Only Christians Understand

Pastor Wade's message on Sunday really caused me to pause and think. I know. I'm just as surprised at myself as you are.

He posed two questions- What if someone asked you, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” or “What does it mean to be ‘saved’?” I started thinking that there are things that we, Christians, say and live by that someone who is not a Christ follower would have a hard time understanding. Such as…

1. I have surrendered my life to Christ.

We don’t like to surrender to live under anyone’s authority. Winston Churchill’s famous WW2 speech is sometimes our battle cry, “We shall never surrender." Yet Christ asks us to surrender this “never” to Him to do with us as He wishes. Only Christians understand that when we surrender our lives to Christ, we win

Ephesians 1:21-23 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

2. Not my will but Your will, God (we say as we pray.)

We live in a “me, me, mine, mine” culture. We feel we are given certain rights that provide what we want without question. Only Christians understand that everything belongs to God our Creator. He has a brilliant plan for the world set up since the beginning of time that will not be changed or be compromised. We are given the privilege to ask our Father for anything and know that God will give us and our world what is better than we can ask or even think to ask.  

Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, Holy is Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’”

3. Salvation is not a religion, it’s a life covenant.

We like to put people in groups: ethnicity, sexual orientation, grade levels, ages, geo/political areas, and, yes, religions. Only Christians understand that following Christ is a covenant or promise we make with Christ to surrender our corrupt nature and follow Him and His teachings in the Holy Bible for our lifetime.

Colossians 2:6  So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.

It’s not a special closed club that is hard to get into.

Just believe that only Jesus atoned for your sinful self.

Trust and surrender to His Lordship of your life.

Be faithful in your pursuit of a constant fellowship relationship with God.

When you are a Christ follower, you understand.