June 1, 2003am    What is a real Christian..?    Acts 11

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

 

What makes you a real Christian? Some common myths about what is a Christian?

Acts 11:25  Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 

Here are the top ten myths about what makes you a Christian by Dr. Luis Palau:

Myth #1: Being Born in America Makes You a Christian                                                                       I've met people who have told me, "I was born in America, so of course I

    am a Christian. What do you take me to be, a heathen?" The truth is that

    they could be a lot of things.

  Others have said: "I've been a Christian all my life; I was born in a Christian

    home" or "in the church." But since when does where you're born

    determine what you are? As one of my friends quipped, someone may be

    born in a stable, but that doesn't make him a horse. Nor does being born in

    an airport make someone an airplane.

    Be thankful for where you were born and for the family and church in

    which you were reared. But don't assume that automatically makes you a

    Christian. God has no grandchildren.

 

    Myth #2: Thinking Positively Makes You a Christian

     Some people also think that if you give a hearty handshake, pat others on

    the back, smile, and ask, "How are you doing?" that you're somehow a

    Christian.  So thinking positively about life in general and about

    yourself in particular doesn't automatically make you a Christian.

 

     Myth #3: Living a Good Life Makes You a Christian 

    And, then, living a clean and moral life doesn't make anyone a Christian.

    Many atheists live a decent, straight life. Anyway, how good is "good"?

    That is the real issue. Most people have a warped idea of the true standard

    against which our goodness should be measured.

 

    Myth #4: Going to Church Makes You a Christian

     Last Sunday four out of ten Americans went to church. But does that mean

    that all these people are Christians? Of course not. Even some thieves go to

    church.  Some people go to church because it's a social habit. Others attend because

    their family makes them go. At the encouragement of a minister, they may

    even go to special classes for confirmation or membership.

 

     Myth #5: Giving to Others Makes You a Christian

    Many of us were taught since childhood to give a portion of our income to

    charity or to the church. Whether rich or poor, we feel it's our "Christian"

    duty.   Even Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, says he feels a "duty to do

    something" so that "in some way I can make life a little less stinking for

    some people." So he donates part of his wealth to worthy causes. And that's

    commendable. But that's not what makes somebody a Christian.

 

  Myth #6: Receiving a Sacrament Makes You a  Christian

     Maybe you were baptized as a child or young adult. That doesn't

    necessarily mean you're a Christian. Many violent inmates in penitentiaries

    were baptized years ago. But few people would consider these inmates

    Christians.  Or maybe you take Communion every Sunday. If you're a Christian, that's

    great. But I've had someone tell me, "Mr. Palau, I'm confused. I take

    Communion every week, but I don't know what it means to be a Christian."

     You see, both baptism and Communion are biblical. God commands

    Christians to observe these ordinances. But receiving either one won't make

    you a Christian.

 

    Myth #7: Believing in God Makes You a Christian

    Eight out of ten people in America say they believe God exists. But are they

    all Christians? Colonel James Irwin, remembered for his Apollo 15 moon

    mission, told me that while he was in the Middle East, a Muslim leader said

    to him, "You talk about God so much--why aren't you a Muslim?"

        I have a good friend who believes in exercise. But he never does any. He is

    forty-five pounds overweight and hopelessly out of shape. I know countless

    small boys who believe in soap. But they are not a shade cleaner in spite of

    their belief. Belief, on its own, makes no difference. That is why belief, by

    itself, doesn't make someone a Christian.

 

    Myth #8: Talking about Jesus Christ Makes You a Christian

      Many people talk about Jesus Christ and even speak well of Him. They

    may be teachers, ministers, church leaders, or "just plain folk." But they

    may not even believe that the Bible's message about Jesus is true.

          Some actually have a distorted view of Jesus that fits their own way of

    thinking, rather than seeing the Jesus of history and the Bible. And that

    disqualifies them from calling themselves real Christians.

 

    Myth #9: Praying Makes You a Christian

        Certainly Christians pray. But someone can pray and still not be a Christian.

    Hindus pray all the time. Muslims pray five times a day.  Some say the sinner’s prayer.

         When traveling abroad, the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat carried a

    little prayer rug on which to kneel five times daily. But he was a Muslim,

    not a Christian. So praying in itself doesn't make someone a Christian.

 

    Myth #10: Reading the Bible Makes You a Christian

         Of course Christians love the Bible. Some of us read it daily. But just

    reading the Bible doesn't mean you are a Christian.

   Read the Bible all you can. It explains how to settle this issue once and for

    all. Since it's God's Word, not man's, we can trust it completely. But

    remember, just reading the Bible won't make you a Christian.

 

According to the Word of God you become a Christian when you:

 

1.  Choose to become a Child of God by becoming born again through the Spirit of

God.

John 1:12 (KJS) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

 

2. Choose to go with the Lord throughout your life.  So you repent from your way of Living to follow the Lord's Way of Life for you.. 

John 14:6 (KJS) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

3.  Choose to receive the Lord’s forgiveness and Follow the Way .. The way of life that Jesus lived.. The disciples were Christians first at Antioch because they followed Jesus..Turn from your wickedness and unrighteousness to God's ways of Holiness...

 

Let this question be the guide for your life:

What would Jesus Do?