I am not a good Christian. In fact, over the last few days, I found myself doing things and thinking things that certainly are not how Jesus would have thought and acted. For those who are closest to me, this comes as no surprise. Maybe for others, it may seem a bit of an exaggeration. After all, “none of us are perfect” some would say to me. How true! But believe me....I am not a good Christian. In fact, I think that this whole idea of being a “good” Christian is quite bogus. Before you draw any conclusions and start looking for stones to fling at the heretic, let me explain a little bit about what I mean.
For instance, what do we mean when we say that someone is a “good doctor”? Or what about when we hear that “Guillermo is such a good pianist!”? What we are saying is that the particular person that we are talking about has worked on a specific skill set and knowledge base...whether it is medicine or piano...until they have reached a higher level of proficiency in their craft/profession. To get to that point a person has to have dedication, commitment and probably a certain amount of talent. But mostly, it involves a lot of hard work!! This work not only involves practice, practice and more practice...but also reading, studying, memorizing and stuff like that. Finally, at some point, a person will be recognized by others as being “good”. Sometimes this takes on a type of formal recognition, depending on what the discipline is, but often it is just by informal, common censuses.
So.....if we use this model for our definition of what a “good” Christian is, then we are very far from the mark of what Scripture teaches. And, it is my belief, whether we realize it or not, that most of us subscribe to the above model when talking about being a “good” Christian!
Because of that, I say this “good” Christian is really a mythical illusion that we have created in the Christian world.
What often happens is this: The Spirit of God begins to work in the life of someone who is not a part of God’s family. Maybe this person has some serious “life baggage” - addictions, broken relationships...things like that. I am sure that you get the picture. Anyway, God begins to work in the life of this person....let’s call him Pablo. Through the power of God, Pablo turns his life over to Jesus, because he sees that the true value in life is “giving up his wretched life” in order to embrace the life Jesus has for him. He does this, and a marvelous transformation takes place. Pablo is freed from his addictions...he begins to experience true concern for people and a joy of giving himself sacrificially for others. God has done another miracle!!!
Pablo continues on in his Christian life, fellowshipping with believers at the 4th Avenue Christian Church. As he lives life with them, he begins to see that these “experienced” Christians have developed certain lifestyle habits involving grooming, behavior, dress, speech, pastimes, etc. In order to be more like these Christians, he begins to imitate their behavior. Teachers at the church talk about the need for discipline in study, reading, prayer, witnessing and those sorts of things. Pablo works at doing these things...because he knows that the Christian life is the most abundant life and he wants to be the best Christian possible! And so, what has started as a wonderful work of God in his life motivated by Pablo’s simple joy in his relationship with God, now has turned into a life of trying to be a better Christian.
The Apostle Paul encountered this very thing in the Galatian Church. Listen to what he says in Galatians 3:1-4
“Oh foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away?”
There is nothing wrong with being well-groomed or practicing the spiritual disciplines, but only one person can live a “good” Christian life. Only one. And that person is Jesus Christ. His life is the only life that pleases God. And that is why the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Roman Christians that in ourselves (apart from the life of Jesus living in us) there is no good thing...no matter how hard we try. (Romans 7:18) And so, in a very literal sense, I cannot be a good Christian. Jesus can be! And the wonder of the Gospel is that He wants to live his very life through my life.
To an outside observer who may watch our lives, they may see the changes taking place in my life as I increasingly allow Jesus to live His life through me. And their conclusion might be to say: “Oh! What a good Christian.” But, I will know that it is Jesus who is being seen in me! Only Jesus can live a “good” Christian life...and He wants to do it through me. This is not just a matter of semantics or of splitting hairs. The difference in focus and mind-set is fundamental to our walk with God.
In John 15, Jesus gives the same teaching using the illustration of the Vine and Branches. Take some time to meditate on these words, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)
You know, maybe being a “good” Christian is more about just being honest with ourselves and God and our relationship with Him. Then, surrendering ourselves to Him and letting Him love us and live through us.