Am I a good Christian?

April 28, 2006

By Jerry Scott

Am I a good Christian?

OK, just writing that question makes me shudder because the whole quest to be a “good” Christian has, in many places and times, quickly become an exercise in rule-making, judging, finger-pointing and a descent into legalism. That approach presents salvation as something earned by keeping religious rules.

And yet, as James asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” (James 2:14, NIV). Paul, too, pleads with us to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1).

What we believe about God, about Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and about the life of the Holy Spirit must show a clear connection to our decisions made in the day-to-day world. If our faith in Jesus Christ is not showing in obvious ways, then we must conclude that our experience with God is flawed. We must go back to study the Scripture to learn of His commands, and fall down on our knees to ask Him to make us who we ought to be.

Just be wise about the “transformational” markers you choose to look for in yourself as a gauge of spiritual growth. In my youth, many of the markers that came to me were not particularly biblical. I was taught that a “good” Christian didn’t use tobacco products, did not drink alcohol, did not go to the movies, and did not use vulgar words.

Those rules may have some merit for clean living, but they do not have much to do with being a “good” Christian. Why? Because they weren’t really about loving God and/or loving other people. Jesus focused on love. But it wasn’t an easy, warm and fuzzy kind of love.

Jesus spoke frequently about caring for the poor and the weak. People do not naturally care about the poor. The privileged ignore the poor … or worse, abuse and exploit them. So a question about being a good Christian would involve ways in which we really show a concern for the poor.

Caution! Don’t just write a check to the Red Cross and then put a little mark in the column under “compassion shown.” That’s religion! Instead, ask yourself, “Am I engaged with those who are in need, those who are invisible or neglected by the privileged? Do I really love them or just pity them? What am I doing to ease their suffering in the name of Jesus?”

Jesus was very direct about the importance of loving those who mistreat us. His instructions are unmistakable. “Turn the other cheek! If they grab for your shirt off your back, hand them your coat, too!” Naturally, if someone starts stepping on our toes, we quickly rise to defend ourselves, our reputation, our position, our stuff.

A question to ask, if we’re serious about being a good Christian is, “Am I loving those people who are not loving towards me? What is my first inclination: to get even, or to reach out in gentleness?”

Jesus was painfully to the point about the meaning of life, too. He said, “No one can serve two masters. ... You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24). Americans define life in terms of having stuff. We work, we earn, we buy! If we’re serious about being a good Christian, we must be willing to let God reshape our value system.

If we’re growing in Christ, we will find that material wealth means less and less to us. Careful here, too. It’s too easy of an answer to jump onto a sliding scale. Jesus’ true standard about materialism is that we love Him with everything we own and put it all at His disposal. (And don’t judge somebody for what they buy; tend to your own checkbook.)

Are you starting to feel like a really bad Christian? Me, too! If we’re real honest, we realize that there’s no way any of us will consistently meet His mark on our own. A moral reformation is not what we seek. Instead, we seek a spiritual transformation.

Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong —
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
(Psalm 139:23,24, The Message)

Jerry D. Scott is senior pastor of Washington (N.J.) Assembly of God.