So what is a Christian? Well a person is not one simply because he chooses to wear the name or can speak a little Christianese. A person is a Christian when he believes in the person of Jesus Christ; when he sincerely confesses his sins and genuinely asks forgiveness in Jesus’ name; when he publicly denounces his old way of life and it becomes evident through visible, credible change; when he voluntarily relinquishes and turns over the deed of ownership of his life to God; AND when he has committed his life to be used by God for His purposes and for His glory! Scriptures refers to believers as ‘salt and light’. (Matthew 5:13-16) Salt is a preservative and a flavor enhancer. Servants of God should be as gatekeepers, preserving His word and at the same time impacting the flavor of the culture by being a positive influence and representing a better alternative. We are to be to this world what light is to the darkness, a stark contrast. Our lives should illuminate the world with a purposeful clarity and a sense of hope! We are to be a living example, for to some we are the only bible that they read. In a real sense, we are God’s public relations; we put a face to God and direct the lost and seeking to Him by our conduct and how we live our lives! But oftentimes, it is not God’s reflection that the world sees when they look at us. It is their own, just minus the spiritual baggage that is filled with ‘thou shalt nots.’ How will others know Him if we don’t live Him?

There are a lot of people confessing to being a Christian, giving lip service about their faith, quoting scriptures, and yet their activities and conduct paint a different picture. They can so easily turn on a dime from being spiritual to secular and back again at a moment’s notice! How can a skillet call a kettle black when it bears the same hue? The concept of what it is to be a Christian has been so skewed by the politically correct dictates of the popular culture and by the failure of many compromising church leaders who are unwilling to confront it. Many so-called Christians that adorn themselves in hypocrisy and inconsistency would have better luck attracting flies than a hungry soul! Why should a potential convert want what you are selling, if all you are selling are things they already possess? They don’t need God to live with a person outside of marriage or to have a sexual relationship. They don’t need God to tell dirty jokes or to use profanity. They don’t need God to read or watch pornographic material. They don’t need God to commit adultery. They don’t need God to get high or get drunk. They don’t need God to gossip and compromise a person’s reputation. They don’t need God to be unforgiving, vengeful and spiteful. They don’t need God to lie, steal, lust, gamble, and etc… They have the same junk in their trunk as you have, so why would they want to buy more? The only difference between their junk and yours is that you gloss over yours with the varnish of religiosity, but regardless of how thick a coating you use to cover it with, the true nature and value of it will show through. People are quick to invalidate what you say by the junk you are presenting! Furthermore, they will invalidate the claim of who God says He is and the promises He has made. I mean, how can a person be expected to trust God when His own public relation agents are misrepresenting—if you will—the product they have asserted as being good and life changing? A Christian’s life should be genuinely displayed through his conduct, activities, and speech. If they are not in agreement, it becomes less attractive to those that may be considering—figuratively speaking—buying into the life you are promoting!

There are a growing number among us in the church that insists on having a dual citizenship. They desire the promises of God but they refuse to abandon the things of Egypt (the world). They are deceived into believing they can have the best of both worlds, when in reality there is only ONE best and God rules it, AND he doesn’t share! To those that believe otherwise he says in Deuteronomy 5: 6-11, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." A Christian CANNOT have it both ways! A real Christian would not want to! You are either His or you are not. There is no shade of gray and God doesn’t grade on the curve! Parodying the line in that old song by singer, Louis Jordan, ‘Is you Is or Is you Ain’t’….a Christian? For if you truly are, you can not be double minded in your thinking or have dual loyalties, but instead must follow Him fully in earnest and in truth even to the exclusion of personal liberties and relationships. God is second to nothing and to no one!

Many among us believe that being religious is the same thing as being a Christian, but there is a distinct difference. Religiousness is the way of man, and Christianity is the way of God. One of the illustrations that I like to use in differentiating between being a Christian from just being religious is to direct people to their closet. I know that sounds rather odd and unusual, but bear with me a minute. I tell them to envision their closet and its contents as they relate to clothing. As in most closets you are going to find various types of seasonal wear; various degrees of leisure wear; clothing designated for special events and activities; something for church service; and you might even have something old and worn set aside for working around the house or in the yard. In short, your closet will most likely be equipped to meet any clothing demands and afford you a different look for any occasion. Likewise, a religious person has many different outfits in his spiritual closet, and depending on whose company he is in or what the situation is, he dons a different persona in keeping with what he is experiencing in the moment. He is a human chameleon, adapting and aligning his appearance at will to blend into any situation. He adopts a worldview that is dictated by popular culture. He is driven by self-indulgences and places more importance on the favor and approval of man, than on being a righteous person that pleases God!

Okay, using a similar illustration, let’s say that a Christian’s closet had only one piece of clothing in it. Imagine, one piece of clothing for EVERY situation! What you wore to work you would wear to church, to a party, to the beach, to the movies, to a wedding, while on vacation—well you get the idea! That one suit is all-purpose. But, in addition to it being the only thing that you have to wear, it is something that you wear all of the time. It is like your skin, you wear it 24/7/365 days a year, regardless of the social climate, activity, or how you felt! It is always in season and always in plain view for all to see. It does not shrink from the world’s disfavor or run from disapproval. It holds up to public scrutiny and attacks. It is a one size fit all. And if it appears to not be fitting well, don’t blame the tailor. Might I suggest that perhaps the person is attempting to wear it improperly? No, Christianity is certainly not a product. The exercise here was merely for the purpose of emphasizing the type of commitment that is expected of a true believer. However, if it were a product I believe I would have the perfect slogan for it. "Christianity, you live it; you don’t become it! It's who you are, not what you are! Your life is your fashion statement! Wear it well!" The nature of a true child of God is a one hundred percent devotion to serving Him. We live not for our own pleasure but to glorify Him! We are to adhere to His principles, forsaking lifestyle choices that are contrary to his will. Just as a mural exhibits the quality of an artist’s talents, we are living tapestries that define the wonderful characteristic and rich qualities of a loving Creator!

"But we’re not perfect; everyone makes mistakes!" some may say. In the physical world accidents are commonplace, sometimes resulting in an extreme financial hardship. In the eventuality of an emergency situation and to lessen the financial burden resulting from it, people insure themselves so that they may collect a financial return on their loss. Of course no one hopes or wants to ever have to use their insurance policy, but they are comforted by the fact it is there should circumstances necessitate using it. Although the return can never change what occurred or fully replace what has been lost, it affords them the opportunity for a fresh start and new possibilities. Likewise God also offers—not insurance—but ASSURANCES through His Son Jesus. He understands man’s weakness. He, after all, has the unique prospective of not only designing and creating man to his own specification, but he entered through the back door of humanity to join its rank and file as one. There is a popular saying that goes, "Christians are not perfect, just forgiven!" In other words, people do not cease to be human when they accept God’s precious gift.

Yes, despite our heartfelt commitment and equipping our mind and spirit with God’s word, a true follower will still on occasion err in judgement and fall prey to his old nature, his sin nature. It is because God knows man that he made a provision for such a time as these. His name is Jesus Christ! Jesus died not just for man’s past sins, but his current ones, and for all of his future ones! Now the fact of this does not, however, suggest that it gives one a license to continue in sin. God knows the difference between a person with a committed heart that has a momentary lapse of weakness, and a willfully rebellious one that chooses to march to his own drum beat! God’s provision covers a multitude of sins, but it is applicable only to a repentant heart. So it is not a question of being perfect and never making a mistake, but a question of whether or not a person has a committed heart and is putting forth a sincere effort to live a Godly life. Although we’ll never be perfect in this life, what is expected of us is that we run a good race, that we give God our first fruit, our best effort, our excellence! And should and when we fail Him we can embrace His promise in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify (cleanse) us from all unrighteousness." You know, the more I think about it His assurances ARE our insurance, because we can take Him at his word and rest on them! Amen? And that in itself is a great refund! With that said I ask you again, are you REALLY a Christian or are you JUST plain religious? Whose reflection are you seeing in this mirror?