The Christianity Trap

There is a danger that exists when someone grows up in a "Christian home." That danger is "thinking" that you are a Christian when you really are not.

Don't get me wrong. Coming from a Christian home is a wonderful thing. It is a blessing to be sure. The danger comes from the lack of understanding about just what the word "Christian" means.

I grew up in a Christian home. My parents were Sunday school teachers, they sang in the choir, we went to church, I was baptized as a baby, I went to confirmation class and memorized Bible verses. I was a Christian, right? Wrong. I only THOUGHT I was. And that's the trap.

I heard a sermon once about this topic. The pastor said the thing that surprised him most during their baptism services at his church was that most of the people were "saved from Sunday School." He expected that the majority of people would be saved from things like drugs or alcohol. Nope. Most had only THOUGHT they were Christians but admitted in their testimony that they really were not.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" - 2 Corinthians 13:5

So, how do we test ourselves? That's easy. We must read the Bible and then compare our lives with what it says. Are we obeying God's commands? Are we following the teachings of Jesus?

"And He (Jesus) said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3

Did you catch that? Jesus said there must be a change, from what we were to what we are now, in Christ. Have we changed from what we used to be?

And WHEN did we change? Surely, we remember an event like that! What was the cause? The catalyst? If we didn't change, Jesus just said we "will NEVER enter the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus actually gives us a one-question quiz a few chapters earlier in Matthew 16.

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” - Matthew 16:15

How we answer that question determines where we spend eternity. Who do we say that Jesus is? Peter gives the perfect answer just one verse later.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” - Matthew 16:16

Many people can't handle being a Christian. They like to live their secular lives, believing what they want to believe. They don't FOLLOW Him. They cave in on issues like abortion and gay rights. Jesus said this to those who professed to be His followers:

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you - they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” - John 6:63-69

We need to "believe and know" that Jesus is God, the Holy One. Only then will we be saved. Only then will we be true Christians.