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Secretly, I have much more patience and understand towards non-Christ followers than I do Christ followers. Ok, so it’s not really a secret…sue me.
So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 1 John 3:10
Wonderful.
I love them, God…they just frustrate me. Does that still count? I read Matt 23 and I actually get excited!
Don’t have hurt feelings. I’m not talking about you………….or am I? 
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Bill, it’s just hard to figure out who is the real Christ follower and who isn’t. Actually, that’s not my decision is it? But sometimes I can’t help but wonder, you know? There are SO many people who pretend.
You’ve hit it right on the head Bill. Those dudes in Matthew 23 we’re NOT Christ followers. I bet more often than not…when you run by one of them…You’ll actually like them
Just to clarify…
If you run by one of them? Christ followers…actual ones. they are the ones that actually look like Jesus. kwrigh5 I agree that it is not our position or right to judge who is and who isn’t, but it is God’s and he said specifically that you will “know them by their fruit”.
We have to account for ourselves. we need to look like Jesus…pure and simple.
Bill, are you sure that you have the right idea about what a Christ follower is? Just to throw a spanner in the works a little. I’ve copied a question about this onto the forum from FA.
Your “mission” seems to be to live and act as a True Christian but how do you define that?
@hov…
No, I’m definitely not sure. I think I have a pretty good idea. Then again, I’ve thought I had a pretty good idea in the past, and my definition is nothing like it once was.
I try to make it clear that this is just my opinion and I’m figuring it out as I go.
Good point, though. Maybe, with the exception of a few intangibles, it’s a matter of opinion…?
What are your criteria for being a True Christian as opposed to a Fake Christian. I’m hoping that you’ll take this as an opportunity to work towards something that you’ve clearly set out in advance. You could call it a plan if you like.
In lieu of going to church today, I decided to come visit your blog.
I share your confusion about who is and is not a true Christ-follower. I don’t even know if I am, according to the mainstream definition. I only know my own definition, and that’s all I can follow — the truth as it speaks to my heart.
I don’t want to end up on the other side of life and find myself beating myself over the head saying, “I knew I shouldn’t have listened to him/her/them!”
As far as the fruit– The fruit can be different things to different people. Many Christians look at how many people said the “Jesus prayer” as their fruit. Many Christians look at how much missionary work they have done as their fruit. Many Christians look at how much their church as grown as their fruit. But what is the true fruit? And is it something that we can see, measure, or compare?
Fruit? the Bible defines it as Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self Control.
When Jesus talked about this, His point was. Christians are known because they are different than others. the Spirit has affected their life in a way that their personalities, passions and habits have changed.
Linda, I am curious what this “mainstream” belief your speaking of is? No one should be making up their own truth. So I am curious what you have heard and what truth people are making up. Scripture has given us truth and the Spirit is there to discern.
inWorship,(do you have a real name?)
Ah, the loaded question. Where do I begin? I didn’t come here to debate theology with you, however. Just to point out that the majority of the Christians focus on deeds and acts… their ‘efforts’ to follow Christ rather than who they already are in Him. I’ve been accused of not being a real “Christian” by the non-believers, because much of what I say is so non sequitur to what they are used to hearing from other Christians.
I don’t claim to be ‘right’ or to know the answers. I’m on a constant search in my journey toward the truth, which, I imagine, I will never completely arrive at until the day I shed my flesh. Bits and pieces… that’s all I get day to day. I also trip and fall on a daily basis. But the morsels of truth that I discover are well worth the trouble and pain.
I may regret saying this here, but I believe the scripture is a mere beginning of the whole truth. How can you contain the unfathomable, limitless truth in one book? The Spirit is there not only to discern, but also to teach. In accordance with the new covenant, God will and does speak directly to our hearts via the Spirit.
HI Linda! I am also a Christ follower, so is ‘Inworship”. I am not a theologian, I do believe the Bible is “Basic Instructions before leaving earth”, but I also agree with you that we learn and grow through the way the Spirit prompts our hearts. I don’t think the whole universe can hold 100% of the truth of God, or God for that matter. I have also heard that I am not quite what people have expected as Christian. But I think some who call theirself that have lost their first love (Jesus), they are not cold or hot. I do not pretend to be perfect, only striving for it. Like you when I shed this skin I am in, I will be perfect standing in front of perfect King, and in a perfect home.
Glad you came by, and hope to see you here again!;)