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.
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.
posted by Jim Burton at 12:23 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home