I’m a Good Christian because I don’t…

This thought has been on my mind for some time now and I’m not sure if I can get it worded like I wish, but I will try.

So often I have heard people go “Oh you must be a Christian because you won’t do ____________ with us!” Perhaps you have heard the same line but in a different way, but I believe you get my point.

I have a pile of different thoughts all at once and I’m trying to put them down one at a time to keep this somewhat structured.

I guess my point is the focus is all wrong, our whole way of thinking about Christianity and even God is wrong in so many ways. A person should not be in the mind set that they can pick out a Christian based on what they are not doing, but what they are doing for God.

The focus was never supposed to be about us, and yet in looking at the person and what they are not doing, the focus is taken off God and for many onlookers, all they see are self-righteous bigots who think they’re better then everyone else, even though this usually isn’t the case (I hope not.)

What does scripture say about this? Indeed Paul spent much time correcting early Christians in their way of thinking, to insure holy living that is honouring to God, and that should not be forgotten and the point of this article is not at all to take away from the need for living properly in a sinful society (Eph. 1:4), yet when Paul wrote to some of the Christians like the Ephesians and the Colossians, did he say something like:

“I”m so happy for the evidence of your faith in that you have trusted Christ and now you no longer do _______________”

Paul could write in a number of places something else……

Eph 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

Col 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,

1Th 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you–

2Th 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

I believe you get my point. When Paul was speaking about the evidence of genuine salvation and what was being observed by others, it had to do with the Faith of the person and the evidence of love for one another.

I’M A BETTER CHRISTIAN BECAUSE I DON”T SMOKE, DRINK, DO CERTAIN THINGS

I have heard many professing Christians give lines similar to that, or have sat and listened to some railing against others because they don’t feel they are holy enough. Mark 9 reports a similar thing among the disciples as they wondered who was better, and God quickly corrected that way of thinking. Yet because of this way of thinking, it has affected our society around us too. A Christian is more often degraded in a work place, school or other area of life because of something they do not do. This is good, but our human nature tends to catch us patting ourselves on the back, which is not the focus. If we are going to be persecuted for something, let it be very very obvious to the onlooker who we are being persecuted for and let us be found being thought strange of because of something we are doing……. but what do I mean?

THAT PERSON MUST BE A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS….

I use the term persecution a few times in this article and please forgive me, us in the Western world as of yet do not really understand the term of persecution, but there are Christians in other parts of the world, Christians from centuries ago, who were doing something, that led to a persecution that did not lead to a pat on the back, but led to wonderful glory to God, the one who deserves it. When someone is doing something for Christ and they are ridiculed for it, this is not something new, for Christ warned about it in the first chapter of 1st Corinthians

1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

….PREACHING THE GOSPEL

Act 14:1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
Act 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
Act 14:3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Act 14:4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
Act 14:5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,

This is just one of many places throughout scripture that showed a persecution of the Christians, not because of something that they weren’t supposed to do, but of what they were doing. Christ made it very clear to go out into all the world and preach the gospel, to proclaim the good news of Christ, and when it is done faithfully and sculpturally, the world is going to mock, as was explained in 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

…ASSOCIATED WITH CHRIST

Yes Peter did fail when he was faced with the accusation of being associated with Christ, yet Christ made it clear that His desire was for us to walk with Him, and yet promised ridicule if someone truly did. Are you living for Christ in such a way that people find you odd because you love this person named Jesus Christ? Let’s make it clear, DO NOT confuse persecution for you living in a traditional way and people laughing at you for it as God honouring, and you bearing reproach for the name of Christ. When the name Christian was first given to the early followers of Christ, it had to do with the fact that they were like Christ, and the subtopic of “Associated with Christ” will touch on what being “like Christ” is.

Joh 15:17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Joh 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Joh 15:21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

— Having The Fruit of the Spirit

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The natural ways of man is not what is listed above. If you are confused at all about what we are all naturally about turn to Romans chapter three and read the chapter. But for a Christian, someone who has claimed to have been saved by the grace of God, should be attributing these things constantly. In today’s society something like this will be noticed, and it should be made very clear that we are followers of Christ. If we are showing kindness as Christ has shown it, it will become self-evident who we serve. Are we bearing the fruit of the Spirit in such a way that our Saviour is being displayed and given the glory?

…DEBATING ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD

Act 9:22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Act 9:23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,

I have no interest in getting into the defence of apologetics here, but to any who believes debating is arguing, I apologize for your ignorance and please take the time to look up the difference.

Debating the things of God can not properly be done without the gospel, and if we look into the Acts and the Epistles right after preaching the gospel, one of the greatest areas of persecution was the defence of the gospel. As we can see above in chapter 9 of Acts, the Jews wanted to kill Paul. Paul would have to be snuck out of cities, and hide, after the proclamation of the gospel and the reasoning with the people in synagogues and in other areas, yet debating/reasoning of scripture was often done in the times of the Apostles and lead to persecution. Even today many men who spend much of their time reasoning with others have had death threats on their life, property ruined and stolen etc. When Apologetics is done in a Christ exalting matter, the world is going to reject it.

WRAPPING UP

There are many other areas that could be touched on of things that we should be doing for Christ instead of concentrating solely on what we shouldn’t do. There’s the proper study of scripture like the Bereans among many. As you can see, everything that is done for Christ leads to persecution, but this is something that Christ told us about numerous times, yet our goal should be as Paul’s:

2Ti 4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2Ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

CONCLUSION:

Indeed how a Christian should live is extremely important and there are teachings in scripture that are very clear on what we should or should not do in our daily lives, and they should be followed very closely. Yet when I or even others are looking at someone just how someone is living morally to the public eye doesn’t always determine if they have faith in Christ or not. I have some atheist/agnostic friends that would come across to the public as very moral people. When the world is looking at a person, one sure way of telling if they are a true Christian or not is what do they think of Christ? Is Christ a convenient object that you have claimed to be your Saviour just because your circle of friends happen to be Christian so you want to fit in, or is Christ someone who is so dear to you because you have realized that it was for you He died, you will never have to perish for Christ took your place.

As a Christian our goal indeed should be about insuring our life is holy and being lived as God would be pleased. But what is going to make the people around us actually notice God, actually realize what we have is not just about us but all about Christ is when we learn to honestly say what Paul could say:

2Co 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord,…