Christian or Not ?? Not.....

   I was recently reading a book by John F. MacArthur, Jr. In which he said, "This eagerness to accommodate so-called carnal Christians has driven some contemporary teachers to define the terms of Salvation so loosely that virtually every profession of faith in Christ is regarded as the same thing. All who say they have "accepted Christ" are enthusiastically received as Christians, even if their supposed faith later gives way to a persistent pattern of disobedience, gross sin, or hostile unbelief."

 This took me a little by surprise or should I use the term a lot surprised? I stopped and started thinking about what really defines a Christian in today's world. After all we have so many different doctrines available to us that it is real easy to gt confused on just what Christianity is or isn't. Ask just about anyone what really defines what a Christian is, and you'll get a hundred different answers. I do recognize that growing as a Christianity can be a process, but at the same time I've met people who were transformed instantly and have never turned back to their old ways.
 
Do I have hard answers to this age old question? Well I might have part of the answer. I think it's pretty obvious that I'm no Theologian or Bible Scholar. Although, I did visit the campus of a Christian College once!! The previous sentence was my attempt at a joke, for those of you who think I take this "Christian Thing" way to seriously.

 I've been fortunate to have a few people in my life that were willing to approach me and ask me some tough questions. At the time I really didn't care if I ever spoke to them again. In fact if we had been standing next to a cliff, I'm almost certain they would have fallen over the edge.
The question/probing went something like this. "So David, do you believe Jesus is the Lord of your life, and if so, is that with a Capital L or a lower case l." This really angered me.  Yet today I still think about the question that was posed, some 20 years later. By the way, "Thank you".
 
You see if I had never been asked that question, I had no reason to question myself or my beliefs. So the question I'm going to pose this week is, "Is Jesus the LORD of your life with a capital L or a lower case l?
The real difference between the two is  dramatic. It wouldn't be responsible to candy coat the issue here.
It is spelled out in the scriptures. No one who denies God should be deceived into thinking that they have eternal life. 2 Timothy 2:12 "If we deny Him, he will deny us also."

My prayer for you and me this week is: Lord Jesus thank you for who you are and what you did on the Cross. Forgiving us of our sins, so that we could come into communion with you. My desire Lord is to serve and worship you. For you alone are worthy. I also pry for the people I come into contact with, that I may have the opportunity to share the Good News of who you are and what you have done for me. Amen.