Counterfeit Charlatans or Changed Christians?

What is a real Christian? I mean the real McCoy? The genuine article? What we Aussies would refer to as fair dinkum and dinky di; without sham, shabby pretense or hypocrisy? The sort you could stake your reputation or life upon? The kind who may still be found standing for Christ when all around are falling? I'm sure we've all heard the old stories and clichés that deal with the dilemma of the identification and determination of a real Christian. Such as the little boy who, after hearing a message outlining the qualities of a real Christian, asked his father if he had ever really seen a Christian. The world around is still asking that question of us every day. Much of the world is still waiting to see one. Oh, we have plenty of the counterfeit kind; even though they may be a bit difficult to detect right away. You can submit a counterfeit coin to a bite, bounce or other test, and ultimately determine its true character. You can analyze the color, patterns and paper quality of a counterfeit note and identify most fakes immediately. When I was a practicing analytical chemist we used scientific methodology to correctly identify any substance or compound coming into our laboratory. We could break it down chemically into its molecular parts and determine its true nature.

Our Savior left us the information and methodology for accurately analyzing Christian character as well. He said, "Every tree is known by its fruit.." He also said, "A good (or saved) man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good." This is the acid test. Even the world knows that characteristics such as love, joy, peace, patience, honesty and integrity are identifying fruits of the Spirit. We can be sure they are watching the growth and production of those who claim to be Christian trees. We are surrounded on all sides by spiritual fruit inspectors and should always be mindful that our Savior said, "By this (love) shall all men know that you are my disciples."

There is a story of the little boy who was watching his pastor driving nails on a church building project. The pastor said, "Son, are you hoping to learn to drive a nail properly so you can be a carpenter when you grow up?" "No," the small lad replied, "I'm waiting to see what a preacher says when he smashes his finger!" The world is also awaiting our reaction in the crucible of crisis. Our confirmation in word and deed of the validity of our faith. They are watching to see if our profession matches our possession.

The Tried And The True

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the rapid and ceaseless change going on around you? Is change for the sake of change necessarily a good thing? Have all the new gadgets spelled success and happiness for members of modern day communities? As we see the cracking of the moral foundations of our society, the functional breakdown of our traditional institutions and the tearing apart of the very fabric of our culture, we are made to wonder if the much heralded blessings of change have become curses rather than blessings.

Many recognize that in the midst of the changes designed to attract the attention and procure the patronage of a materialistic consumer society, it is necessary to test, try and prove new products, processes and procedures to determine if they are really beneficial or worthwhile. This is true simply in the sense of getting value for money. If we are going to spend hard-earned money we do not wish to squander it on inferior products of little reputation or worth. For this reason, many of us usually go for the tried and true; especially after we have suffered a few so-called bargains.

If we are to be cautious about change in our secular life, we should be doubly so in spiritual matters. It is not just new methodology we must examine to determine it’s efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy, but organizations and movements, obviously based upon principles of compromise, are vying for the attention and support of those who once were known as fundamental, Bible-believing Christians.

I tend to want to stick to the tried and true, especially in matters of eternal significance. As the old saying goes, "Give me that old time religion." If it was good enough for Paul and Silas  and our forefathers in the faith, it is good enough for me. If I am going to spend my time and energy contending for a faith, I want it to be the faith of our fathers as it was once delivered to the saints. If I am going to pay the price of real committal, I want to purchase the approval of God, not the praise of men. If I am going to preach a gospel, I want to ensure I only proclaim the powerful gospel of Christ.

As we examine the proliferation of what might be termed bargain basement type religions, and listen to the extravagant claims that press in upon us from all sides, we must make every effort to examine the validity of their claims and the Biblical basis of their boasting. But how are we to know? In what crucible can we analyze them?  In what test tube can we test them? In considering the myriad of claims being made today, just what tests will assure us we have the right stuff?

Just one test will suffice. The very Word of God is the only sufficient rule of faith and practice. Only the sharp and powerful Sword of the Spirit has the capacity to dissect and analyze every claim and counterclaim and ascertain scriptural validity. Our standard must  always be the grand  old Book of the grand  old faith!

One hears much talk today advocating that many things in doctrine, methodology and music are just matters of preference. Those who seemingly worship at the altar of change, for the sake of change, seem to have few convictions about the primacy of the Word of God or the need to have scripture, scriptural precedence or principles as a basis of our faith and practice. Anything seems to go as long as it may appear to be attractive to the secular world and draw the crowds to be entertained in a so-called praise and worship setting. It should not be so among those who love the Lord and the Word of God! 

Jesus Is Coming Again!

Jesus is coming again! Just as surely as the members of that first church saw the resurrected Christ ascend into the heavens in the company of two heavenly escorts, we can have confidence in the validity of His promise to return. One of His last promises given to reassure His followers on the night preceding His crucifixion was, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I WILL COME AGAIN, to receive unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." His very last Words on the subject are found in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible. The fact of His second coming seems so important that He repeated his promise three times. "Behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keepth the sayings of the prophecy of this book." (Rev. 22:7) "Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Verse 12) "He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Verse 20)

Is Jesus coming again? I believe so. People are thinking about the end of the world today more than ever before. Many books are being written about matters of the end time. Popular secular movies focus on apocalyptic events. New Age gurus with Messiah complexes mix a little fact with a lot of fancy to manipulate followers to participate in terrible, tragic and futile acts. Every earthquake, natural disaster, shocking crime, political or military disaster, mass famine, threat of world-wide disease or plague; reminds us of the signs of the end times so clearly outlined by our Saviour. But even so, it seems His coming will surprise the world. Jesus said that no man knows the time of His coming. He will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. He said, "At an hour when you think not, even so, shall the Son of Man come." I believe His return is imminent. The prophetic clock of God's eternal time table is ticking. No angel or demon can hinder or stop it's progress. Man has a date with destiny. God's eternal purpose will be consummated. No mortal man, priest or potentate, rich or poor, popular or powerful, can stop the ticking of God's prophetic clock. Every grain of sand trickling through the hour glass of time brings us closer to the climatic events predicted in the Word of God.