If you asked the person sitting next to you in church if they are a Christian, what do you think they’d say? More than likely, the response would be a resounding yes. Most people sitting in church do consider themselves Christian. It might even show in the way they smile, laugh with friends, or shake hands with visitors.
However, when they leave church, are they still a Christian? That is where the true test is. As Christians we should always put our best foot forward. There is nothing worse than a believer turning someone away from God because of their actions.
Do you know the worst day of the week to work as a waitress or waiter? Sunday. Wait staff say that’s because Christians come in expecting to be seated immediately. They get angry if their order is late, they stay longer than normal, and they don’t leave a good tip, if any at all. What type of message does that give to someone who might not be a believer. I know I wouldn’t want to believe in a God that had followers like that.
Mahatma Ghandhi is quoted as once saying, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” That should have been a wakeup call for every Christian in the world that we were not doing our jobs.
1 John 2:6 reads, Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. We are to be Christlike, which means showing love to others, no matter who they are.
Imagine how much better this world would be if Christians stopped leaving Jesus at church. We’d have no more children being raised without fathers. No more adultery. No more divorce.
I challenge you this week to show everyone you meet that you truly believe in Christ. Give them the warmth and love you’d give if you were sitting in church or if Jesus were standing right beside you. Don’t forget. He is.
Words we need to heed. Good job, Kathryn.
Thanks Pat. I understand we’ll be meeting on the 18th in Titusville. I’m looking forward to it.
Sadly, what you say here is all too true. It breaks my heart when I see “so called” Christians acting worse than those who claim to be atheists.
I have been very ill since almost dying from the H1N1 in 2009. My health gets worse every day and yet when I show my Faith, some “christians” tell me they are surprised I still believe and trust in Jesus! Does this mean we only believe and follow Him when everything is going well?
Judiline
Great point! It’s also funny how Christians are so quick to turn to God for help in the bad times, but don’t seem to want to give Him praise when things are going good. We need to get focused and turn to God at all times. I’ll be pryaing for your health, your strength, and for the devil to stay far away from you. It’s seems when we’re sick is when he comes attacking. We’ll just have to surround you with God’s grace to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Excellent thoughts! I have shared those same feelings for some time, and even left the church for over a decade because I resented the fact that the church called themselves Christians but had no idea what living Christ-like meant. It is no secret that the joke in the world is that Christianity is the only religion to eat their young very early in their spiritual lives. I would like to link to your blog and share it if I may. I feel that this is the main reason so many seek out alternative religions to give them the love and peace they desire. If we all act like we are baptised in lemon juice, and take our anger out on the closest prey around, then who woud want what we have? If you have two identical twins standing in front of you that are going to be with you from now until the day you die, and one is peaceful, smiling, full of joy, and emits love…and the other is grouchy, critical, always frowning and angry…which would you choose? Someone once told me that wherever we go we take Jesus with us in the form of the Holy Spirit…which means if we go in a bar, we better save Him a seat. And if we have a problem with taking Him to the places we go, then maybe we better rethink our choices. The same could be said for our attitudes and conversations…would we act this way if Jesus was standing in our group, or sitting at our table? Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Cheri, I would love to have you link to my blog. Thank you so much for the wonderful words. If it helps one person show Jesus at a time they normally wouldn’t, I think we did our job.