What is the mark of a Christian?

WHAT IS THE MARK OF A CHRISTIAN?






While attending a university in London, Mahatma Gandhi the future leader who would sway the hearts of hundreds of millions of his own people in India, became almost convinced that the Christian religion was the one true, supernatural religion in the world. Upon graduation, and still seeking evidence that would make him a committed Christian, young Gandhi accepted employment in East Africa and for seven months lived in the home of a family who were members of an evangelical Christian church. As soon as he discovered that fact he decided that here would be the place to find the evidence he sought.

But as the months passed and he saw the casualness of their attitude toward the cause of God, heard them complain when they were called upon to make sacrifice for the kingdom of God and sensed their general religious apathy, Gandhi’s interest turned to disappointment. He said in his heart, “No, it is not the one true, supernatural religion I had hoped to find. A good religion, but just one more of the many religions in the world.”

Loving one another is not optional, it is the way that all the world will know that we are Christ's disciples! Gandhi’s conclusion is a sad but shockingly true reminder of the neglected power of a Christian family. This morning in a very real way the way you live, the way you talk, and the way you respond to your brothers and sisters reflects who you really are as a believer. Do you really love your brothers and sisters that God has placed all around your life?

God’s Plan for brothers and sisters is loving one another.

God’s Method for brothers and sisters to love one another is His Spirit.

What does John say God expects from us?

One of the characteristics that usually accompanies affluence is the spirit of independence. I am sorry to say that this same spirit can creep into our churches.

How can I evaluate whether I have succumbed to this spirit? Am I really living the Christian life or am I just living for myself? Many people will quickly say that one cannot and should not judge one’s faith because it is a very private thing.

Many people wear Christian symbols on their clothing such as a cross, but is that the mark of a Christian?

Jesus speaks to this issue and as usual He doesn’t mince words, He cuts to the chase.

As Jesus sees His ministry coming to a close He tells His followers that He will be with them for only a short time. He then gives them a clear definition of the true mark of a Christian.

In John Chapter 13 and verse 34, He tells them, “A new command I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

The next verse gives us the answer to our leading question. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

He is giving them a command with a condition. His point is that it is possible to be a Christian without showing the mark, but if we expect the world to know that we are Christians we will show that mark. The mark is our love for our Christian brothers and sisters.

The next paragraph may not be a popular interpretation but none the less, here is what He is saying. “I am giving the world the right to judge whether you and I are real Christians on the basis of how we treat our fellow Christian brothers and sisters.”

Every person’s DNA has been preprogrammed to recognize real love and to gravitate toward it.

When the world sees how Christians from different doctrinal views treat each other, they make an evaluation, and rightly so.

It is not the doctrinal differences that divide true Christians, but it is the lack of love that the world can sense in the Church of Jesus Christ.

He is not asking us to embrace everyone else’s doctrinal position, He is telling us that when we see a brother or sister in need and we have the ability to meet that need we must come alongside of them and love them.

Several years ago Ruth and I were members of a church in Hudson. We were made aware of a need of another church in town. This congregation had a large church building that was in dire need of paint.

Our congregation decided to not only help them paint their building but we also bought the paint. I remember spending a few Saturdays painting that old building alongside their people.

Oh, how sweet the fellowship and unity that act of love and kindness precipitated.

He instructs us in John chapter 15 and verses 13 and 14 with these words. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

According to Jesus’ teaching if we Christians love each other as He has loved us, every church would have to start a new building program because our present buildings wouldn’t hold them.

Some may wonder how that kind of love could be implemented in their churches. When new people visit your church and notice the patches on the knees of your trousers, you will have found the secret.

Can we Pick and Choose?

Many years ago while studying at the University of North Dakota; I had a Physics professor who claimed to be a Christian. I can still

Remember his provocative statement to the class. When you go through a cafeteria, you take only the foods that are agreeable and savory to your palate. The ones that don’t appear appetizing or maybe you have never tasted them before; you pass up and don’t accept.”

Now here is where it got divisive. He went on to say, “The Bible is like that. As you read through it some things are appealing and comforting to you while others repulse you. Accept the things that appeal to you and reject the things that don’t.”

I can still remember the interesting class discussions that transpired while we were supposed to be studying Physics.

Little did I know that within 40 years, that exact philosophy would be the status quo in today’s churches and not the exception as it was in those days.

As one sits in America’s churches today, you have the opportunity to hear the humanistic gospel, the social gospel, the permissive gospel, the prosperity gospel, the emergent gospel, The Purpose Driven Gospel, Your Best Life Now gospel, the church growth gospel, the seeker-sensitive gospel, the who are you to judge gospel (After all, everyone goes to Heaven anyway), the homosexual gospel, as long as you were baptized gospel, the only believe gospel, and the God loves you unconditionally and forgives you unconditionally gospel. Oh, did I mention the politically correct gospel?

My, my, what have we come to? We ask ourselves these days, “Why are people leaving our churches in droves these days?” Every major denomination in loosing people and some are loosing lots of them, and we are asking why?”  According to Christia research, between 65 and 75 churches are closed every week in the US.  Thoses are permanent closings.

Maybe the question that we should be asking is why would people want to attend our churches? What did the church offer in the past that is missing now?

I believe that most people realize that the all the world has to offer is promises that it cannot deliver. They also realize that there is nothing within themselves that can fill the empty void and longing they are feeling as they search for a fulfilling life.

Where do they look? Some people look to the church for the only power that can change an empty life into a full abundant life, and what do they find? They find an array of gospels that I mentioned above and sadly every one of these phony gospels are void of the power that they are searching for. Most of them leave in frustration (and in droves I might add) and return to hopelessness. Many leave to preserve the faith that they do have and have their own devotion time at home on Sunday mornings and others gather a few likeminded believers together and form a home church.

Here is the serious footnote to all of this change that we have seen in today’s churches.

Revelation chapter 21 and 22 is very explicit on the kinds of people who have no hope because as John puts it, “Their place will be in the fiery lake of burning brimstone.”

But this is not the group of folks that I am writing about. What about all of the “Progressive” Christian leaders who have so thoughtlessly pushed for the doctrinal changes that we have mentioned.

John also addresses that issue in Revelation chapter 22 where he says, “And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

So, the big question on my mind is, “How is it possible to return to the “Gospel of the Kingdom,” that the early apostles preached with power and conviction?

I think that the only answer and it is not a popular one, is tough times and lots of them.

Ruth and I have visited many churches in Africa where finding enough food for today doesn’t leave much time or interest to embrace any other gospel than the one that teaches, “Live for Me, and I will supple all of your needs.” Mathew 6:28-34

How in the World did we get into this mess? You may say, “It is our governmental leaders that we elected.” If the “other party” was in power, they would straighten out this mess. Listen; let me give you a definition of politics that your third grader can understand. Politics is doing what is necessary to keep me and my party in power. It is all about me, my, and I. We all know what power does to a person, it corrupts. So, good luck if you are looking to your political leaders to get us out of this mess.

So, to what do we look for hope? Better to say to WHOM do we look for hope. I believe that it was the churches who got us into this mess when they began to preach the “CAFETERIA GOSPEL” that I mentioned above.

When the CHURCH gets on its knees and repents, things will change, but if that doesn’t happen, like they say in Louisiana, “Ya ain’t seen nuttin yet.”