We can’t just call ourselves Christians and leave it at that. That’s not how it works; being a Christian takes so much more than that. Being a Christian is one of the hardest things we could ever do in life, because nothing He taught us to do is easy. Jesus taught us to love, but too many of us hate. Jesus taught us to Forgive, but too many of us hold grudges. Jesus taught us to show compassion and mercy, but too many of us have none. Jesus taught us to be good to and take care of the poor, but too many of us look down on them. So why should we call ourselves Christians if we don’t follow what Christ Himself taught??
Hello Readers, hope all’s well. Time for another #shorts post.
Although today’s tidbit comes from a book I often quote, the sentiment of this topic is one I see in many places. This sentiment, this idea, shows up and is repeated in a diverse range of sources. From the 17th century writer I’m quoting today, to comments on Reddit, to a famous Black Nationalist and Pan-Africanist from the early 20th century I’ve been reading lately. My point is, this same idea is spoken by a great variety of different people.
So what is this semi-universal sentiment??
It’s this: A lot of Christians had better hope hell isn’t real, because their actions will send them there. In other words, there are a lot of Christians who don’t practice what they preach, and don’t follow the Gospels (casting doubt on if they’ve read the Gospels). Since this complaint appears in different centuries, it shows the problem has always existed.
Well let’s get started on this, as we have to start somewhere, with somebody. So let’s look at a quote about this from the 17th century.
Today’s quick tidbit once again comes from Richard Challoner’s daily reader, Meditations. The full title being: Considerations Upon Christian Truths and Christian Duties: Digested Into Meditations for Every Day in the Year.
By the way, I want everyone to know Meditations is a book in the public domain—it’s free!! You can read it for free as a PDF (if you want a print copy like I prefer, you have to buy one). Check out the free PDF HERE.
If you download your own free copy, you can follow along with the entries I write about. Or you can read an entry every day yourself.
Did You even Read the Handbook??
To make his point, Richard Challoner turns to the Sermon on the Mount, where we learn the Eight Beatitudes. This is where Jesus teaches us who is Spiritually blessed and who isn’t. This is the part where He says, “Blessed are they who __________;”
With these eight Virtues, Jesus teaches how we should live to have the most peace in our soul here and an eternal reward in the hereafter. If we want to be Christians and follow Jesus, it’s of the utmost importance we follow His teachings, like the Eight Beatitudes. If we really believe, our actions will show it. We will respect the poor in spirit, the meek and the humble, and so on.
If we idolize the wealthy for their worldly success, if we look down on the poor and the humble, and so on, we show by our actions that we either never believed Jesus or completely missed His point. It would be better for us to then stop calling ourselves Christians, since we aren’t following Christ in any meaningful way.
And I’m not the first one to make that statement. Let’s hear from Richard Challoner, who said the same thing hundreds of years ago.
On the eight Beatitudes, Matt. V. (September 1)
[…] with his divine sermon on the mount; at the beginning of which he inculcates, in a few words, the principal maxims of true wisdom, and the fundamentals of Christian morality, comprised in what we commonly call the eight beatitudes. […]
[…] Consider 3dly, the miserable condition of such deluded worldlings, as under the name of Christians, profess themselves followers and disciples of their heavenly master, and yet take no notice of these divine lessons which he descended on earth to teach them, but live in such an affected ignorance as to apprehend all those to be miserable whom he pronounces blessed, and such alone to be happy who wallow in riches and sensual pleasures; although by denouncing a woe against them, he declares them to be miserable. Can such Christians then be thought to believe the gospel who seek for happiness in the [exact way the Gospel says not to]?
Richard Challoner, Meditations, September 1 Entry
We can’t just call ourselves Christians and leave it at that. That’s not how it works; being a Christian takes so much more than that. Being a Christian is one of the hardest things we could ever do in life, because nothing He taught us to do is easy. Jesus taught us to love, but too many of us hate. Jesus taught us to Forgive, but too many of us hold grudges. Jesus taught us to show compassion and mercy, but too many of us have none. Jesus taught us to be good to and take care of the poor, but too many of us look down on them. So why should we call ourselves Christians if we don’t follow what Christ Himself taught?? It would be better if we were honest and stopped calling ourselves Christians, so as not to offend the LORD.
This may sound harsh, but the truth usually does. Talk is cheap, so cheap that it’s worthless. Saying that we’re a Christian is easy, being a Christian is hard. It’s crucial that our actions show our faith in Jesus and the Gospels. And that ain’t easy, but it is worth it, both in this life and the next.
Nobody likes a hypocrite, but people (rightfully) have special disdain for Christian hypocrites. Let’s all be honest and keep a close watch on ourselves, so we don’t end up being one. If we don’t get it together now, then when Jesus returns in all His Glory—a day closer than ever before—He will say, “Get away from me, I never knew you.”
That’s it for #shorts #19. Stay tuned for more #shorts all this month.
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Until next time, be strong and do good!
Your new best friend in Christ,
99:9
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