Let Us Stop Playing Christian
Because of Spiritual Immaturity
Approximately 20% of those who call themselves Christians are genuine believers—those born again, who have eternal life, and who have been saved. Yet they live as if they were not Christians at all. The reason for this is their spiritual immaturity and still being children spiritually. Children do not mind getting dirty; they easily become soiled in every part of their bodies. Their parents must constantly clean them up. No matter how much cleaning the parents provide, children themselves never learn to keep clean. Are you such a person? There is only one way to be freed from this condition: by feeding on spiritual food in order to grow and mature. Those who do not read the Bible, study it, pay attention to it, or have a life of prayer will never grow or become spiritually mature.
Let us stop acting in Christian action shows
Church attendees and those who constantly attend spiritual boot camps may appear better than non-attendees, but they do not live a genuine Christian life because they only act out their roles. Just like actors in movies who pretend to love, kiss, hug, and speak as if they are married couples—yet are not truly married—once the movie is over, they no longer have anything to do with each other. In the film, however, they may act as if they are madly in love and talk more affectionately than real married couples do. Therefore, church attendees and those who constantly attend spiritual boot camps or classes do not live a genuine Christian life because they attend only to play roles, not to practice what they learn.
Are you someone who acts out Christianity or one who personally lives it? Those who merely pretend should not deceive themselves; they are not truly practicing the Word of God but only hearing it. Such people are like those who look at their own reflection and then immediately forget their appearance when going elsewhere (James 1:22-24). Paul writes, “No one should despise a person’s self-examination, for if we judge others, we must also be judged by the same standard” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Because they act like spectators
Why can’t those who have been born-again and saved live a genuine Christian life? It is because they themselves do not participate in the performance; instead, they are content merely watching others perform. They read the Bible not to practice it but to clear their conscience. They pray, yet their prayers concern only their physical needs. They pray for lost souls, but they don’t personally share the Gospel—they simply ask God to speak on their behalf. They find satisfaction in attending church regularly, giving offerings and tithing faithfully, and singing hymns. When they are not at church or Bible classes, they act like worldly people. Therefore, they cannot live a genuine Christian life. Are you merely a spectator watching the event, or someone who is actually participating in it?
Like a marriage
A genuine Christian life does not require being skillful at what you do (though if you are, it is better). Isn’t it true that even those who are not very skilled still marry the one they love?
Marriage is when a man and woman love each other and build their lives together. No one attends a class on marriage; they create the family simply because they are fond of each other. Every married couple does not intend to meet once a week; instead, they live together for the entire duration of their life with full devotion and love.
Similarly, believers should be with Christ constantly, focusing solely on Him in their lives. However, don’t we all only meet with Christ once or twice a week and then forget about Him for the rest of the week? Aren’t we all spending most of our time fellowshiping with the world instead? Such a lifestyle cannot sustain a Christian life.
Are you always living with Christ?
The Israelites
God also desires to dwell with mankind as husband and wife. Therefore, He—who created you—is your Husband, whose name is the Lord of Hosts, the Everlasting God (Isaiah54:5). God loves His wife so much that He nurtures and protects her just as a man loves his wife and wants to be trusted by her. Thus, anyone who relies on man and depends upon flesh will have no rest in their heart from the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5). Again, the Everlasting God said, “Your ancestors went far away from Me, following the path of destruction; they will become completely destroyed. What sin did I find in them?” (Jeremiah 2:5). The reason the Everlasting God is called a jealous God is that He deeply loves His wife Israel (Ezekiel 19:5). However, does Israel love her husband, God? No; she does not love Him at all. Instead, she loves idols that bring no benefit. As the saying goes, "To love greatly is to risk great wrath — for the deeper the bond, the sharper the break.” Therefore, because Israel did not love God, He was angry and handed them over to their enemies, afflicting them with famine, drought, and various punishments, causing them to suffer in every way until today. Yet they still do not understand. Only when Christ comes again as King—with great power—will they finally accept God.
The Church
Because the Israelites did not understand nor love God, His Son wished to gather those from every nation who would believe in Him, forming a church where they could unite as one family. Paul wrote about this saying, “Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is indeed a profound mystery, for I speak concerning Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). One might think that these words refer only to Adam and Eve. However, Paul was speaking of Christ and the Church. The Church and Christ are meant to be united as husband and wife.
But do today’s churches unite with Christ like spouses? How does your church—and you personally—relate to Christ? If they were united like a husband and wife, they would always live together, eat together, and love each other deeply. They would value one another above all else, never wearying or irritable toward Christ but constantly excited and enthusiastic to meet with Him.
Yet today, God is the one we meet only once a week, and even when we do meet with Him, aren’t we giving more attention to other things than to Christ? Are church leaders and ministers merely acting out roles while church members are just spectators? How does your personal relationship with Christ look?
