat has kittens in the oven that makes them biscuits. I've already quoted Jesus stating that being a Christian is something you are born again into, not born into.
True Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with the only true God through the death, shed blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, No ones comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
When the time of our bodily death comes, there won't be an application in Heaven for you to check a box before you enter God's Kingdom. If there is any question at all asking why you should be given entrance, it may be something like "Why should I let you in?"
What would you say? If it is anything but "Jesus died for me," you are lost. If your answer is: "I went to church every Sunday," "I gave my offerings faithfully," "I cared for people," "I helped the poor," "I always tried to do good," or even all of these and more works of kindness besides. You are lost.
If you don't understand why this is true. Find someone who does understand and find out why. If you can't find anyone else, get in touch with me. Your eternal destiny hinges on your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Don't let the behavior of people who say they are Christians keep you from finding out, and don't put it off. With Paul the apostle, I beg of you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (II Cor. 5:20)
A word for those who are Christians. You know many lost people. What are you doing about it?
Imagine if, at the coming of the the judgement seat of Christ, (and it is coming), that one of those people who are declared lost and cast into outer darkness, looked at you and said, "You knew! I thought you were my friend! Why didn't you tell me?"
If anything like that happens, (and I believe we all are going to face seeing people we knew who are lost, knowing that we were silent and self-absorbed when it came to them) we will know that we bear guilt concerning that soul.
Maybe that's why tears in Heaven will have to be wiped away. (Rev 21:1-4)
(Your questions and comments are welcome. Send them to highroadzhills@aol.com, or private message them to me on the Facebook page under my name.] If you want to know more about Jesus - please, please contact me. Your eternity is in the balance.)
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