More than a Thought

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” —Luke 9:23-24 NLT

Faith is more than merely believing in your head that Jesus is the Christ. Faith must be reflected by how we live, what we do—that is being a disciple.  To believe Jesus existed, and that there is only one true God does not make you a Christian—as James said (James 2:19), “Even the demons believe that — and shudder.”  A demon or even a person may believe that there is a God; but, they do not live a life for Him. 

So, what’s the fine line between doing works for your salvation and doing works because you’re saved?  James addressed it like this, that if one claims to have faith, then their actions will reflect it, you can’t do nothing; he the adds, “a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (see James 2:14-24).  The Christian life, the life of a true disciple, a Christ-follower, can’t be absent of bearing the fruit of the Spirit, such as patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23), which leads to Christlike compassion and good deeds.  In fact, in Matthew 5, Jesus told us that those who are humble, merciful, and pure in heart would enter the kingdom of heaven; he added the need of a holy life, where we are to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (v 48).  Even C. S. Lewis advised us that, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”    

So, is there a problem?  Yes.  Often, we rationalize our faith as a Christian; but we are not dedicated Christ followers.  Is that what is missing in our title, follower?  We never teach nor witness of Christ, and only when it suits us do we love one another as He commanded us to do (e.g., Matt 28:18-20, John 13:34-35).  There is a great oversight in our faith walk, the flaw is with our “head belief,” we haven’t committed our heart and soul, our being to Jesus Christ—He is not our Leader, our Master or Teacher.  We do the “church thing” and call ourselves Christian, but have not committed our lives to Christ, have not loved without fear, have not lived differently.  It is time to do so.

Owen <><