STOP ACTING LIKE A CHRISTIAN!!

Written By Christopher Mentzer

A few days after I became a Christian I started to act like one. I went out and bought the “Christian” Slogan T-shirts, the “Christian” albums, and books to help make me feel like a Christian. You will notice that I put the word ‘Christian’ in quotes in the last sentence. That’s because being a Christian is not about the shirts or the so-called religious music. None of it has anything to do with being a Christian and I’d highly recommend not buying any of it!

What a lot of people don’t understand is that being a Christian is an interior change not an exterior and the majority of the country’s population who call themselves Christian have a major exterior change and a minimal interior change. The T-shirts, the bumper stickers and all the rest are basically attention getters to say: “Look at me, I’m a Christian.” The problem is that they way the live their lives does not conform to the slogans nor the bible.

In 2 Cor. 5: 17 the apostle Paul writes, “Wherefore if any man is in Christ, `he is' a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.” Here is a good place to begin! When one’s sins are washed away, the slate that is your life is wiped clean and you get to begin again. And this is the way Christians should start. Put away all the formers things like: smoking, drinking, gambling, lying, jesting, carousing, fornicating and so on.

A change in heart is the main focus of becoming a Christian. As Jesus states in Matt. 6: 19-21, “19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 20. but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21. for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.” If what Jesus says is true, then why do preachers like Joel Osteen tell people that they can live the best life that they’ve always wanted here on Earth? To have a fancy house, expensive cars, and a fat bank account does not make one a Christian. God provides for us, but it’s to live with contentment not excess. (Phil. 4: 11)

All too often those who act like Christians will try to converse in ‘Godspeak’. What I mean by that is they will try to stuff as many ‘bible phrases’ in their sentences. For example, “We are so blessed that God blessed us with so many blessings.” Okay maybe that’s a little overboard, but you get the general idea.

Your everyday speech is fine just remember what Jesus said in Mark 9: 50, “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.” Basically when you speak, use your words carefully and make every word count. Don’t just throw your words around just to speak. The politicians have that covered. Paul said, “But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine.” (Titus 2: 1). James said, “So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.” (James 2: 12)

And finally the apostle Peter adds this, “if any man speaketh, `speaking' as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, `ministering' as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet. 4: 11)

These are just a few things that will help you in your walk with the Lord. If you’re not a true Christian and are just acting like one then you need to change.

On the back of the bulletin there are six steps to help you start your new life.