What does it mean to be a Christian? Our quick answer to such a question would be, “to be a follower of Christ”. While this is true, what does it mean to follow Christ? Does it just imply that we at one time we said a prayer to accept christ as our savior and so became a christian?
Would it not be a daily recognition, that Christ is the Lord of our lives? Would it not mean that to truly follow Christ one must act and react in every situation of our daily walk as Christ would?
What are a few of the characteristics of Christ, whom we say we follow? The one that comes to my mind first and foremost is love. How did Jesus love others? Was it with selfish gain? Did He love out of obligation or did He love only those that loved Him?
Jesus did not love another with any agenda. His love was pure,constant and did not condemn anyone. As followers of christ, do we have that kind of love? The nonjudgemental love. The love, that is powerful enough to forgive a fellow believer and yet compassionate enough to welcome a nonbeliever? Is our love selective to people we love or people who fit our personality?
Isn't it time to be real with ourselves? We call ourselves christians but do we feel satisfied with our christian label by just going to church or saying our morning prayers or even dare I say, acting christian? Christianity is much more, Jesus is much more.
Christianity is “a way of life” but not in a way that it is cool to say so. I would say, it is a relationship that becomes a way of life, a part of our nature, a relationship that is the most top priority. To be a christian changes our character, our heart, our thinking, our reactions to the things that life throws our way. It is a inward change which is reflected on the outside, rather than a outside change while the inside goes from bad to worse. It isn't just a learned few mannerisms or just belonging to a church.
Oh but do be careful, because do we follow a church or a denomination or do we follow Christ? If we follow christ, would we have spiritual pride? Would we not love the sinner like Jesus loved the sinner in us? How can we think we are better than someone else, when the One who was truly the best, came to serve and not to be served?
Do we just go through the actions of the christian walk or do we daily calibrate how much of a representation of Christ we are in the world we live in?
Have we forgotten Christ in our Christ-ian label?
I believe that true Christianity is reflected by our character. Yesterday in school I completely forgot who I was and became angry when I shouldn't have. To be a Christian is to be like Christ, humble, loving, selfless in all aspects, encouraging and so much more that is described in Philipians 2. This can only be accomplished by that constant relationship that we pursue with Christ because that is when we get to learn from him and more about him.
ReplyDelete“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
― John Wesley
Great post!
Great quote by Mr.Wesley. Good point, it is a pursuit, to be more like Christ everyday. Helps us forgive ourselves if we remember we are unfinished pots of clay in the Potters hand.
DeleteI believe you can only love others like Christ did after you truly realize what Jesus had done at the cross. I remember Nimmi aunty once said that "Jesus thought of me when he was getting crucified and even though he was going through a lot of pain and agony, he was joyful because he sees me getting saved through him". You have to make the cross personal, that means, Jesus saw me(jobin) when he was at the cross and became joyful. .Many times I failed to be Christ-like in my daily life, but I thank the Lord for he is forgiving, merciful and filled with unfailing love.
ReplyDeleteTo make the cross personal, would it be the true meaning of being saved? The realization of the love of Christ and how unworthy we were of such a pure and flawless love. Nice insight.
DeleteI agree with Kev, Christianity is reflected by our character. Its not what we are its who we are. Especially being teens we go through a lot of peer pressure and we are always around our friends so it's the best time for us to test our true character. We need to know how choosing certain choices can effect our relationship with God and our friends should be able to see that in us as well. Which is also my next point. Christianity is not just another religion that we follow, and Gladcymama you say this all the time, it's all about the relationship. And having that strong relationship with God should change the way you are. Like you said we would never do anything to hurt our best friends so the things we do in our personal like should all reflect back on if God was here next to me would he want me to do/see/hear this? Would this be right, will this effect my relationship with my bestie? That's what Christianity is all about to me, being able to call God my best friend, my home skillet biscuit, and once i truly reach that I should be able to see a true change in my life cause i would try to see things the way he does, the good and bad things, and try to do as he did, showing love to all, and standing up for my beliefs not afraid of anyone else because I'll know in the end no matter what He will always be there.
ReplyDeleteAnd the church, denomination thing, I don't understand why we all have to be labeled. Either your Christian or not, and then when you are a christian, your pentecostal, brethren, etc. Honestly who cares. Its not the church we go to that makes us who we are. Anyone can go to a church and put on a fake look but what makes you a true christian is who you are outside of church. Its wonderful to have a group of people all come together and spending some time with God but its when you start labeling that group, things start to change,because your including some and excluding others. I say forget the labels and we can just focus on the one main thing, :))
I meant Kare**
DeleteThis post reminds me about last youth meeting when we talked about our view of Christianity and the world's view of it. We can not just go around calling ourselves Christians and have a normal worldly live. People should notice and tell by our actions that we are Christians not by our large vocabulary, but our love like Jesus. I agree with Sherlin about how our denomination does not matter, we should use the bible to follow Christ. By following a tradition that we do not know even if it is correct, then why do you call yourself a christian then. We should listen to God and read our bibles not follow man-made ideology. We should separate ourselves from the world and know that this is not a permanent place. Also that show the world that we are Christians and not ashamed to be one.
ReplyDeleteHeyyyyyyyy. I figured out how to make this worrrkkkk yaaay.
ReplyDeleteIn response to my initial comment. Christianity in my point of view is how you put yourself out in a devil filled world. Where literally everyone is out for you and take you wway from Christ. And in living a life of Christ, we must bare the cross such as he did. However sometimes we misinterpret "baring the cross" so to make things simple; live by the word and ignore as much of the world you can and maybe someone will notice your life and how great it is to be living in the spirit.
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