It’s more than outward behavior . . .

Every now and then I’m disappointed that a non-Christian does not act like a Christian. It is rather silly, something like expecting a caterpillar to flit about like a butterfly or a cygnet to have the graceful beauty of a swan. Not only is this not fair; it is impossible.

I suppose this depends on a person’s definition of a Christian. Is it those who attend a Christian church? Not necessarily; being in a garage does not mean I am a car. Is it those who have been baptized? Performing a ritual does not do it. How about a degree in theology? While that exercise should convert the person studying the Bible, it may not do it either.

Even a profession of faith by itself is not enough to pass the test for the Bible says Christians are people in whom Christ dwells . . .

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9)

Most who do have Christ will be transparent, obedient and obviously Christian. Others may be caught up in some old fleshy activity and behave as if they didn’t know the Lord at all. Although their behavior will eventually be changed, the true test is about Christ, not the way a person lives.

The people in the church at Corinth were having difficulty shedding their old way of life. Paul wrote to them with reprimands and cautions. He wanted them restored and living the faith they claimed, but asked them first to make sure they were Christians. He knew they could not live for Christ without Christ in them . . . 

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.” (2 Corinthians 13:5–10)

I know a few people who attend church and are actively involved in church leadership or church activities, but they never talk about Jesus. I’ve not heard them pray or talk about Jesus. Their advice and ideas never include mention of God guiding them. They may be Christians but I am cautious. The sense of His presence is not there and it seems they need to examine themselves as Paul suggested to the Corinthians. Besides that, if they are Christians, I expect them to act like it, at least part of the time.

On the other hand, I know people who do not pretend they have any faith. They often tell lies, swear, have hateful attitudes, and gripe about other people and life in general. While their behavior is contrary to what the written Word of God teaches, how can they do what it says without the Living Word of God in their lives?

No one can fake it. I need Jesus to live as a child of God. That means any expectation of unsaved people to act as if they are Christian is asking them to be hypocrites. Tozer adds: “A sinner cannot grow into repentance. God’s power puts him there, and being there, then he grows in grace.”

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Lord, while it is my deep desire that everyone knows Jesus, keep reminding me to never put the cart before the horse. No one can live like Your child unless You live in them. They can try, and I can expect, hope, or push, but all that is contrary and even harmful because it invites hypocrisy. Instead, grant me the grace to care about people like You do — unmerited love with an invitation but without any attached strings.

Identifying genuine Christians

While God knows all who belong to Him, often I’m not sure. People in my family claim to be Christians, as do friends and others I’ve met, but are they just ‘nice’ folks? Or has Jesus come into their lives?

While this is an issue that must be left with God, how to pray for them is my concern. Christians need prayer support as they grow in grace. Others need Jesus to come into their lives as believers pray for the power of grace to bring them into God’s family. While the Bible has much to say about identifying true faith, here is an interesting passage that helps me better understand how to ID believers and pray for them:

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4–10)

The writer says he knows that his readers in Thessalonica are God’s people because the Holy Spirit fully convicted them. This could be two kinds of conviction. One is that they realized the depth of their sinfulness. It was not a ‘Sure, I mess up now and then’ conviction, but a deeper understanding that produced sincere crying out to God to save them.

The second conviction is deeply knowing that God heard their prayer and that the answer to that cry is the Lord Jesus Christ. They were convicted that they not only needed Him, but that He is who He claims to be — God’s answer to sin, the Messiah, Savior and Lord of all.

Secondly, they demonstrated they were God’s people by placing themselves under the leadership and example of God’s people. This is not a blind following. They understood the Word of God and lived it out, demonstrating their faith without being exhorted to do so. The fruit of the Holy Spirit was there and evident.

Along that line, another evidence was that they turned from idols to not only worship God, but to serve Him. Reflecting on that, I realize many can claim to be Christians but refuse to become involved in serving God. Is this because they have not given up on other gods that they trust for many things? Idolatry is far more common in our world than we realize as many of today’s idols are not as easily seen as carvings in wood and stone.

Another evidence of true faith in Christ is that attitude of waiting, even eagerly waiting, for Jesus to return. I know people who claim to believe in Him, even serve in a church, but who do not believe Jesus is going to return. For some of them, He is not even a real person, more an idea, a mythical example for us to live by and not the very source of life.

Those who claim to belong to God’s family are usually pleasant, friendly, and live a good life. However, their ‘faith’ is misplaced and will eventually be exposed by their attitude toward sin and the second coming. The Bible gives other ways to ‘test the spirits’ but these help me better understand how to pray.

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Jesus, thank You for hearing the need of my heart today. I’ve stuttered when trying to pray for a few people because I don’t know where they stand with You. This Word from You immensely helps me!