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!
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Ok say its strange to write when I can speak to you in person … but that’s part of the fun … edit as you wish … when they asked Jesus if He was good, He said there was none good but God? Why’d He say that? Why do we ask the ‘good christian’ question when not even Jesus felt the need to answer it? Why did they ask Jesus?
In Luke 7 Jesus is actually quoting Is 35:5-6. Then in Luke He continues when John’s disciples have left, that John is the greatest. Come on now Jesus, John asks you for a word of encouragement, help me Jesus I’m drowning and dying in prison, please tell me you’re the one! And Jesus simply quotes the OT, sends that back … son of a gun why didn’t He send John the message – John, I am the Messiah and John, you’ve started the gospel (Mark 1:1-8) and you’re the greatest up till now! Surely that would have been encouraging. Why? Why? Why?
Steve, I don’t suppose we can answer “Why? Why? Why?” with any certainty ..BUT, we can take a guess or two. John’s job was to “Bear witness of Jesus” (John 1) and to prepare people for the Kingdom of Heaven whose coming imminent. (Matt 3:2). By sharing with John not the proclamation of “Messiah” but rather the evidence, I think that was the encouragement Jesus knew John REALLY needed. By saying what he said he declared to John, “Operation Kingdom of Heaven has commenced, it’s expanding, and it started with you!”