Not all are Christians

Not all are Christians

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                            Mahatma Gandhi
An admission from a Christian of forty-one years. Not everyone who claims to be Christian is a Christian. Mahatma Gandhi got it right.
There are many who go to church all their life and live in Christian circles that are not Christian.
There are very many in the media that are not Christian and claim to be. Some are simply in it for the money, some misguided, others simply not well educated.
Even Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                                       Matthew 7:22,23.
To the Christian and non-Christian reading this I would say be cautious of those who claim to be Christian and are not. Many want to lead people down the garden path. Some trying to get peoples money.
I think especially in our wired world it is at times hard to see who the true Christians are in the media.
At the click of a mouse we can watch and listen to hundreds if not thousands of evangelist and pastors from all over the world.
What we can’t see however, at least until they make a major slip or someone discloses who they are is what they are doing in their personal lives.
Are they truly living a moral life. Are they spending the majority of the money they are raising to reach people for Christ? Or, are they lining their own pockets.
Even if you meet some pastors and evangelist it can be hard to tell.
A pastor or evangelist who is very charismatic or flamboyant can steer people wrong. So can one who is not. You cannot know what is in the mind of someone.
I remember back in I think it was the late seventies a man named Jim Jones who talked a large number of people into going with him to South America where they all committed mass suicide.
There are however I believe thankfully, far more legitimate Christians out there. Men and women who truly love God, and are doing what they feel he wants them to do.
You will find them in church congregations around the world. These are the people who welcome you in the name of Christ and show genuine love for you.
Jesus said to his disciples the following, and without a doubt it defines what a Christian is.
1/ Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                 Matthew 22:37-40
2/ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
Matthew 5:43-46
3/ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 
                                                                                                              John 13:34,35
Christianity is first and foremost a faith of love. It is God reaching down to mankind in love.
To quote Jesus again,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17  
For a Christian to no show love even if he or she dose not agree with the person I would doubt if he was a Christian. If they are, they have not studied and put into practice the teachings of Christ.
God through Jesus offers eternal life to everyone who will accept him into their heart and life.
And Christianity is if nothing else is diverse. It ranges everything from the formal service loaded with symbolism that mean a great deal to many followers of Christ.
At the other end of the spectrum is the contemporary in which the services are modern and with contemporary music and in some cases even dance.
Christ’s call for everyone is to come to him and at least listen with an open mind to what he has to say.
Will you?
Think about it.