What Does it Mean to Be a Real Christian? Stop Blending In

It's shocking when the average person is asked to describe a difference between a Christian and non-Christian, they either have no answer or see no difference. Christians are seen as no different than non-Christian. I find that extremely disturbing, when the one we are suppose to be "mirroring" was so completely different from those around him.

Would Jesus "Blend In"

Can you imagine Jesus Christ being alive today and "blending in"? How would anyone know He is the Son of God when he walks, talks, and acts just like everyone else. As followers of Christ, we are commanded to not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). We are designed to be merely visitors here, following the rules of this world, yet all the while serving the only true God. Over and over again the Bible tells us we are to love one another. We are even commanded to love those who attack us through no fault of our own (Luke 6:27-28). How many "Christians" do you know that live this way in today's society? In times when it seems everyone is looking out for themselves and only themselves, its a shame few are honestly looking out for others, not expecting anything in return. Matthew 6:3 states "But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." (NLT). Are you helping others out of the pure love of Christ in private or are you making a public spectacle of what you are doing to help others? If you are doing things simply to win the approval of man, you are serving the wrong god.

Not of This World

Let us not forget we are not of this world. The lyrics of Petra's Not of This World describes it perfectly: "We are strangers, we are aliens We are not of this world". Paul, in Philippians 3:20-21 writes, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (NIV). Paul is speaking of us, Christians. We are to not follow the wicked ways of this world. We cannot have dual citizenship anymore than we can serve two masters. Allowing anything else to be a god, instead of the true and living God, is to surrender our citizenship back home in Heaven.

The Journey is Not Easy

Being a follower of Christ is not designed to be easy, for if it were who would not want to take the easy road. As Christians, we need to love others as Christ loves us. This means having to forgive others when they don't know they need forgiving or even ask for it. We are to show love towards those we might not consider lovable and get out of our comfort zones and help others. This means sacrificing our own "comfort". Too often we become comfortable and this leads to going with the flow. Shake off the dust that has collected from standing in the same place for so long, and "let your light shine before men", so they will want to have what you have, not the other way around.

Prayer

May God grant us the strength to go forward into the world, wherever He may lead us, and share the good news of His only son's gracious gift of self-sacrifice in laying down His life for us. Let us carry with us the knowledge that Christ is the only way to God and allow us to place ourselves aside so that His love can flow through us. Shall we ever strive to be more like Christ, in our thoughts, words and deeds. In Jesus Christ I pray,

Amen