Who Are The Real Christians?
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: Behind the query of who is and who isn't a Christian lies the fundamental question, "What does it mean to be a Christian?"
The initial inquiry is intriguing if not practical. We live in a full, busy world rubbing shoulders with countless people every day. Once in a while we may ponder who, of all these persons around us, is a Christian, and who is not. Certain lodges and service clubs wear identification pins. In one sense, it is probably a good idea that we are not so easily identifiable! This eliminates some discrimination of treating some persons better than others. We should care for and be kind to all persons and not just Christians.
The critical question is not about the other person, (we shouldn't judge others, Luke 6:37), but are we Christian? What would be some of the criteria?
a. Church membership? Do one or more denominations have a corner on Christians? Certainly some denominations may have a larger percentage of members who may qualify as "Christian," but we will never know which ones. Each has its share of Christians and hypocrites or pretenders.
b. Certain beliefs? No doubt this is not definitive. Although the formula of "believing in Jesus Christ as Savior" seems plausible, I am going to hold out for the inclusion of some who are not in this fold (Matthew 7:23).
c. Being born again? Can we backslide? Is it possible we fool ourselves and psych ourselves into believing we have had such an experience? (See G-4.)
d. Sincerely trying to follow Jesus? I like this one. Jesus told the parable of the two sons asked to go into the field and work and then turns the tables on our expectations (Matthew 21:28-31). Jesus told another appropriate story concerning who was righteous: a Pharisee (a very religious person) and a sinner were in the Temple praying (Luke 18:9-14). Which one was "justified"? We probably picked the wrong one again. We are Christian when we are sincerely trying our best to be humble, forgiving, loving, etc. It is not a state of having arrived. It is a journey.
The initial inquiry is intriguing if not practical. We live in a full, busy world rubbing shoulders with countless people every day. Once in a while we may ponder who, of all these persons around us, is a Christian, and who is not. Certain lodges and service clubs wear identification pins. In one sense, it is probably a good idea that we are not so easily identifiable! This eliminates some discrimination of treating some persons better than others. We should care for and be kind to all persons and not just Christians.
The critical question is not about the other person, (we shouldn't judge others, Luke 6:37), but are we Christian? What would be some of the criteria?
a. Church membership? Do one or more denominations have a corner on Christians? Certainly some denominations may have a larger percentage of members who may qualify as "Christian," but we will never know which ones. Each has its share of Christians and hypocrites or pretenders.
b. Certain beliefs? No doubt this is not definitive. Although the formula of "believing in Jesus Christ as Savior" seems plausible, I am going to hold out for the inclusion of some who are not in this fold (Matthew 7:23).
c. Being born again? Can we backslide? Is it possible we fool ourselves and psych ourselves into believing we have had such an experience? (See G-4.)
d. Sincerely trying to follow Jesus? I like this one. Jesus told the parable of the two sons asked to go into the field and work and then turns the tables on our expectations (Matthew 21:28-31). Jesus told another appropriate story concerning who was righteous: a Pharisee (a very religious person) and a sinner were in the Temple praying (Luke 18:9-14). Which one was "justified"? We probably picked the wrong one again. We are Christian when we are sincerely trying our best to be humble, forgiving, loving, etc. It is not a state of having arrived. It is a journey.
