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Because
of last week's article, one question circulating campus is, "what
is the definition of a Christian?" Few people really know. Going to
church, doing good things, or reading your Bible, even if you do it
every day, does not make you a Christian. The only way to become a
Christian, and I mean Christian by the way God set the standard, is
through the complete surrender of your life to God; by confessing Jesus
as Lord of your life (Romans 10:29). I believe I'm a Christian. Do I
mess up? Heck yeah! I'm sure there are days that people, due to my words
and actions, think, "She's a Christian? Whatever!" But that's
where human weaknesses and God's mercy comes in. We're not the judge;
God is. When Jesus walked on Earth, a prostitute was brought to him in
hopes that he would order her stoned. Jesus, sinless, said to them,
"If anyone of you is without sin, let him cast the first
stone." Realizing their hypocrisy, the mob withdrew. We all have
sinned (Romans 3:23); it's human nature (Romans 7:14-20). God frees us
from sin when we commit our life to him; he gives us every spiritual
blessing (Ephesians 1:3), to overcome sin. The problem is Christians
forget they are released from sin, and we revert back to our natural
selves. I'm not about to try to justify the actions of
"Christians" now, or in the past. But what I will do is pose a
challenge. If you have not done what the Bible says you must to be a
Christian, you need to quit calling yourself one. And for those who
know, according to the Bible, they are a Christian, I challenge you to
live it. Don't act one way on Sunday and another on Monday. Live it! I
John 2:3 says, "We know that we have come to know him if we obey
his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he
commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him." dc Talk said it
best: "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is
Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their mouth, and deny him by
their lifestyle." How are we Christians going to change the reality
of this statement? "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words ... the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory ... " (Mark 8:38). Liz
Hoelzer Junior Secondary English Education Major |