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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Christianity is a Charge, not a Badge

Beloved, Christianity should be a charge put on us by others, not a badge we tag on ourselves. Calling yourself a Christian is not what leads people to identify you as a follower of Christ. Actually following Christ is what should lead people to call you a Christian. There is an important difference. If we have to be the first to specify ourselves as a Christian, then we may not be “living a life worthy” of the name.

And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. –Acts 11:26

Not everyone that decides to put on the name of Christ has actually
put on Christ, and been baptized into His death and resurrection. Many still flaunt and feed their growing ‘pet’ flesh, but just wear the Christian sweater over it. But any associate of Christ should be found dead in the flesh, and only alive in “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” of Jesus.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have
put on Christ
. –Gal 3:27

Christianity is not just a label that you self-proclaim, but an indictment of society as evidenced by one’s radical love and obedience to Christ. Those on the witness stand of your life should be convincing the jury of your unquestionable association and resemblance to the son of God.

Another saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” –Matthew 26:72

Our belief in Jesus should not only be our defense, but our prosecution! Their testimony (not just ours) should be a convincing case of our kinship to Christ, beyond all reasonable doubt. If many of us were taken to court for wearing our Christian badges, the charges would be dropped, because no witness would be found in heaven, earth, or even hell to convict us.

But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" –Acts 19:15

This is a challenge to myself, as well as all disciples. In our hearts AND in the streets, let’s be the generation "called by His name"!