Are Christians ANY Different from the World?

Just look at the church. . . and then, take a good look at the world.

Are they really ANY different?

Scripture clearly tells us we are NOT to love the world (1 John 2). As I've thought about this question. . . do we, as Christians, look any different from the world. . .here's what I've come up with. . .

Look at our homes. . . our homes look like the rest of the world. . . in fact, most of us . . . and I would almost dare to say ALL of us here in the United States have much bigger homes than MOST of the world. I had girl in my home from Estonia who told me my home looked like a castle. . . made me queasy to my stomach. So many in the world live in shacks, yet we think we have to keep . . . in the words of George Jefferson (remember the show, "The Jeffersons"?) .. . 'movin' on up to a deluxe apartment in the s-s-k-k-y-y-y-y'.

Look at what we spend our money on. . . we have closets FULL of clothing, yet must buy more. Sure we throw out all sorts of excuses.

**I want to be in style with the latest fashions.

**I just don't have ANYTHING that fits me right.

**I just wanted to buy a few things just to make me feel better. I've had a really tough week, you know?

** I know I don't need anything, but I just couldn't pass up this bargain.

Look at how much we spend in groceries. There are people out there starving. Mothers don't know how they are going to feed their babies their next meal and yet, we, plan our menus accordingly to the things that satisfy our taste buds more than our need for food. So many people in the world live on 1 meal a day. . . yet, here in America, we have to make sure we get the 3 meals and 1 snack in or we feel otherwise deprived.

Let's look at our relationships. . .

**Someone who may not have so great a marriage, sees a little harmless flirting as 'no big deal'. . . after all the excuse is used that we need to feel good about ourselves, then that harmless flirting may turn into much more. . . maybe then their thought life is preoccupied with the person of the opposite sex. A single person may be tired of being alone all the time, yet seeks their fulfillment in the opposite sex in order to "feel" loved. . .

What about our friendships/family relationships? We are wronged in some way or the other. Our feelings are crushed. We decide to totally cut off contact with someone who is our brother or sister in Christ. Matthew 5 clearly outlines how we are to treat our enemies. . . if we are slapped, we are to turn the other cheek. . . if our enemy makes us go 1 mile with him, we are to go 2. . . if our enemy takes our cloak, we are to give him our shirt also. If we are commanded to treat our ENEMIES this way, then how much more should we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ? After all the 2nd greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as OURSELVES! Question. . . do we REALLY do this???? As Christians . . . followers of Christ. . . "little" Christs (that's what the word Christians mean) do our actions imitate him . . . really?truly?

1 John 2:15-16 commands "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."

Lust of the flesh. . . that is what our excess is here in America. We have God-give desires that we MUST have. . . food, clothing, shelter, and love. The lust of the flesh is when we have taken these God-given desires and have perverted them. . . we lust after bigger and better and nicer homes, clothing. Just took a look at the grocery store or in a restaurant of the gluttony that takes place. . . love is perverted when we seek to fill our love tanks outside of God's design.

Let's look at the lust of the eyes. Question. . . what do you allow your eyes to see that sets itself up against the knowledge of our God (2 Cor.10:5). . . what do you look at that offends OUR God? Take a personal inventory here.. . what shows do you watch on TV, what movies do you watch, what books do you read, what do you look at on the internet, what music do you listen to, what do your conversations center around, what activities do you partake in? Examine these things. . . sexual humor, making light of sin in a funny way, grossly partaking in sin and making it look glamorous, violence. . . anything like this in what you set before your eyes? Psalm 101:3 tells us, "I will set before my eyes no evil thing." TV in itself brainwashes us into how we treat others. We're told to 'get them back', 'cut them off', 'say hurtful things about them', 'dog eat dog', 'every man for himself'.

What about the boastful pride of life? Ever try to elevate yourself above another person?. . . ever try to make yourself feel better by noting all the things you do better than other people?. . . ever try to deal with your jealousy by just changing your mind-set and noting what you have that is better that someone else?. . . whether it be better-behaved, more respectful children, a better figure, a better job, a better home, a better wardrobe, a higher intellect, better social skills, better marriage, better friendships, more popularity, better singing voice, better musical talent, more driven, more self disciplined, being a better parent, homeschooling your children rather than sending them to school. . . the list could go on and on. . .

Sounds ALOT like the world, doesn't yet? Yet, that is the American church as a whole today. No wonder the world has no desire for Christ. We're trying to reach a lost world, yet we look JUST.LIKE.THEM. We watch the same movies, TV shows, read the same books, talk about the same things, partake in the same activites, live in excess, treat others JUST LIKE THE WORLD!!

Are we really and truly following Christ? We can't just say we are doing so in our hearts? It's not enough. (Francis Chan). The disciples didn't just follow Christ in their hearts. . . they did so with their actions!!!

Let's allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives. Let's start looking more like Christ. Let's start living lives so that when other people see us they know Christ is in us. Let's adhere to a standard of holiness so that when a brother or sister is in sin, we can go to them and hold them accountable (it's hard to hold someone accountable when you're doing the same things). . . not because we are better than them. . . but because we LOVE them as love ourselves. . .

Let's get rid of the worldliness in our lives so that we will love Him with ALL of our hearts, ALL of our soul, ALL of our strength, and ALL of our minds!

So, what actions in your life make others see not the you in you, but the Christ in you?

133. For God's grace.

134. For growth.

135. For the Holy Spirit.

136. For the powerful word of the living God.

137. For Godly teachers who don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk.