The heart and soul of being a follower of Christ?

I've been thinking lately, what is the heart and soul of being a follower of Christ? I mean what really does it mean to be a Christ follower? If you asked this question to a roomful of Christians you would most likely get several different responses. How would you answer this question? Go ahead, right now, write out your definition of what it means to be a Christian; get your pencil and paper and write it out in a a single sentence or two or three.

Is there any one definition that is wrong? Are there some definitions that really seem to capture the heart and soul of the word Christian better than others?

The Oxford dictionary gives us this definition of Christian:  1. of, relating to, or professing Christianity or its teachings:

Dictionary.com says: 1.of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings: a Christian faith.

Merriam-Webster notes: 1.a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ
I don't know about you but these formal-academic definitions don't get to the heart and soul of what it means to be a Christ follower. Now I'm sure no one would disagree with the above definitions, but they just lack the power and essence of what a follower of Christ is really all about.

There is nothing more that I detest than cold-dead religious orthodoxy. I can still envision those religious figures in the movies about Christ who looked down their noses on others, those religious figures in the days of Christ that received the Master's harshest rebukes and denunciations.

When I think of a follower of Christ, I think the opposite of cold-dead orthodoxy, I think of fire and life. I think of abiding and living in the life of the Holy Spirit---not one who keeps a set of religious rules, not one who follows all of the liturgies of a church, or walks around with nose in the air and Bible under arm.

You know the main thesis of the New Testament is that the follower of Christ is being made into the "likeness and image of Christ." It should follow then that those who call themselves Christians would then look like their Master. As one reads the pages of the gospels, we get a clear picture of whom Christ was and who Christ is today as He reigns with His Father.

                                               So here is my definition of a Christian.

Christian: One who has been made alive by a supernatural act of God. One who has the Holy Spirit of God living in them enabling them and equipping them to love and serve the Father. The Christ follower loves God with all their heart, mind, body, soul and strength.

Death is not normal, it is our enemy!

In the Apostle John's account (chapter 11) of the death of Lazarus we find the shortest verse in the Bible "Jesus wept" (v.35). On two accounts it is recorded that "he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled" (v.33), and "Jesus, once more deeply moved" (v.38).

Let me provide some different translations for vv. 33, 38----

New Living Translation (©2007) "...a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled (33).

The Message "...a deep anger welled up within him" (33).

New Living Translation (©2007) "Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb..." (38).

The Message "Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb..." (38).

Here is the Greek definition for the word translated (groaning) found in most of our translations:

embrimaomai: to be moved with anger, to admonish sternly
Original Word: ἐμβριμάομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: embrimaomai
Phonetic Spelling: (em-brim-ah'-om-ahee)
Short Definition: I snort, express indignant displeasure
Definition: I snort (with the notion of coercion springing out of displeasure, anger, indignation, antagonism), express indignant displeasure with some one; I charge sternly.

All of that for this: What was Jesus so angry about? What was he so displeased with? What was he so snorting mad at?

It was DEATH; the last enemy that he would destroy, did you catch that, the last enemy, the last enemy. Jesus was angry at death and the devil, who is the author of all death, (for he was a murderer from the beginning).

Think of it this way, the death of Lazarus stood for the death of the entire human race, how contrary to God's original design for the world and His creation. God's world was supposed to flourish in peace and wholeness. Then sin, death, and the devil came and destroyed all that was good and perfect. God in His great love and mercy sent His Son to redeem and bring reconciliation to a world that had become dark and disjointed.

I can remember when at my fathers bed side at the hospital when he was dying how I felt a horrible anger, I can remember telling my wife that, "this is not the way it is supposed to be," I didn't buy into that old worn out cliché that said, "death is the circle of life garbage, I knew that death was an enemy, yes, an enemy to every human and to God himself.

When I saw death I knew that I was looking at something that was abnormal, something that was out of place, and something needed to be fixed. Death is ugly, death is dark, and shows no mercy, and remember what causes death? It is something that is just as offensive, it is sin.

I believe that on that day, when Jesus came late to his friend’s aid, it was a purposeful delay. Jesus meant to show the world that he came to reclaim that which was lost through the fall. Jesus' raising Lazarus from the grave foreshadowed His own resurrection from the dead, for Lazarus would die again, but not our Lord, He now lives forever to grant His resurrection power to all who are united to Him by faith.

Does Character matter? Sure it does!

Does character matter? Take the time to ponder that question, don't let it just slip in one ear and out the other. I mean does virtue and integrity mean anything today? or should the virtues that makeup character be left to the long lost days of the Victorian era?

I think back to the days of Knights-you know the days when men were men and there was a code of conduct that was followed if you were to be recognized as a man of character. The term that was used to describe this kind of conduct was called chivalry. Wikipedia describes chivalry as:

Chivalry, or the chivalric code, is the traditional code of conduct associated with the medieval institution of Knighthood. Chivalry arose from an idealized German custom. It was originally conceived of as an aristocratic warrior code — the term derives from the French term for horseman — involving honor, gallantry, and individual training and service to others. Over time its meaning has been refined to emphasize more ideals such as knightly virtues, honor, courtly love, courtesy, and less martial aspects of the tradition.

When we talk about servant leadership, character certainly comes to the top of the list of what  makes a leader a great leader. We know that there are those that can lead through brute power and force; we know that many leaders view character traits as a weakness that will only be exploited by others.

I remember reading in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's biography by Eric Mataxas that Hitler hated Christianity-why? because Christianity taught and promoted such ideals as: forgiveness, love, kindness, turning the other cheek, all of which Hitler viewed as weaknesses. Hitler was certainly a strong and powerful leader, but he ruled through deceit, coercion, and inflicting pain and suffering on those he led.

Getting back to the question does character matter? of course it does! Character will never go out of date like bell bottom jeans, platform shoes, or dying hair blue, green and red. Character stands the test of time, it has grit, it defines who you are, it is really you, the real you .

A man/women without character is really a shell of a person. Without character there is nothing that defines that person--many times I've noticed that those without character will be "whatever you want them to be," they will be all things to all people groups. They are like a bowl of gelatin, no form or shape, just rolling around in the cup of life without any defining character foundation.

For the follower of Christ, he/she does not cultivate character traits just to build character, no, for the Christ follower there is a higher purpose in all he does----all that the believer does is for the glory of God, but the Bible is not silent about character, listen to the Scriptures as they speak concerning our topic at hand: "...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love" 2 Peter 2: 5-7.

Jesus sums up the topic for us in the Sermon on the Mount when he says "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven 5:16."

The Power of Music.

Music for most of us is like a big cold glass of ice water on a hot summer day.  In fact, Deitrich Bonhoeffer that great German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and dissident who stood up to the evils of Hitler's Third Reich said, “Music... will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.”

Martin Luther surely knew something of the healing power of music when he said, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through Music.”

God has given us 150 chapters of songs in the book of Psalms, and if you took notice the book of Psalms is the largest book in the entire Bible. The word psalms is derived from the Greek Ψαλμοί (Psalmoi), perhaps originally meaning "music of the lyre" or "songs sung to a harp" and then to any piece of music. Psalms expressed Israel's religious faith and were sung to give God praise and glory.

The idea of music as a means to uplift and encourage is woven throughout the entire Bible. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers at Ephesus says that they should be----"speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...5:19.

Well, that brings me to a song that I've been hearing on Christian radio frequently---it is sung by Big Daddy  Weave----he is big, but his voice is even bigger. The song is "REDEEMED."  Let my share one of the stanzas with you that just rushed in and exploded on my inner man:

                                                         "I am redeemed, You set me free
                                                          So I'll shake off these heavy chains
                                                          Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be"

The concept of redemption is central to the New Testament, for Christ came to bridge the gap between man and God. The word redeemed carries the idea of purchasing back something that was previously sold. The concept in the Scriptures is that man was lost and a slave to sin; and our Messiah came to purchase us back to himself (cf. Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7-8).

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 gives us a crystal clear picture of what it means to be redeemed, when the Apostle Paul writes:

 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."


As I look back at my life of being redeemed for nearly four decades I can sing as Big Daddy Weave sings:

               "I'm not who I used to be."

A man on his knees.

A few thoughts on a quote by Robert Murray M'Cheyne:

                      "A man is what he is on his knees before God, and nothing more."

The other night as I started to pray this quote came to mind. For me this quote has become a maxim for life.

Let me offer a few thoughts on the power of this quote:

I'll observe in the form of answering why "a man's character is what it is when he is on his knees."

1. When a man comes before his God, he comes naked and stripped of any pretenses that he might  otherwise hold onto when dealing with his fellow man-----
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Hebrews 4:13.                          

2. When a man comes before his God he knows that he is helpless, poor, and needy, he realizes that his strength comes from God----
... Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy Psalm 86:1. and The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped Psalm 28:7.

3. When a man comes before his God he is acutely aware of his selfish heart and even his tendency to pray self centered prayers----Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus  Philippians 2:5.

4. When a man comes before his God he is pressed with the weight that the christian life is not about him, his ministry, his life, his comforts, his character, no, he realizes that he must die daily, so that his God would be magnified through his life----For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21.

5. When a man comes before his God, he leaves with a deeper sense of living in the humility of Christ----
...and to walk humbly with your God Micah 6:8.

Believers we will stumble and falter, but take hope you can always drop to your knees.

What is the difference between being religious and genuinely converted to Christ?

What is the difference between being religious and genuinely converted to Christ? If you could name one marked contrast between the two what would it be?

The other day while I was on face book, I came across a post that had a list of practices that were considered ungodly by the poster. It was a rather long list of rules and regulations that in the poster's mind if practiced by any person would disqualify that person from being a follower of Christ.


The list caught my attention because of some of the things that were on the list. Now let me state for the record, I knew what I was going to be dealing with as soon as I posted an objection to any of the ungodly, abominable, sin-filled practices which were set forth by the poster.

But I was feeling like having a little fun so I indulged myself. I posted that I myself practice some of the ungodly, abominable practices that he had listed. Out of his extensive list I'll  give you what I told him that I practice in my heathen life.

The first thing that I noted was that I listen to music other than "christian music," yes, the heathen that I'm, can you imagine that? Next, I noted that from time to time I even can be found imbibing some sort of liquid. I noted that I find no prohibition in Scripture against drinking alcohol, just warnings against drunkenness.

I then went on to note that you might even find my family and myself at the beach on a nice hot summer day, and yes, even wearing bathing suits. This one really set off the poster of the rules and regulations, it seemed to be the "mother of all sins." He went on to say that I was making my wife out to be a whore and that I was eternally condemned to hell fire.

With that being said let me get back to the original question: "What is the difference between being religious and genuinely converted to Christ? Let me share one small story as told by our Savior in the gospel of Luke chapter 18: 9-14.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Let's look at how our Savior describes these two men who went to the Temple to pray.

The Pharisee:

1. He looked down on others

2. He was confident in his own character and righteousness.

3. He stood up ---a particular commentary notes this about the Pharisee standing up----he said over to himself what he had done, and what was the ground on which he expected the favor of God.

4. He prayed about himself, bringing to God all his human works of religiosity.

5.He compared himself to others---note not to God, but to other men.

The Publican:

1. He stood at a distance as he prayed.---being conscious of his unworthiness to approach the sacred place where God had his holy habitation.

2. He would not look up---a sign of submission and humility.

3. He beat upon his chest---An expression of grief and anguish in view of his sins. It is a sign of grief among almost all nations.

4. He asks God for mercy---This is the prayer of a sinner, realizing that he was poor, helpless, and in need of God' mercy.

So now I ask again: "What is the difference between being religious and genuinely converted to Christ? If you could name one marked contrast between these two men what would it be?

Jesus our Righteousness

"This is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.—Jeremiah 23:6.



There seems to be much confusion among the followers of Christ today about what it means for the believer to be justified (declared not guilty, and declared righteous.). As I think about this great doctrine of the Scriptures, this confusion is not limited to just today, but all throughout the history of the church there has been confusion and misunderstanding concerning this cardinal doctrine of the Scriptures.

At the heart of the debate is the question: Is there anything that a man can do to be made right with God? Or is being made right with God an act that God does apart from any human will or work? Let me state, I'm not a theologian, pastor, or a university professor of the Bible, no, I'm none of those things; but what I'm is a sinner saved by grace.

When I came to Christ as a young teenager in the 1970's the weight and enormity of my sin and offense toward God was so great that in front of my high school's guidance counselor I humbly bowed my head to receive the Savior. Now to note, I was not in the guidance counselor's office getting a list of colleges to attend, or any such advice. By the middle of my freshmen year I had earned for myself the high honors of getting kicked out of school.

The Holy Spirit in such a forceful way showed me my personal sin before a holy and righteous God. I'm always reminded of my conversion experience when I read Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan. I can feel what Christian experienced when the burden of sin rolled of his back when he looked at the cross. Let me refresh you on this scene in the book:

He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as CHRISTIAN came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.

Then was CHRISTIAN glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart,

"He hath given me rest by his sorrow,
And life by his death."

Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks.


Martin Luther that great German monk, priest, professor of theology and reformer was spiritually awakened to his lack of righteousness before a holy God. Luther began to climb the hierarchical ladder in the Church of Rome. It is noted in Luther's biography's and autobiography's that he became profoundly aware of his own personal sin. Hans Hillerbrand paints this picture of Luther's inner struggle:"The Church called upon him [Luther] to mobilize his own efforts, but he failed to see anything in his life which might be found acceptable in the sight of God. He faced God and his righteousness empty-handedly."

Luther noted that he entered the monastery after a close friend of his died and because of a lightening storm  that scared him terribly. Luther tried to propitiate God by saying mass and trying to earn his salvation through monastic holiness.
And who can forget that guy who was circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
The great Apostle Paul who exclaimed that whatever was to his profit he would consider loss for the sake of Christ. 

The Apostle's cry was to be found in Jesus, not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
Let me get back to my original question: How can a man be justified before God? The only answer to that question has to be that, "God must declare the sinner righteous." The sinner is declared righteous by an act of God based on the perfect life that Jesus lived. Jesus fulfilled all of the requirements of the divine law of God.

Think of Justification as a forensic term. Legally and in the courtroom of God you stand tried and convicted, and your sentence is eternal separation from God. You and I failed to keep God's moral holy law, and the law and the justice of God cry out that justice be served.

But Jesus steps in and offers you (the guilty one) his very righteous life that he lived; that life that was lived in total compliance with all of God's laws and decrees.

And on that basis God can declare the guilty sinner justified based on the righteousness of His Son.

So the sinner can sing aloud, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe."