“And They Call Themselves a Christian!”

You shall know them by their fruits-Matthew 7:16

How many times have we or someone else say the phrase, “And they call themselves a Christian”?  I have said it.  I’ve also heard this said from other believers and nonbelievers.  Some have even gone as far to say, “This is why I don’t like going to church.  They’re just a bunch of hypocrites.  How many times have you seen or heard that someone isn’t the same person they used to be?  Maybe they quit the partying scene, or able to be patient instead of flying off the handle, and people will ask them what happened? How did you do it?  This is why Matthew 7:16 is so important.  People are constantly watching our actions to determine are we who we say we are.  If we say we are a Christian, then we should be acting like one all the time…..not just in the pews.  I think a lot of young people and nonbelievers get the hypocrite attitude and get turned away from church when they see our bad behavior constantly.  By obeying God on how we are to act IS another way to lead others to Christ.

So what actions and behaviors does everyone seem to use to see if others are the real deal?  It’s the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We are told not to judge anyone on their clothing, nationality, race, education or rank in society(James 2:1-7, Colossians 3:11), but we are to look at their spiritual fruits to help determine if they truly are a child of God.  For a child of God is to be held at a higher account of obedience to God and they are to treat nonbelievers with love, grace and mercy cause we were once like them.

1John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better.  But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God-for God is love.

If you only love those who love you, what good is that? Even the scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even the heathen do that. Matthew 5:46-47.

I think we really need to examine ourselves to see if we put these fruits into action in our daily lives. 

Do we show these fruits at: home, work, school, shopping trips, out with friends, at restaurants, etc?  Please know others are watching, including our youth.  Let them see that we are the real deal and would love for them to ask us, “How did you do that?”  Then we can “speak” the gospel!  I’d like to finish with Colossians 3:2-17 

     Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend time worrying about things down here.  You should have little desire for this world as a dead person does.  Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.  And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories.

     Away then with sinful, earthly things; deaden the evil desires lurking within you;  have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires; don’t worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry.  God’s terrible anger is upon those who do such things.  You used to do them when your life was still part of this world; but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.

     Don’t tell lies to each other; it was your old life with all its wickedness that did that sort of thing; now it is dead and gone.  You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you.  In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing.  Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all.

     Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others.  Don’t worry about making a good impression on them but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently.

     Be gentle and ready to forgive, never hold grudges.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

     Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony.  Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body.  And always be thankful.

     Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise; teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with him into the presence of God the Father to give him your thanks.