I just got to thinking, again… What does it mean to be a Christian. I had a conversation with a family member concerning recent tragic events that gave me cause to wonder about their salvation. While of course, I do not judge any persons heart, I do judge fruit.
There’s an old song that I used to sing as a child, that has a repeating refrain, “Yes they will know we are Christian’s by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” So while Christians surely love, - does a Christian hate?
There are “things” that Christians surely hate - conceptual non-tangibles -characteristics. For example - injustice, abuse/mistreatments. We who speak the English language use words too glibly and so make words ineffectual. For example we say, “Oh I hate tomatoes” but then apply the word “hate” to abusive behavior imposed upon another human being or animal. Obviously the weight of the word is not the same and context is the determinant, but why go the extreme with tomatoes - when one could simply say, “I dislike tomatoes”?…. And so correctly use the full weight of the word hate when applying it to an abuse. The same “rule” can be applied for the word love. “I love ice cream” to “I really like the taste of ice cream or its characteristics”. Conversely, “I love you”… Using the full weight of the definition of the word - I will serve/care and behave in a respectful manner and have a most high regard for your well-being. Big difference.
It’s elementary to say words have meaning. The what one means when spoken. When one says, “I am a Christian”. What does it mean? For example, is it Matthew 16:24-28 the living out one’s life as a Christian? There are a lot more verses, but not rocket science.
I’m not going to waste space and play the game, guess what I’m thinking… Here are my thoughts - not necessarily your thoughts but I surely have grace… Being a Christian it’s ALL about grace. Father God’s grace, because I can do NO thing to merit/deserve Father God’s love, let alone His mindfulness of me, being mere dust, but it the Gift of His Son, Jesus’ sacrifice - death - offering HIS BLOOD as payment for my sins - all sins. The Gift.
PERIOD.
This is love.
The receipt of this Gift is what it means to be a Christian.
Now as I ponder this in light of my conversation with a family member… Our differing opinion made me wonder about their receipt of the Gift. Father God’s grace does indeed cover a multitude of sin, Ephesians 2:8-9 and infirmities 2 Corinthians 12:9 - just to note two, but there are many verses on the word GRACE from Genesis to the Revelation. Indeed a beautiful word… This Gift is extremely perplexing to many, hence, why sadly so many resist, turn down; this amazing Gift. Some only see Father God in terms of their own humanity and being like us - They could never forgive sin, (important note: forgiveness is not excusing sin - there must still be an atonement-payment-punishment for sin - that would be Jesus’ sacrifice).
However, some folks have their “Yeah, buts…”. I used to. There are many sins that are vile, and evil, even sins that are totally unnatural to the laws of nature, BUT GOD…. I’ve said it many times, this is why God is God and we are not… Father God does see and knows everyone’s heart. We do not. So all sin is sin to God. Also while it is not our good deeds that earns us any merit with Father God, (our goodness are as “filthy rags”), it is our actions as Christians, (as we do bare the title), that identifies us as belonging to Father God - being called a part of HIS Family - grafted in, adopted, (Romans 11:11 - the “church” gets to benefit from what was rejected. Our Jewish brothers and sisters are chosen of Father God to be His own people - forever, Deuteronomy chapters 7-27 - The Promise, (lots of Christian’s disagree - I am not one of them!). The Jews will have their time of reckon with Jesus, Zechariah 12:10 - an ah-ha moment). The LOVE we profess to have because of Christ Jesus… and out of that LOVE - compels us to want to do Father God’s will… LOVE more - as He so LOVES…
BE LIKE JESUS!
SO… When I see or hear of a Christian behaving contrary to Jesus whom they say they have in their hearts, they say they live for Him, they say they LOVE HIM… but the fruit is, dare I say rotten… What be this?
I repeat. I do not see into the heart, only the fruit… and I am saddened - greatly… Especially, when people “feel” justified in their hate and/or view of others… But the devil is the father of all lies… and feelings are surely deceitful… Because I see people totally ignoring the very Words Of God.
How can this be?…
What does it mean to be a Christian? To receive the Gift of Jesus’ Blood for the remission of sin. It is a given - we ALL have sin… We are “ALL like sheep, have gone astray…”
Dear momma, when I used to do something contrary to being her child, aka stupid; would ask, “Whose child are you?” My actions were saying something contrary to whom I belonged… and I knew this to be true… Momma just had to give the look…
Where are the shepherds asking their flock of sheep - “Do you really belong… Do you understand what it means to belong to Father God because of Jesus’ Blood… Are we reading the same Bible, the Word of God… Are you entertaining doctrines of man - aka demons… Whose child are you really?” Contemplate all the words of Jesus.
Beloved I simply have tears… I know not who these Christ Followers are - family, friends, strangers… anyone who professes to be a lover of God, but who “hates” fellow sinners like them and what are you actually hating… What does the Word of God say beloved? What does Father say in HIS WORD?
1 John 4:20
Sigh!
Lord Jesus, help us all - we are all so lost… in this darkness.
Come
Soli Deo Gloria
Nina
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| 1 John 4:20 |
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