Being a 24/7 Christian

Mahatma Gandhi was once asked, "What is the greatest hindrance to Christianity in India?" He replied, "Other Christians." Gandhi was referring to the hypocrisy that the non-believers were seeing in the inconsistent behavior of the Christians around them. As a Pastor, the more I speak with people who will have nothing to do with Christianity, the more I hear the words, "Why should I believe? You Christians are no different than us." Some of my own experiences with Christians in a local church left me disillusioned and confused, and I have been a pastor for eleven years. The same people who were teaching on Sunday morning, the same people that were shaking hands and talking a good game, were the ones who were lying, cheating and doing unethical business deals on Monday. In the gospel of Luke, John the Baptist called the religious of his day, a “brood of vipers.” John's harsh words for the people of his time could equally be applied to "church" people today. Some see church as a necessary place to go to on Sunday. It is something to check off the to-do list, or a way to make the boss happy and perhaps a place to acquire new clients. But come Monday, all the church stuff goes in the desk drawer. The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:6-“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” The Bible also teaches and instructs us with these words in James 1:22-“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James is saying, "Don't just be hearers of the Word; but do what it says and teaches!" John's verse says we are liars if we go on living in our old ways. When we put on the uniform for Christ, people watch us. Christians are by no means perfect, but we can strive to be better each day. We can strive to live in a way that gives people incentive to say or think, "I want what you have. Your life seems better -- your actions are different, and I like what I see. Tell me why you are different." If you are in a management position, are you using Biblical values to determine how you treat your employees? As an employee, are you a clock-watcher, just doing enough to get by, or are you doing your work for your Ultimate Boss -- God? Teachers and students, are you displaying Christian characteristics at school? If you are a student, are you complaining about assignments and doing just what you have to, to "get by" -- or are you giving it your best, eager to learn? And at home, are you reflecting Christ in your behavior? I encourage you this week to begin trying to be more like Christ in every area of your life. Let's strive to be Christian 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It will make a difference in your life as well as the lives of those around you.