WHO IS A CHRISTIAN?

I Peter 4:16-18

Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Many times, when I see Christians act, speak and display attitude, I have had a course to ask myself this question- Who is a Christian? What defines a Christian?

Christianity is not a religion; it is a lifestyle. The world is wrong to have taken Christianity as a religion, while religion is the way we seek God, Christianity is the way we live. Christianity cannot be defined using one factor because it is a lifestyle. For example, A churchgoer is not a Christian; that someone goes to church does not make the person a Christian.

A Christian is someone who has given his/her life to Jesus (John 3:16, John 3:5, Act2:37-39), duly broken and lead by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14, II Corinthians 5:14-17), transformed in character (II Peter 1:5, Philippians 4:8), carries the cross daily (Luke 9:23, Hebrews 12:2-4), and heavenly focus (Mark 13:31-33).

With the way we are as human beings only one of these factors is not enough to define us as a Christian. We have seen someone who has given his life to Christ and being a worker in church defrauding the Church of God. Is he a Christian? NO. A Christian will not do that. AS we know the word Christians come from the words CHRIST-LIKENESS, so the fellow who defrauds the Church can not be said to have behaved in a Christlike manner.

What defines a Christian?

To answer this question let us first understand what does not define a Christian. A Christian is not defined by Position, Name, birth, Prayer or fasting ability, tithe or offering paying, outfit etc.

A Christian is defined by Faith and Character (behaviour).

The Faith of a Christian is seen in her boldness, words, actions, reactions, and the grace he/she carries.

The Character of a Christian is seen in our relationship, attitude, love expression, words, and motives. Character flaw is one major factor that has plagued Christians in this generation. Sometimes you see someone who is not a Christian being “more Christian” in character than a Christian. This is sad. A part of our text above says “… And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

If the closest people (husband, wife, children, maid, employees, Driver, neighbour) to you cannot say you are a Christian then something is wrong with your character. Let us check our Faith and Character to be sure we are still a Christian.

Heaven is counting on us as ambassadors of Christ on earth. Let us represent him well as the Salt and the Light of the world.

God bless you.