I’ve been contributing fairly often to a great new site called ChurchLeaders.com. I love writing articles for them as they have such a wide variety of authors, pastors, and teachers that I can learn from at the same time.
Just recently Francis Chan wrote an article entitled “Why We Need To Throw Out Out The Term Good Christian.” He stated..
I think it’s time we stop asking ourselves the question: “Am I a good Christian?” We live in a time when the term “Christian” has been so diluted that millions of immoral but nice people genuinely consider themselves “good Christians.” We have reduced the idea of a good Christian to someone who believes in Jesus, loves his or her family, and attends church regularly. Others will label you a good Christian even though your life has no semblance to the way Christ spent His days on earth. Perhaps we should start asking the question: “Am I a good Christ?” In other words, do I look anything like Jesus?
He continues,
So how did Jesus live? You could make a list of character traits to compare yourself to, but it would be far more beneficial to simply read through one of the Gospels. After you get a bird’s-eye view of the life of Christ, do the same with your own. Are you comfortable with the similarities and differences?
Those are some powerful questions. And I don’t think this has to be about legalism. I don’t think this has to be about a checklist of things you must do everyday.
1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
I think it’s this exciting idea that it’s now possible, through Christ, for our lives to progressively look more and more like the person we claim to follow.
It’s possible, if we’ll stay connected to the Vine, to begin to think, act, talk, and love more like Jesus.
It’s possible for us to experience the freedom of living life the way we were originally created to live, bearing the image of our Creator.
So which question are you more likely to ask yourself:
Am I a good Christian?
or
Am I a good Christ?
When I read the article a couple of days ago I was like, “Whoa, dang.” It’s kinda sad that the term “Christian” last lost so much of its power and meaning. But this definitely makes you think. I definitely agree with you though, its not about legalism, it’s about staying close to the source of our joy, hope, freedom, and salvation; and because of those things, becoming more like Him in the process.
“if we’ll stay connected to the Vine, to begin to think, act, talk, and love more like Jesus”
That motivates me to work at continuously being connected to Christ-the vine. With this connection strong and intact, I am empowered to be more like Jesus; therefore, doing life in his way and not my own.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Rarely do I comment, but I thought this was corny enough to share. After reading this, I…walked outside…clipped a vine into a couple of pieces…one for the car….one for my purse…that’ my reminder to stay connected to the vine..
That’s cool Patti.
A big, hearty Amen!
I usually ask myself am I a good christian….and fall short, I found this scripture this am.
Are you tired? Worn out ? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover my life, I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or unfitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11:28-30 Message
I love that passage. There is so much freedom in those words.
I feel like asking the question “Am I good Christian” is more legalistic than the later. We are always striving to make sure people are pleased in what we do, and how we act, and how we treat other people. But, I don’t believe that Jesus always pleased everyone around him. Every time the Pharisees asked him a question he would answer in a way that probably didn’t make them very happy. I see that asking ourselves the question of “Am I a good Christ” is better way of looking at things. We have to know and understand that when we become Christians our lives will not always be golden road of goodness. There will be troubles, and there will be times people look at us like we are crazy because of what we do.
Thanks for sharing this post.
I wonder how many people even know that the word “Christian” literally means, “Christ-like”? Perhaps a truer test would be are you growing in Christ…? Hmm….
Definitely more and more I’m looking at my life compared to Jesus and wanting to follow His ways, not just be associated with what people think when they hear the word, “Christian”. Although the true meaning of “Christian” would be to be Christ-like, wouldn’t it?
I like how these questions are self focused. I think a commitment to looking inward and upward keeps the true meaning of being Christ like in a form that is inspiring to others and not judgmental or superficial. Ultimately, I pray my life focuses so closely on the love and heart of Christ that others will gravitate toward Him.
I think that when you use the measuring stick in the private places of you heart to see where you truly value the lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life God can really do a work in you. But I think when you get too “public” with that measuring stick it because a legalistic tradition of comparing yourself to others ultimately to build yourself up or put them down. Thus giving the term “Christian” a really bad name among unbelievers (and believers). I for one and totally guilty of this, and have been on both sides of the pointing finger.
Didn’t Gandhi say “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Thanks for such a great post! I really enjoyed this one
I think he did Erica. Or at least something very close to that.
Luke 6:46
There is no other way.
Mathew 7:23
In sharing in Christ (our Lord and Friend) sufferings is the only way to truly know Him.
John 18:36
We are not trying to create the Fathers Kingdom here. He will bring His Kingdom. We are here to proclaim It.
We as preachers and teachers need to start getting real, for we do not know what tomorrow brings.
What would it be like to truly—truly, to recognize God as God. To truly let go and let Jesus be the Lord of our life?
Am I a Good Christian?
This is something I’ve been praying about lately. With the demands of work and life in general, I usually get carried away and forget to focus on being more like Jesus. It’s time to stop and refocus.
So often we ask the question “What would Jesus do?” and we forget that Jesus did what He did because of the life that He lived. This is a journey that I am on right now. Seeking to understand the practices and disciplines of my Lord and Saviour.
Realistically speaking, I used to ask the first question…am I a good Christian? However, over the past couple of months I’ve grown a great distaste for this term “good Christian.” Why? Because of everything Francis Chan points out. I’ve been asking myself more and more in my own life lately, “God, whom am I emulating today…myself, an image of what someone else says I am, or who You say I am Father?” It is a sobering question indeed to ask oneself, but if we never ask the right questions of our own motives, God can never mature us how He needs us to so He can flow through us – revealing Himself how He needs to be revealed through us. We need to decrease through the filtering of the questions we ask of our motives, and allow Him to increase through the answers He convicts our hearts with.