Following Bob

26 …The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26 (NIV)

In the western countries, there are vast numbers who call themselves by the term “Christian”.  Churches are full of them.  Many still, do not attend a church at all, yet refer to themselves as “Christian”.  The United States used to be called a “Christian” nation, currently, not so much. 

It is true; the US was founded on Christian principles. Many might argue that, but I think others have successfully proven our Christian roots over and over. Those who refuse to believe it are not going to change their minds by my little note here, so I won’t even try. 

However, I do want to make one point… most who go by that title, do not fit that title at all.  They are not even in the ball park.

What makes a person a “Christian”?  A disciple? 

Dis`ci´ple

n. 1. One who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher; an adherent in doctrine;

Ad`her´ent

a. 1. Sticking; clinging; adhering.

 2. Attached as an attribute or circumstance.

 3. (Bot.) Congenitally united with an organ of another kind, as calyx with ovary, or stamens with petals.

n. 1. One who adheres; one who adheres; one who follows a leader, party, or profession; a follower, or partisan; a believer in a particular faith or church.

 2. That which adheres; an appendage.

A “follower”, an “Adherent”.  I like the definition of that word… sticking, clinging… an appendage…in doctrine.

So, a Christian is one who sticks to the doctrine of Jesus Christ like an appendage, a Follower of Jesus Christ. 

Not a follower of a “great” teacher of our day, a reader of great books, or a person who does great stuff. It is simply one who follows and holds to the teaching of Jesus. Sadly, most who call themselves by that name, don’t know squat about His teaching.

Jesus did love, does love. But He is definitely not a 60’s liberal hippy type. It really irritates me when I see people comparing him to a peace and love weirdo, who will accept anyone anytime anywhere. That is NOT what Jesus taught. He did teach that we all have sinned and need salvation. He did teach salvation is found in Him, and ONLY Him. 

He did teach that salvation comes from following Him and holding to His teaching. Oh, but He did have requirements! Turn away from sin, live for God and not self, being primary among them. This is exactly what one who believes in Him will do!

Yup, God still hates lies, homosexuality, fornication, adultery, malicious gossip, murder, bestiality and all the other evil acts that men and women do. He does accept us, and will save us, but does also change us…if we truly believe. If you call yourself a “Christian” you CANNOT continue in these acts, or you are not truly “following” Christ.

Isn’t there forgiveness?  Yes, and a call to repentance, a call to a change of behavior.

I once told a friend and co-worker, “Can a man say he loves his wife if he cheats on her?

Yes, he can”. Because he is weak, any man can easily fall into sin. 

“Can that same man say he loves his wife if, when she finds out, he continues in the affair?"

"No, he cannot”.  

We can all see that clearly. If he really loved his wife, even a small amount, he would be required to immediately stop the affair to protect her. He would also feel a great deal of shame for the pain he has caused. The choice moving forward shows the man’s heart toward her. If he continues the evil action, he shows he does not love.

Continuation of the selfish, or evil act, shows we don’t love, or care, for the one we offend. You cannot live a homosexual life, and claim to be a lover of Jesus Christ, who clearly was not pleased with that “lifestyle choice”. 

Sorry, this is what the bible teaches, you can say it doesn't but it does, might as well say the moon is made of cheese.

Neither can you consistently treat others badly by word or deed, and call yourself Christian!  You cannot be a murderer, liar, thief, child molester, or a selfish jerk, and rightly go by the name “Christian”.  Oh, this will not go well with most “Christians”, why? Because most “Christians”, are not followers of Christ. That is obvious by the way they live, and treat others.

Look at the top of the heap in the churches today. How many of the “Christian” leaders live rock star lives?  How many Pastors are ruthless, and mean, to those who they “shepherd”? How many are working more to build their powerbase, kingdom or cathedral? Is that Christ like? 

I have truly found very few pastors that really were “Christian”!  It is really sad, but doesn’t scripture warn us that toward the end it would become like this?

There are those who omit or even make up new meaning for the words Jesus spoke in order to fit their “lifestyle”. Whether that lifestyle is so they can hate others, and picket funerals, or so they can have sexual relations with whomever they want. 

Either way, they are clearly not following Christ and His teaching. It is not hard to open the book and see what He says. I wish they would just change the NAME so real Christians would not get the black eye from them… they could be followers of “Bob”… Bobians. It would make more sense, because they surely are not sticking, clinging… as an appendage to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

In the churches today, I truly believe that there are very few true “Christians”.  Most church goers never pick up a bible to study the word of God (which according to the definition is what a “follower” would do).  Most just attend the churches and hear the teaching of the pastor.  Would a follower of Jesus be satisfied with that?  A follower of Bob would.

Who are you following?  Jesus Christ?  How do you know?  Do you believe you are following Christ because you trust in Pastor Bob?  Are you a Bobian?  What do your actions say?

Do you lie and repent, or do you lie, and lie, and lie?  Do you sleep with someone who is not your spouse? Are you mean and cause problems for your daughter in law, son in law, sister, brother, neighbor, co-worker, or even an enemy? Do you “just not like” anyone because of their race, clothes, hairstyle or personality? Do you speak evil of others when they are not around? Do you do these things regularly with no shame? Well, if you live in sin still, then you are not following Jesus Christ.  You are following Bob.

Sorry, but someone needs to tell you… Bob will not save your soul. Only Jesus can do that. Maybe it is time to crack open the book, and really find out what the one who died for you taught. It is time to become the appendage of Jesus Christ…time to become a Christ Follower.