Self-Proclaimed Christianity

I was in a conversation with a believer he calls himself a Christian and I believe he is a Christian. In the conversation he was talking about another individual and he said, “oh he’s a Christian” and I responded with he doesn’t act, talk or exude any Christian characteristic why do you think he’s a Christian?  He said because “he claimed to be a Christian”.

I left the conversation wondering when did self-proclaimed Christianity become an absolute in our American society. Are Christians so naive that all you have to do is say you’re a Christian and we believe you. I mean you don’t get to call yourself a policemen and people automatically believe you’re a policeman you have to show proof, matter of fact you can get into trouble calling yourself a policeman when you’re not. My point is self-proclaiming to be a Christian puts the person under the microscope. The world will call you on your behavior real quick if it does not line up to their standard of Christianity, but not other Christians, they tend to give the benefit of the doubt. When we should be observing their words, actions and motives, time will tell you who they are. Jesus gave a parable on this topic.

Luke 8 (AMP)

⁴ When a large crowd was gathering together, and people from city after city were coming to Him, He spoke [to them] using a parable: ⁵ “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky ate it up. ⁶ And some seed fell on [shallow soil covering] the rocks, and as soon as it sprouted, it withered away, because it had no moisture. ⁷ Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. ⁸ And some fell into good soil, and grew up and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.” ⁹ Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ And He said, “To you [who have been chosen] it has been granted to know and recognize the ^[a]mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that though seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. ¹¹ “Now [the meaning of] the parable is this: The seed is the word of God [concerning eternal salvation]. ¹² Those beside the road are the people who have heard; then the devil comes and takes the message [of God] away from their hearts, so that they will not believe [in Me as the Messiah] and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky soil are the people who, when they hear, receive and welcome the word with joy; but these have no firmly grounded root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation they fall away [from Me and abandon their faith]. ¹⁴ The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, but as they go on their way they are suffocated with the anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵ But as for that seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience.

In this piece of scripture there are multiple nuggets of understanding to be gleaned, what I want you to see is the time element in the parable. Time is what brings out the real intentions, commitment and motives of people.

We are living in times where believers can’t afford to be naïve, believers need to be aware, always have their radar on. Deciphering good and evil regardless of who people claim to be. Jesus say’s “beware of people coming in my name”, that means people claiming to be pastors and Christians who have no fruit to back up their claim. Be on alert to false prophets, false self-decorations and taking others word about others self-decorations. Listen to the Holy Spirit for discernment.

John 13 (Living Bible)

³⁴ “And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you. ³⁵ Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Luke 6 (Living Bible)

⁴⁵ A good man produces good deeds from a good heart. And an evil man produces evil deeds from his hidden wickedness. Whatever is in the heart overflows into speech.

Matthew 7 (Living Bible)

¹⁵ “Beware of false teachers who come disguised as harmless sheep but are wolves and will tear you apart. ¹⁶ You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes or figs with thistles. ¹⁷ Different kinds of fruit trees can quickly be identified by examining their fruit. ¹⁸ A variety that produces delicious fruit never produces an inedible kind. And a tree producing an inedible kind can’t produce what is good. ¹⁹ So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and thrown on the fire. ²⁰ Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person^[c] is by the kind of fruit produced.

Proverbs 14 (Living Bible)

¹⁵ Only a simpleton believes everything he’s told! A prudent man understands the need for proof.

Seek the word because the word works if you work it.

Randy McKinney