What - you didn't think there was a difference?
"You can become a Christian in a moment. But to become Christian is another matter. In our evangelical churches we are very adept at teaching people how to become a Christian - how to receive the forgiveness available in Christ. We have not been nearly so adept at teaching people how to become Christian - how to become Christlike in a way that helps flood a world hell-bent on vengeance with the grace of forgiveness. But as your read the New Testament, you will find that Christ and his apostles place far more emphasis on becoming Christian than on becoming a Christian.
I fear we have contented ourselves with the self-congratulation of becoming a Christian, when the call of discipleship is to become Christian, to become Christ-like, to become imitators of Christ in a fallen world where true imitation of Christ is radically counter-cultural and deeply counterintuitive."
From Brian Zahand, Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness, page56-57
something I have noriced is that a person who thinks that they are Christian because they "love Jesus" and talk about Him all the time are usually very wordly oriented and somewhat elitist, and very judgmental. The Christ like persons usually are humble, they do not talk as if Jesus is their best friend, and the clue to what they believe is found in what they actually do with their time and resources, not what they talk about.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, that is sometimes true. But would it not be better to both live Christians and speak Christian? Why choose, seek to have and be both.
ReplyDeleteall I am qualified to speak of is infinite undeserved grace...and acknowledge His power and pray for me journeyman...I need it more than I can say
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