What Is A Good Christian?

 

I have a good friend. She doesn’t drink alcohol; thus, she has never been involved in any alcohol-related crimes or embar­rassments. She doesn’t destroy her mind through the use of illicit drugs. I have never heard my friend gossip or tell a sin­gle lie. She never wastes her time in nightclubs, casinos, or questionable establishments. I cannot recall ever hearing her speak with profanity or vulgarity. And she has never cheated a soul in business. Many people would call my friend a “good Christian.” Yet you need to know that I have just described my dog, Bella!

The world holds many good and hon­est souls who are not maliciously en­gaged in the blackest of evils. Many of these good, moral citizens are our neighbors, our friends, our relatives. They may, in some cases, be more mor­al than some of the church’s more nom­inal members. But they should not, by virtue of their upstanding lifestyles, be confused with “good Christians.” They may refrain from wrong; they may even be involved in promoting much that is right. But outside of Christ they cannot be considered Chris­tians. Not until one comes to Christ and obeys the gospel is one a Christian. There’s a world of difference between my dog and a “good Christian.”

 [Acts 4:12] Why is it that some Christians seem to believe that their only responsi­bility in reaching the lost is to live a pure lifestyle before them? Will alien sinners become Christians by simply observing that Christians refrain from things like profanity, fornication, and drugs? Will simply being kind to others convert the lost? There are many others in this world besides Christians who are kind to others. There can even be atheists who choose to be kind to their fellow man. There are other religions besides Christianity which emphasize humility, kindness, sobriety, modest dress, and other forms of morality. What makes Christianity different, and how will the lost learn those differenc­es?

Certainly, the Christian’s influence must not be minimized (Matthew 5:13-16); and yes, Christians are to live holy lives and be kind to others (1 Peter 1:15-16; Matthew 5:38-48); but is that all it takes to con­vert the lost? No one can live a pure enough life to save himself, and there is still no other name to save us but the name of Jesus Christ.

We need to learn what being a Chris­tian is all about. Being a Christian in­volves more than merely not doing evil. A Christian must be concerned with actually doing good, fully submitting to Christ, and living by faith. Christ taught, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Complete and total submission to Christ is essential if we would be called by His name. Like the brethren of Smyrna, all who are in Christ are expected to “…be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10).

Of course, the answer is that Chris­tians must expose the lost to the words of the Bible! True faith does not come from seeing someone live a good, mor­al life. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God! (Romans 10:17). If the Seed (God’s Word) is not planted, the fruit (a Christian) will never be produced (Luke 8:11-15). The Great Commission does not teach Christians to simply go out and live an upright life. Christians are specifically told to teach, baptize, and teach some more (Matthew 28:19-20). Philip had to “open his mouth” to con­vert the Ethiopian (Acts 8:35). If we would open our mouth and “preach Jesus” like Philip did, would we not expect the same reaction of the Ethiopia? “...what hinders me from being baptized? …I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:30-37).

Jesus commanded “…love one another as I have loved you” (Matthew 15:12).