Have you ever thought about what makes a Christian, well, Christian-ish? Most of us have heard questions like “what makes Christians stand out?,” or “what makes Christians look different?” Not swearing in public? Wearing long skirts? Large families? Faithful church attendance? Theological eloquence? Avid evangelical efforts? Sacrificial devotion to a particular ministry?
Let’s try to avoid the opinion of man, and instead ask, what makes a Christian Christlike?
What makes Christians look like Christ? Are we who claim to be Christians actually following Christ? Do we even really know who He is or what He is like?
Jesus is the King of paradoxes. Satan is the king of lies. How do we discern who we are following? From a human perspective, when a person claims to be a Christian, is religiously practicing, and holds higher moral standards than your typical college student, we usually have no hesitation in acknowledging their Christianity, especially if they have a comfortable income and a clean life. I mean, why shouldn’t we?! On the other hand, here on the “safe side” of town, don’t we tend to quickly question the Christian-ness of the poor, the desperate, and the dirty? The wealthy don’t need the church (well, except for social politics..), so theirs must be a sincere devotion to Christ. The poor, the simple, the unclean, the shameful, they need something from the church (you know, money). Can their claim to Christ be sincere??
There is something all people have in common: each human is made in the image of God. There is another thing all people have in common: each human is mortally broken. The human race is simultaneously incredibly beautiful, and overwhelmingly heartbreaking. The adulthood survival rate is 0%. Things are not what they seem. To understand what it means to follow Christ, you must accept both of these realities in all of their apparent and subtle incompatibilities. To see one and reject the other is to believe many lies. To reject both is to believe many lies.
Let’s talk paradoxes and deceptions.
What is small is not big. But smallness of character usually charades behind big claims and loud opinions. What is foolish is not wise, but hasty, foolish opinions and interactions often use an influential, educated voice. What is poor is not abundant, but greed often oppresses the mind of the wealthy and leads to actions and interactions that are grasping and tight-fisted.
On the flip side: bigness of character can be seen in the humble. Wisdom can be seen in those that don’t trust themselves entirely- those who are quick to listen to the input of others, who aren’t hasty to consider their opinion as best. And a heart that has found and received the riches of Christ’s grace, is meek- that person sees the poverty of their heart, and as a result is generous and gentle.
The face of Christianity that we see in our society today, is not necessarily Christian. Those who claim to be Christian or who have a Christian reputation, are not necessarily following Christ.
Christianity is a simple thing. It happens when a broken, lost spirit looks up and discovers that One who is gentle and lowly is holding out His hand. The scars of His brokenness are in his palms, and you feel them when He takes your hand in His. Christianity is following the hope of Christ through the entirety of your broken life. It’s seeing your own smallness, poverty, and foolishness (again and again!), and trusting in God’s bigness, abundance, and wisdom.
Jesus gave us his disciples bread and wine. He filled their hunger and quenched their thirst. Our emptiness and poverty is filled by Christ! His righteousness fills the hunger of our shame. Our thirst for healing and hope is quenched by Christ! His sacrifice washes away the taste of sickness in our hearts and minds, and fills us instead with the rich refreshment of His love and promise.
After feeding His disciples, Jesus washed their feet. He kneeled before them in complete humility, and washed and wiped away the scum and pain they had accumulated on their journey. Be honest. Show Jesus your dirty feet. Tell Him about the grime you’ve accumulated on your journey, and the sores and stink your own heart has produced. He will listen to you without judgement, then will gently work away at your sin and shame with the warmth of His goodness and grace.
This is what it means to be a Christian.
“34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 14:34-35
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