Many Christians today profess belief in God and an allegiance to His revealed will—the Bible, but their conduct contradicts their profession. The Bible is not only a dead letter to those who disregard it and consequently disallow it an influence in their lives. The Bible essentially is equally a dead letter to even Christians who disregard it and disallow it a meaningful influence in their lives.
Jesus Christ noted during His ministry some who thought of themselves as His disciples and as children of God, who nevertheless, did not substantiate their discipleship through compliance or obedience of divine directives. “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46 NKJV). Contrariwise, Jesus said, “…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28). Likewise, James penned:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)
The apostle John continued the discussion about the correlation between one’s profession and obeying divine instruction.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6).
Professing to be a Christian requires a person to implement righteousness and godly service in his or her life. Talk is cheap! Action must correspond to claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Mere assertions will prove woefully and eternally insufficient before the Judgment Seat of our Lord.
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
Jesus Christ is the Author of salvation only to those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). Besides salvation from sins while on earth, obedience to divine directives will procure eternal salvation as well. “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).
Boasts of Christian discipleship without following through with a visible, tangible implementation of Christian faith is hollow, empty and worthless (James 2:14-26). Christian faith without corresponding deeds is “dead” (James 2:17, 20, 26).
Valid Christianity must talk the talk. There simply are some things faithful and mature Christians do not say. “…Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29a; cf., Colossians 3:8). Oppositely, mature Christians do say words leading to edification (Ephesians 4:29b). The speech of some Christians betrays them as aligned more nearly with Satan than with Jesus.
Valid Christianity must walk the walk. There simply are some things faithful and mature Christians do not do. In addition, mature Christians do walk after our Lord in the light of the Gospel (1 John 1:7). “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
Sunday Christians whose Christianity is not discernible Monday through Saturday practice contradictory Christianity. Modesty, clean speech, honesty, moral purity and servanthood are not limited to the Lord’s Day assembly. Practicing contradictory Christianity does not enable parents to rear children who are likely to remain loyal to Jesus and to His church. Anyone whose Christianity is a mirage between Sundays will be ineffective as well in influencing other family members, neighbors, fellow students or coworkers with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Contradictory Christianity will prepare no one for the great and final Judgment. Hence, we would do well to inspect our Christian faith from time to time lest we fail the final test when time is no more. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
