3-25-2011 – Weekly Message – How Can You Prove You Are a Christian?

 

“If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

 

Remember hearing sermons of this nature and with this particular topic in the past?  Obviously, there must be something we are supposed to do that will prove to all that we are among the “chosen.” Surely there are some general guidelines we can follow to prove we are indeed Christians.  Let us think of all the things we are doing that can prove that we are Christians.

 

Are these some of the things you think of: church attendance, religious titles and duties, religious garments we wear, how much time we study our Bibles or meditate and pray, how often we fast, how much we donate?  After a little bit of thought though, maybe it is not what we do, as much as it is what we don’t do, that defines us as Christians.  We don’t steal, drink alcohol, smoke, tell lies, gamble or commit adultery and there may be many other things we have given up as well.  We may all be in various combinations of the dos and don’ts listed here.  Is this the evidence that will convict us of being Christian?  Or is this something else?

 

First off, let me say right up front,  I don’t think this is such a valid question and whether intentional or not, the question is bound to shame its hearers because they will always feel they come up short.  The question also hides an implicit “legalism” or “fundamental attitude” that suggests our Christianity is measured by externals.  I bring this subject up for us to give serious thought to what we are doing in our own lives.  So, ponder a moment.  What are your thoughts about this question?  Quite a few Interfaith Christians have come out of a background where we have been hurt by fundamentalism, legalism or criticism from some religious group.  (It behooves us to see to it that we are not doing the same to others or to ourselves.)  We must not allow ourselves to become an accuser or victim in a Christ-less religion whether we consider ourselves to be “Christian” or not.

 

These are Jesus’ harsh words about the Pharisees who measured faith by externals:

 

“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”—Matthew 23:5-12

 

and in verse 27 Jesus compares them to “white washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.”

 

Also in 2 Timothy 3:5 Paul warns of those who do not love the one true God, who have a form of godliness but deny its power. Religion can deceive us into thinking that the physical, outward, external form (what is seen and touched and felt) is more important than the spiritual, inner, unseen stance. The image that the eye sees is powerful, leading religion to motivate its followers by appearances. Jesus said that “everything” the teachers of the law and the Pharisees did was “done for men to see.” 

 

There are all kinds of “forms” of godliness that are alive and well within Christ-less religion today (many so called Christian religions are Christ-less):

 

1)     Ritual.  Many feel that if they can just perform the right rituals and ceremonies and duties, in the right way at the right time, then God will bless them with health and wealth—and conversely he won’t curse them.

 

2)     Attendance.  Many feel that if they just show up, assemble and attend—then that will make God happy. If they just march around in a “Christian” assembly, with their little stick rifles, in “God’s Army” then that will keep God happy—at least for one more week when they will need to do it all over again.

 

3)   Heritage.  Many believe that they have a form of godliness because they were born into a particular religion or denomination. They believe that their religious club has “the truth” or “more truth” than anybody else. They belong to or frequent a particular spiritual address because it’s the only thing they have ever known.

 

4)   Liturgy.  Many think candles, bells, stained glass windows, choirs, pipe organs, incense and chanting is what God wants, and if they engage in such “holy” behavior and worship then God is pleased. Others, who favor a more contemporary experience, feel if they raise their hands to lively music in an exercise called “praise and worship” then their “worship” will ensure that they know God. The Bible speaks of empty, meaningless religion as being like wells without water. A religious well without water holds the promise of being able to quench thirst—but when the truth is finally realized, such an empty well is but a mockery. Christ-less religion is incapable of dispensing God’s grace.

 

Apart from God, religious rituals and ceremonies are secondhand spirituality—humans merely going through the motions. Jesus makes it clear—if we are to have an authentic, real, vibrant relationship with God we must personally respond to him and allow him to transform us. Jesus uses the metaphor of being born spiritually, from above (John 3:3).  God is not influenced, conjured up or manipulated through machinations, obedience, rituals, uniforms, behaviors or practices. The power of God is not isolated to musical expression or devout prayer or outward appearance.

 

Jesus warns about a pseudo-spiritual image that can be created by uniforms worn by religious professionals. Such attire creates a holier-than-thou atmosphere. Costumes can then become an essential part of the show, when religious business is conducted. Most religions have distinctive “garb” or accessories which they use to distinguish and decorate its officials and leaders. Robes, vestments, habits and clerical collars are among those more familiar to most of us. The teachers of the law, Pharisees, Sadducees and priests of Jesus’ day were no different. Jesus mentions two pieces of apparel used as clerical dress by Jewish religious leaders of his day. While religious trappings themselves have no “magical” powers, many attribute spiritual strength and supremacy to those who wear them.

 

Obviously, we may conclude that there must be more to being a Christian than external

behavior can evidence.

 

Revelation 5:12: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

 

Jesus was exalted not because he seized exaltation, but because he relinquished it. He did not cling to his power and position. He emptied himself. He humbled himself. That is the character of God.

 

As Paul wrote:

Philippians 2:5-11: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven

and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 

By God’s grace, our attitude can be that of Jesus, as he lives his risen life in us. Humility is one of the primary attributes of a Christ-centered life. When we are Christ-centered, Christ in us has no interest in seeking religious accolades and the praise of our fellows.  By its very nature, Christ-less religion leads to competition, envy, greed and covetousness. Religion is all about human performance.  Jesus is all about the humility he lives in us, by God’s grace.  Jesus makes it crystal clear that the Pharisees were slaves of empty religion. How sad that rather than humbly serving the humble, they ignored the humble to exalt themselves. God came to this earth, in the person of Jesus, to serve us and set us free.  When we continue in Christ-less religion we continue working under the law which defined sin in the first place.  Out of His grace God gave us salvation and freedom.  We did not ‘earn’ anything.  Through God’s grace, Christ’s redemption, and the Holy Spirit within us, we are transformed from thinking solely of ourselves to becoming God’s very children in whom Jesus lives, who are humble, internally adorned with the attitude of Jesus, and thinking of and serving others in His name.

 

So, what is the evidence that would convict us of being Christians? Jesus himself provides the answer to the preacher’s question. He gives us an irrefutable means to prove that we are Christians.

 

He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

 

We do not generate God’s love; rather it is the Holy Spirit who produces the love of God within us, for love is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

 

The indisputable proof that we are Christians is that we love each other as Christ loves us. It is as simple (and as difficult) as that.

 

Until next week, Blessings, Rev. Sharra