What Really Is A “Good” Christian? Part 3

What makes someone a “good” Christian? I often get told I will “like” or “need to meet” a certain person because they are a “good” Christian. This led to a couple of posts on What Really is a “Good” Christian? (You can read those first posts here and here)

Let me start with a passage in Luke:

John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, ¹he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Luke 7:18-22

When Jesus was questioned by John if he was the Messiah Jesus doesn’t quickly respond, “Of course I am”. Instead he tells John’s disciples to look at the people I have interacted with. Like a jet plane, look at the jet stream I am leaving behind me. Where I meet people, those people receive sight, hearing, and are empowered to walk on their own.

“I am Life and I bring life to people in abundance” (John 10:10)

The testimony of others is a powerful testimony. Jesus is telling John’s disciples that they KNOW what Messiah is supposed to do, now look at what I’m doing and go tell John he’s right about me.

Likewise the tell tale evidence of our Christianity resides in the jet stream we leave behind us. What is the result of the interaction we have with people?

Christian means “Little Christ”. A Christian is someone who is being “Christ” to people at work, at home, and to strangers on the street.

Would those people around you say, “Now there is a Christian” Does your interactions and exchanges with others mark you as someone who has had an encounter with the living God?

…or not so much?

If you proclaim you are a “good” Christian but everyone around you thinks you are a bit of an jerk, well, you can do the math.

Perhaps when we get asked if we are Christians we need to get into the habit of responding, “Well look at my reputation. Ask others about me.” They’ll tell you whether I am or not.

When we have exchanges with others, do we give life or steal it?

Then think what makes someone a “good” Christian!