Skip to main content

Authentic Christianity- What is it?

What does it really look like to follow Jesus?

authentic christian meme
Do you really know what it means to be a "Jesus follower"?
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."

What makes an authentic Christian? This is a question that has been plaguing me for quite some time now, and it is time for me to address it with the information that I believe God has shown me. I will be sharing this in a series of posts, as one post would be overwhelmingly long. I really want you to focus on the validity of each “marker”. See how you can compare your life as it is to each “marker” and be honest. Are there things that you would need to alter? Are you really walking through this life as a true follower of Christ, or are you a fake? You owe it to yourself, and especially to God, to find out the answer.
Can you spot a fake? For instance…if you were presented with two purses, one being a genuine Coach bag and another a knock off, would you be able to tell the difference? For someone with discerning taste, recognizing a knock off would likely be an easy task, but some are so well made, it is honestly nearly impossible to spot the phony. It is only after time, with its normal wear and tear, that the true nature of the product comes out. The “real deal” may become a little beat up, scratched or worn, but it will still be in good condition and will retain or sometimes exceed its original value. On the contrary, the knock off will likely have fallen apart after the normal wear and tear, not being built with the same quality and materials needed to sustain the everyday bumps and bruises of life.
Our  walk with God is somewhat like this. Are we the “real deal”? Authentically following Christ with our whole hearts, or are we walking in name only, ready to run at the first sign of danger or trial? The believers in the early church were often referred to as “followers” of “The Way”. What was it that marked their lives? What set apart a true follower of Christ and not a fake? I believe that there are three key things that mark a true follower of Christ, and in the next few posts I would like to dig into each one and really look at all that they entail, but let me list them out so that you can begin meditating on them:
1. Righteousness- This is what is produced when a person receives salvation through their acceptance of Christ sacrifice on their behalf and submits their life in repentance to the changing power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Reliability- This is what is produced through diligence to prayer and study of God’s word. It is  commitment to growth and development in a person’s walk with the Lord.
3. Relationship- This is a genuine and living relationship with Jesus, and also a relationship with the rest of the world. People marked with this characteristic love as Christ loves them.
Focus on these three things. Dig down deep and ask yourself…do I possess these traits? If your answer is no…if it is maybe/sort of, or even if it is a resounding YES…I would pray that you will join me on this journey to discover what marks a true “follower” of Christ. Would that we all strive to live authentically in a world full of fakes and phonies…and represent our God who gave so much of Himself to us in a true and genuine way, that will lead the lost and hurting to Him, rather than sending them running as fast as their weary legs can carry them. The world is looking for authenticity, especially in the church. May it be found in us!
We will be first digging into the marker of Righteousness– so stay tuned:-)
Blessings ~~

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Follower or Imitator- Where is Your Worship?

All we are...All we ever will be...found only at the Cross One of the greatest blessings of Christian fellowship is the mystery of worship.  The God of the universe, creator of all things, ruler of the stars, longs and desires to fellowship with us. In fact, He is jealous over His time with us; seen in Exodus 34:14 as we are told “you must worship no other Gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about His relationship with you”.  What an honor and privilege to worship.  Worship is inherent in creation. Luke 19:40 shows Jesus answering the Pharisees who commanded Him to silence the disciples from offering worship, and Jesus stated “I tell you, He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”  All creation was designed to offer worship and praise to the creator. The winds blow praise. The waves crash in praise. The mountains stand majestic in praise. The creatures of the earth and see proclaim...

The "Birthing" Season

                  Anyone who tells you that childbirth is easy is lying. This person is not your friend, and you should run…run away as fast as possible 😊                 The reality is, birth is likely the hardest task a woman will ever undertake in her life. Pregnancy and birth is the culmination of “giving up” of self – of one’s physical appearance and body image, of one’s normal bodily functions, of one’s time and freedom, but most of all…of one’s heart and soul.                 As a mother prepares for the arrival of her child, she passes through many levels of self-sacrifice. There are the countless hours spent nursing nausea and fatigue. The constant press on your body to provide; not only for your life and sustenance, but that of the o...

Let Us...

Have you ever wondered what it would take to have a successful year? Not just the kind of year that you get through, or the kind that you feel OK about. I am talking about a truly life-altering kind of year. The kind that causes you to look back and shout "Hallelujah!!" when you see all the growth and transition God has brought forth in you. What would it take for 2018 to be that year for us? At the beginning of 2018, when everyone was knee-deep in their resolution making process, I had the privilege of listening to a series of messages by world-renowned Bible teacher, Derek Prince. If you have not experienced the pleasure and the challenge of his teaching, I would encourage you to seek him out (derekprinceministries.org) .  In this series, entitled Twelve Steps to a Good Year , Derek walks us through the book of Hebrews, and points out twelve specific verses that point us towards a life more set on God -- more set on service -- and much less s...