Are You “christian” Or “Christian”?

“Christ is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” (Romans 9:5)

Food For Thought: Who is Jesus Christ?

That’s the question of all questions, and a correct understanding of who Jesus is makes all the difference in how a person lives in this life and where they will spend eternity.

A friend told me last night of a survey he’d heard on a TV news program that indicated 85 percent of American’s claim to be Christian—followers of Jesus Christ. Obviously, our nation would be in a lot better shape than it is right now if that were true. A lot of people say they follow Jesus Christ, but they are not following the way Jesus called them to follow: “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily.” Jesus also said, “if you love me, you will do what I say.” Clearly, from Jesus’ own teaching as well as from other teaching in Scripture, only those who have fully surrendered their lives to his Lordship are truly Christian.

A great majority of these who say they follow Jesus are misled. Their “christianity” (I’ve deliberately chosen a lower case “c” for this brand of Christianity) is perhaps a cultural one and not a spiritual Christianity. Some believe themselves to be “christian” by virtue of being born in America, or having been raised by parents who took them to a Christian church twice a year—Christmas and Easter. But going to church or being born to a Christian family or growing up in a “chrisitan” culture doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going through a McDonald’s drive-thru makes you a Happy Meal.

A great majority of this 85 percent who claim to be Christian might even be good and sincere. But goodness and sincerity doesn’t place anyone in right standing with God either. The road to hell will be traveled by a lot of “good” people. There are a lot a sincere people in the world, but they are sincerely wrong.

Being a Christian means having a right understanding for that question, “Who is Jesus?” Paul taught that Jesus was God. Jesus himself claimed, to be God. Not just a god, or one of God’s offspring; not just a good moral teacher or an influential spiritual director. No, he was, is, and forevermore shall be God. In fact, that’s what got him crucified—his claim to Godship. To recognize and reverence Jesus as God is what it means to be Christian.

Since Jesus is God, he therefore has every right to rule over our lives as Lord. We are to obey what he says, do what he commands, think as he thinks, serve his purposes through our lives, and extend his renown throughout the world. We are to love him with our whole being. We are make Jesus the Lord of our lives, that’s what it means to be Christian.

And Jesus is to receive praise not only from our lips, but through our lives as well. Everything we think, say and do are to bring glory and honor to him. Our whole lives are to be an offering of praise to Jesus Christ. We are to offer our everyday lives for his glory and purpose; that is our worship. Bringing Jesus eternal glory is what it means to be Christian.

Jesus is either God, or he is not. If he is not, then we might as well move on to something else and quit deceiving ourselves about Christianity. But if Jesus is God, then we owe him our reverence, our worship, and our obedience.

I’d say those 85 percent who claim to be in his camp need to step it up!

Prayer: Jesus, you are God, and I offer you the praise you so rightly deserve with my lips and through my life. Today, I offer my entire being to you—my thoughts, my words, and my actions—as a sacrifice of love and devotion. I dedicate all that I am and all that I have as an act of worship. May you be glorified through this one life set apart as living evidence of your Lordship.

One more thing… “Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all.” –St. Augustine

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

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