Thought provoking
A friend sent this to me, I found it quite thought provoking.
Christ lived in solidarity with the poor, touched the untouchable, comforted the weak, and defied the powerful who cloaked themselves in religion.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, many have rushed to declare what a “fine Christian” he was. But the deeper question remains: by what measure? Did he feed the hungry? Did he tend to the sick, clothe the naked, or welcome the stranger? Did he protect the powerless, as Christ did? Or was his Christianity defined more by ideology than by imitation?
He certainly seemed to be a faithful believer. He used words like “blessing” and discussed the importance of his faith. He even declared that “you cannot have liberty without a Christian population.” But is belief all it takes to be a Christian?
The uncomfortable truth is that modern Christianity often praises belief while excusing behavior. A person may be hailed as a faithful Christian without ever resembling Christ in word or action. This reveals a flaw not simply in individuals, but in Christianity itself: when the faith is reduced to mere identity, political loyalty, or doctrinal assent, it no longer demands the radical compassion and courage Christ embodied.
If one can be considered a “good Christian” without living as Christ lived, then the word Christian has been emptied of its meaning. The scandal is not that individuals fall short. We probably all fall short. The real flaw is that entire communities bless the fall and call it faith.
The distance between being Christian and being Christlike has become the defining gap of our age. Until that gap is faced honestly, Christianity will continue to produce adherents to the name of Jesus who remain strangers to his way.
Slipstream
This is an excellent piece. Talk is cheap, it's actions that count. It's a reminder to us all that we can do better. Our hearts know what is good and true; that's what we should follow. Thanks for posting this.
Sanatana
Wow! This piece hits the nail on the head. I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you for posting.
Evangel
This is biblical. The false prophets are everywhere, like bad apples poisoning the bunch.
The fundamental truth in this piece is also the main reason people are leaving the church in droves, or engaging in deconstructing what they've learned in Evangelical churches and reconstructing within themselves the Christlike truth. These are the adherents who will help close the gap. I feel that hope. It may take all of us to close it.
Thank you for posting this!
Faithville
♥️🙏🏼
Well Street
Your article got me thinking about Jesus' teachings, which are mostly about love and acceptance. I also reflected on the rhetoric of the last few days of condemnation and rage toward "the left."
I asked ChatGPT to provide scriptures in which Jesus condemns others, and it responded with, "In the New Testament, Jesus rarely condemns individual people outright, but He does speak strong words of rebuke—especially against hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and willful unbelief."
It can be well argued that hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and willful unbelief are on full display in the words and actions of many so-called Christian politicians, podcasters, and loyal sycophants. It's clear that none of these people are pondering or asking, "What would Jesus do?"
Faithville
Yes.
Wilsons Grave
This is a defining moment for America. There are no positives on the horizon that I can see. But if folks come around to being more Christlike instead of pretending to be upright with their pants down around their ankles, then I'd say that alone may qualify as a second coming. I'm glad you posted this. People need to think about it and learn what it will take to close the gap.
Faithville
Christlike would be impactful…and would give me a glimmer of hope when so often recently I seem to find myself feeling despair 🙏🏼