How can you tell a Christian from a non-Christian?
The answer should be simple, like a Bible verse-inspired song I learned as a child: “They’ll know we are Christians by our love…”
Sadly (devastatingly?), this is definitely not the answer most people come up with, and it breaks my heart as a follower of Jesus Christ. If I were to guess, based on what I hear from and about “Christians”, most nonbelievers would say Christians are self-righteous, judgmental, stubborn, xenophobic, close minded, selfish, fanatical, illogical, afraid of science and differing opinions, easily brainwashed by people who say what they want to hear, and more concerned about theoretical unborn zygotes and other people’s sex lives than the actual living breathing people struggling to live and thrive in a difficult and confusing world.
I could go on, but it’s too depressing. It’s so disappointing to hear what “Christians” are doing and saying and getting worked up about and fighting for that I really can’t bring myself to use the category for myself. Instead, I call myself a follower of Jesus Christ.
And Jesus Christ was all about love. Not fear. Not hate. Not issues. Not policing behavior. Jesus loved people right where they were. He listened and healed them. He ate with them and taught them the truth. He died to forgive them. He loved them dearly and He still does today.
And that’s what He has told His followers to do as well. And like today’s verse says, if I do that — if I love people — they will know that I know God. And only then can I call myself by His name.
Dear God,
I know I am very far from perfect. Thank you for forgiving me for my stubbornness, my close mindedness, my selfishness, my self-righteousness, my failure to listen, my fear of differing opinions, my choices to judge rather than love… Please teach me to do better. Help me to be your loving representative in this world so I can truly call myself your child.
CamDevo 