Honest to God!

What does it mean to be a Christian? Too often people hold up huge expectations of what Christians are supposed to do and not do, as a matter of fact they seem to judge Christians more harsher than they would someone who isn't a Christian. Suddenly when you announce to people that you are a Christian, it seems like the world suddenly puts a huge target on you! Now you are fair game but before no one really cared what you did.

Now people are putting you under a microscope and looking into the smallest details of what you do, who you hang out with, and what you say. They are the ones that begin to point out all your imperfections and call you a Hypocrite! Wrong!!! Just because you believe in something and fall short because we are human doesn't make us a Hypocrite, it makes us Christians!

Christians are to seek to believe in everything the Bible tells us, and act in a God-like manner. The difference between a hypocrite is that they wear a mask, an actor if you will, being someone they aren't. They don't believe in God at all, but act as if they do.

The problem is that it's better to be a sinner and admit it, then lie and pretend to be something you're not. It's not any one's job to judge people because you can't see into their hearts and really know what's going on. Only God can do that! We can't lie to God.

None of us can live a perfect life, because we live in a sin-filled world and we are human. By that very nature we are inclined to sin. It takes a daily walk of faith and sometimes minute by minute walk to try and do the will of God in our daily lives. Reading the Bible doesn't make you a believer, nor does going to church make you a Christian.

The only way you can be saved is to believe that God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, and that He was raised on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father. It is only by the blood that Jesus shed for us, that we can be saved and it's that belief alone and not by anything we can do that we can go to heaven. You must also turn from your sins and try to do the will of God daily.

Sure we will fall, sure we will make mistakes, sometimes big ones, but we can ask forgiveness and only by the grace of God, can we know we are truly forgiven. I know of some that claim that faith, but refuse to make a changes in their lives. They haven't repented, which is what one must be willing to do. It's not a "name it and claim it" kind of faith. You have to want to do it and be willing to try and do it daily.

It's only by the fruit we produce that we can truly tell if we are walking in the path of God's will. What are the fruits? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. These things are truly present in the life of a true believer! Are these things present in your life?

The acts of a non believer are: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness and orgies. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us of these things and that those who live like this, will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I hope that this helps both believers and non believers alike to not judge lest we be judged. NO ONE is perfect! Only Jesus Christ was! We need to try to be more like Him in everything we do!