These days the same sort of dynamic seems to apply to people claiming to be Christians. Just run around saying you're one - and you're in! Just kind of "act like one" (most of the time), and you're in! What I mean by "acting" like one is just that. So many feel (or want you to feel), that due to their church attendance, owning a Bible (owning is good enough, reading is optional), praying once in a while, being appalled at some behavior that society condones (though, generally justifying abortion in special circumstances), and other proper "christian etiquette", they are saved and going to Heaven. The epitome of this was demonstrated repeatedly when I worked in a county jail. We would screen people upon entry after their arrest and record full name, address, etc. One of the questions was religious affiliation. A large majority would answer Christian, if not specifically their denomination (i.e., Baptist, Lutheran, etc.). It was the perfect microcosm of the whole of society. The disconnect between talking the talk, but not walking the walk: I can be a Christian and use profanity, I can be a Christian and watch smutty movies, I can be a Christian and dress anyway I want, I can be a Christian and support homosexual marriage (heck, I can be a homosexual Christian! I can be a fornicating Christian, a thieving Christian - you get the idea). I can be a Christian and spend my money anyway I want.
Well - no you can't. You're either grieving the Holy Spirit by being a lousy Christian, or you have not experienced genuine conversion. My intention is not to get into a discussion whether a Christian can lose their salvation or not (too many very smart people have come to different conclusions on this), but either way; it's not a good thing to continue living as you please thinking the fish on the rear of your vehicle makes everything square with God.
Yes salvation is through faith alone in what Christ did on the cross. Works of man has nothing to due with it; so as none of us can boast. But this is not synonymous with cheap or free grace. If one's commitment to Christ is authentic, they're going to want and demonstrate change in their life. It may be more apparent in the life of someone living a high-profile sinful life (i.e., a criminal), and less apparent in the life of a law-abiding citizen (unmarried couple sleeping together), but the indwelling Holy Spirit will produce change if the Lord tarries and allows that person to continue drawing breath. In John Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more and tells us that if we love him, we'll obey his commandments. This is clear indication of what is expected of a true believer.
Many people who refer to themselves as Christian "talk the talk", but don't "walk the walk". Yes, there are gray areas along the path, and there is even disagreement over what is gray, what is black, and what is white, but I believe that is due mostly to people spending less time in their Bibles discerning God's Word than they devote to watching others doing stupid things on YouTube.
If you don't find yourself a bit out of step with society, or feeling a little odd and out of place from time to time because you wonder if this is quite what a Christian should be a part of; I would examine whether you're as much of the world as the unsaved.
In this instance, being a "Pepper" is probably not a good thing.
Many people who refer to themselves as Christian "talk the talk", but don't "walk the walk". Yes, there are gray areas along the path, and there is even disagreement over what is gray, what is black, and what is white, but I believe that is due mostly to people spending less time in their Bibles discerning God's Word than they devote to watching others doing stupid things on YouTube.
If you don't find yourself a bit out of step with society, or feeling a little odd and out of place from time to time because you wonder if this is quite what a Christian should be a part of; I would examine whether you're as much of the world as the unsaved.
In this instance, being a "Pepper" is probably not a good thing.
