'Christian' - In Name Only

It seems as if most people who attend any kind of church today would refer to themselves as ‘Christians’-- regardless of whether they have a relationship with Christ. It is interesting to note that the term ‘Christian’ first came about not through people calling themselves Christians, but through other people calling them Christians-- because of the example they set as Christ’s followers. In Acts 11:21-26 we read, “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

We must not make the assumption that one is a Christian merely because they go through the motions of attending a church, reading their bibles and even praying. Christians are those who are made new in Christ, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation,” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

Having been reconciled to God, a Christian will want to see others reconciled to God, as well. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). 

 

Having been made new in Christ, one understands... and desires to live according to...the admonishment given in Ephesians 4:17-32- to put off the old self and put on the new. Ephesians 4:30-32 reads, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6: 14-15).

 

Would the example we set in following Christ prompt others to call us “Christian”? Let us look closely at ourselves and take seriously the admonishment in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test” (2 Corinthians 13:5)!

Are we truly genuine in our Christianity, or might we be ‘Christian’ - in name only?

Don't Worry- God is in Control!

As Christians, not only should we refrain from dwelling on negative things from the past, but we should also refrain from dwelling on distressing situations at present. If we find ourselves fretting (or in despair) about something over which we have no control, we need to repent. Numerous scripture verses tell us not to be anxious. Luke 12:25-26 asks the following question,“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?”

We should also resist firmly the temptation to worry over what might happen in the future, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”(Matthew 6:34). Rather than worrying over the present or future circumstances of our lives, we should be following God’s revealed will for us on a daily basis, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” God’s revealed will for us, as Christians, is to be joyful, prayerful and thankful- in all things.

We can be truly thankful that God is in control over all things, even when things do not go according to our plans, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21). Isaiah 55:8-9 reads, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We can be assured that if things don’t go according to our plan, then God has a much better one in mind.

If God is completely sovereign (which He is) and if all of his purposes will stand (which they will), then if His children rebel against Him (which we all do at times), He will bring them to obedience-- in His providence and through His discipline. However, just as the prophet Jonah, we will suffer the consequences of our rebellion. Only in obedience can we expect the spiritual blessings of God. Isaiah 46:8-11 reads, “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it” (Isaiah 46:8-11).

In His faithfulness, God will do all He has determined to do, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them” (Deuteronomy 7:9-10). If we have been recipients of God’s love, we also must be faithful-- to seek God with all our heart, “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24).

Our Lord has preserved for us his precious word whereby we may know Him. Through it we may experience peace and assurance which passes all understanding- regardless of our circumstances. In Philippians 4:6-7 we are told, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We need to be obedient to scripture and prepared to accept the Lord’s answer to our request, even if it isn’t what we had hoped for. When Paul prayed for his affliction to be removed, the Lord’s response was,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Trusting in our sovereign Lord...who works through all things for our good… may we truly strive to not fret and worry over things which are beyond our control. May the following verse be true of us, “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 112:6-7).

Don't Look Back!

It’s very important… for our own good and for the glory of God… that we not dwell on the negativity of the past. The past can be full of pain, disappointment, and regret. Dwelling on such things is not helpful to one’s self or to others. Nor does it bring glory to God. As those who are forgiven in Christ, our focus, should be on Christ and living for His glory. We read in Luke 9:62, “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

If our desire is to live in a way that glorifies God, then we need to pay heed to what he tells us in his word. Shortly after encouraging peace between two women (who were evidently at odds with one another) and admonishing the people to be anxious about nothing, but pray about everything with thanksgiving, Paul gives the following wise advice, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

If our minds dwell on anything that is less than praiseworthy, we are being disobedient and sinful. Putting one’s hand to the plow is a good analogy of this truth. To keep one’s eyes straight ahead, focused on a certain point and moving forward is to plow a straight furrow. To keep looking back, losing one’s focus, is to wave all over the field. If we are not trusting Christ, with our mind fixed on Him, but are looking back to the past for whatever reason, we will be all over the place-- unable to walk straight that narrow path of righteousness. We we may be sidetracked in bypass meadow. James 1:5-6 encourages us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

Our focus must be on Christ and His word. May we truly be able to say with Paul, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:8-11). Then in verses 13 and 14 he writes, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

If our life is hidden in Christ, we need to take seriously the following admonishment, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-4).

If we are setting our minds on things above, we will think on things that are worthy of praise, forgetting the things that are behind and pressing forward toward the goal, which is eternal life, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Let us truly strain forward to what lies ahead--And don’t look back!