The Christian test
There’s been a lot of discussion lately about what “real” Christian behavior looks like, most of it tied to politics.
Evangelist — and noted hypocrite — Jim Bakker recently said that a “test” of true faith is whether a Christian supports Donald Trump. “Only saved people can love Trump,” he said. On the other side, those who oppose the president are vocal about what they see as non-Christian behavior from people who claim the name of Christ, saying that it’s antithetical for believers to support the policies of a man who belittles others, separates families and engages in offensive Twitter tirades.
And then there are the nonstop volleys between liberals and conservatives, with those on the Left saying that true Christians would never endorse policies that leave the most vulnerable at risk and those on the Right shouting back that no true Christian would support abortion or gay marriage. And I’m sure most of us have been party to conversations where someone has sighed, “I can’t believe they treat me that way; I thought they were a Christian.”
Much of this is tied to the fact that Christianity, like many religions, has both cultural and religious sides. There are those who identify as Christian because they truly believe the words of Christ, struggle with how to live a life of Spirit-led righteousness and believe that the Bible holds the truth to life. There are others who take on the label of Christian because they like the moral framework, have been raised in families that always attended church and find that the faith ties in nicely with their political ideology.
None of this is new.
For as long as Christianity has been around, its validity in the lives of those who claim the name has been part of the conversation. Even before his death, Christ called out the Jewish religious leaders for their hypocrisy and greed. The New Testament is full of the conflicts between those who preached Christ’s gospel in order to bring joy and reconciliation between men and God, and those who used it as a tool to obtain wealth and power.
So, it should be no surprise that throughout history there’s been a tension between “real” and “fake” Christians. There’s been the compassionate, giving faith that built hospitals and started orphanages, and the hard-fisted religion that spread via the sword through the Crusades. There are people of faith known for their humility, prayer and service. There are those who are known for using Scripture as a cudgel to keep others down and fight for their own rightness.
As people of faith, how do we understand whether these cries of “hypocrite” are valid and we and our churches have strayed from Christ’s teachings to accept another gospel? Thankfully, there is a test; it’s just not what Jim Bakker thought.
Some caveats
Before I get into it, I want to issue a few caveats, because I don’t want to be misunderstood. None of what I’m saying is meant to imply that performing a certain action confers salvation or is required for salvation. Nor am I saying that every Christian everywhere will embody these behaviors and attitudes 100% of the time. And I’m not saying they’re completely exclusive to Christians; those of a different religion or those who have no faith at all can embody these things.
That said, if someone is genuinely following Christ and he is changing their life, then the Scriptures say that there are certain behaviors, attitudes or ways of conduct we should expect to permeate their lives. They don’t make someone a Christian; but they are the result of trusting in Christ, following his words and letting them change you. Those who claim the name of Christ should be known for these characteristics. We can have a faith that markets itself on the name of Christ and exists only to fill megachurches and elect political leaders, or we can have a faith that truly changes lives and the word.
Which is which? Look for the fruit.
Fruit-bearers
It was Christ who first described the test for understanding whether someone is truly one of his followers. In Luke 6, Jesus is addressing his disciples. He gives them the Beatitudes, tells them to love their neighbor and provides a warning about being hypocritical judges. Similar language is also found in the book of Matthew. Jesus is addressing the religious leaders of the day, who claimed to love God and serve his people, but created a religion that sought only to give them power over others and impose crushing loads of servitude . Christ calls out hypocrites and then tells people true followers of the Kingdom will live another, better, way:
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Basically, what Christ is saying is, “If it’s a dog, it will bark.” If someone claims to follow God, they will live a life that carries proof of that dedication. We don’t know if an apple tree is truly an apple tree unless we see apples on its branches; we don’t know if someone’s faith is valid unless they bear the marks that come from being changed by Christ.
And really, is that different from anything else? Someone can claim to be passionately in love with another person, but if that declaration isn’t backed up by a desire to be with another person and care for them, we can conclude that love isn’t genuine. Someone can sell themselves as an expert in a job interview; their resume and subsequent performance will tell whether that expertise is real.
And so, in a culture that is filled with people on all sides claiming to follow Christ, how do we know whether that faith is valid and doing honor to the name it claims? We look for the fruit.
But what should we be looking for? Is it a faith that is pro capitalism and supports gun rights? Is it a faith that looks more socialist and gives to those in need? Is it one that puts America and its interests first or one that protects the needs of the individual?
I’d argue that Christians can be found on all sides of that argument because political fruit is not, necessarily, the mark of a Christian. What we need to look for, instead, is to understand what backs up people’s intentions, observe the motives behind their stances and the perspective behind their arguments.
What to look for
Years after Christ’s death and resurrection, writing to the fledgling church in Galatia, the apostle Paul provides a glimpse as to what, specifically, marks a life changed by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It’s not miraculous works, spectacular preaching or theological superiority. Rather, it’s something that first, is a little simpler, but no less revolutionary:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
At first blush, the list seems a bit Disney-fied, right? These are the same qualities we try to instill in our children. These aren’t the stances that will advance our cause or defeat our enemies.
Which would be a legitimate argument if we were seeking a faith that put our individual priorities first. Instead, those who are truly changed by Christ follow a leader who said to love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, turn the other cheek when you are struck.
A look around our culture tells us that, too often, the arguments carried out by those claiming the name of Christ lack this fruit. Love is too often lost in arguments that seek to address issues of truth; joy has curdled into cynicism in too many circles. Our social media feeds show just how little peace exists, and the quickness of our tweets and Facebook replies show our lack of patience, kindness and goodness. The reason we run into these arguments so quickly, in fact, speaks to our lack of self-control.
But imagine if these qualities were more present in our culture. What if our approach toward people who don’t show our faith was marked not by a desire to be right but by the love we lavish on those we disagree with? What if instead of reacting in fear against a world we too often see as sinful and opposed to us, Christians were known as people of deep joy? What if our politics, rather than taking an “I’ve got mine” rhetoric, were marked by a desire to be kind and good to others, to truly love our neighbors?
In this contentious culture, don’t look for the Christian who has the most persuasive argument or who speaks to your own personal biases and preferences. Look behind their arguments to examine whether their lives are marked by this fruit, and you will be able to discern how genuine their faith is.
Examine yourself — and your institutions
Of course, we as Christians must think back to Christ’s words about judging and examine ourselves before pointing the finger at others. How well are we displaying the fruit of the spirit? Is our life marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control? Or are we known as reactive, angry, fearful and selfish? You might have voted for Trump or be a Bernie Bro; was that position informed by a love for Christ and his teachings, fueled by a love for neighbor? Or have your views been kindled in a fire of fear and a desire to have your side win?
I don’t think there’s a political side that is right; I think Christians must examine both sides and vote in a way informed by the Gospel. And sometimes, that will lead others to differences in outlook; diversity is one of the most beautiful facets of the Church. But rather than mark support for one leader or one cause as a mark of “true” Christianity, we must examine the concerns and desires that lead us to these positions, and see whether they are present in the lives of people we engage with who take the name of Christ.
I think this also applies to our institutions. Is your church marked by this fruit in the way it loves its community and seeks to display the gospel in the world? Are the friends and family you are influenced by, the people who’ve raised you to believe this faith, bearing the fruit of the spirit, or are they simply wearing a cultural religion? Examine it; and if your church or circle is not consistently displaying the fruit of the spirit, address it or consider finding a new circle.
Again, I want to stress: These behaviors and characteristics are not causes of salvation but the result of a life changed by Christ. And no one bears them perfectly; at times, we all fail to display this fruit in our lives. But if someone claims the name of Christ and they are not regularly marked by these characteristics, maybe that’s a sign they haven’t truly been changed and are just attaching themselves to a faith brand.
