Fake Christian!

I read a post recently in an online group about a Gospel artiste after he made a move that the writer thought was questionable. Now, I purposely tried to leave that very open, because I know that this can describe many different people, situations etc. The writer however, didn’t just query the action. The writer questioned the artiste’s Christianity.

I remember hearing on so many occasions “He can’t be a Christian because...” People say it every day. So much so, that it seems commonplace to hear it. I’m sure you can agree.

Plain and simple, we’re not called to say whether a person is or can be a Christian. We’re not in a place to do this. The simple title for this action is “Judge”. You must probably be acquainted with the word.

Now the bible says that it’s wrong to judge. The bible clearly puts it to us as Christians “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1 . Jesus warned not to be concerned with the “beam” in another person’s eye, while you had a “moat” in yours. (Matthew 7:5 ).

Be careful when you make such pronouncements on others. It may bring more for you than you may think. And these are not good things I’m referring to. Not at all.

But is that simple approach to this matter sufficient? I can most certainly hear a quote from 1 John 4 . In the very first verse, we are encouraged to test the spirits. As the verse explains “because many false prophets are gone out into the world”.

Okay. So we’ve seen that judging is wrong, but we’re asked to “try the spirits” to see “whether they are of God”. Does this confuse you? How can you test people but still not judge them?

This complex question may not have a very complex answer though. Our role is not to bare judgement and go telling the world that someone is “not Christian”. That, my beloved citizen, is far from what God wants from us.

As a matter of fact, later on in 1 John 4 , the lyrics to a song I used to sing back in Sunday School say:

“Beloved, let us love one another”

This love – this brotherly love called philos (or filus depending on what text you read it from) should simply lead you away from going crazy telling people who/what you think the person is. Try the spirit, let the Holy Spirit lead you to a conclusion, and then operate to suit. Don’t go trying to herald this to all the world.

Let the brother or sister make mistakes, and remember that no one is beyond redemption. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23 ) and we’re all imperfect. Some more than others (maybe).

It is better for you to add that person to your prayer list, or even to that of your prayer or cell group (you do pray, don’t you?) than to talk alone.  Especially if your talk is just to pull that person down, and not to lift anyone up. Just don’t do it.

Is that person a Christian? It’s not up to me or you. That’s between them and God. Why not stop questioning other people’s Christianity, and spend your time improving (or finding) yours?

As the youth say, don’t be hatin’!

1 John 4:20“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

Read 1 John 4. It’s good reading!

Written by :

Maurice Burke

 

Features - Opinion