Are You Really a Christian Based on Your Words and Actions?

“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

Is there evil inside you? Are you supporting evil and evil people? Are you celebrating, enjoying, and defending the suffering or deaths of other people (especially if they do not look or think like you)? Are you enjoying the pettiness, ugliness, and vitriol spewed by many of our leaders? Are you spewing or sharing similar hate?

If you support the killing of innocent people, threatening and demeaning the poor and downtrodden, treating people unfairly and savagely, or hating on any groups of people, and you call yourself a Christian, I hate to break it to you, but you’re not a Christian; you are not a follower of Jesus Christ.

All people who call themselves Christians need to read Matthew 7:21-23 and heed the words of Jesus. Just because one calls themselves a Christian does not mean they are a Christian, or that they are saved, or that they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" -Matthew 7:21-23

And this is the issue facing all so-called Christian political leaders and all the people who support those people. According to both the Old and New Testaments, as well as from the words of Jesus himself, the way of Christian life includes these teachings/commands:

• Love (and serve) one another

• Support the poor and underserved

• Treat foreigners fairly

• Murder is a sin subject to judgment

• Hate is the same as someone who murders

• Fear is driven out by God’s perfect love

• Actions and words both must match those of Jesus

You can do the research yourself, but I have included a number of verses at the end of this article.

Christ-Follower

Who am I? I call myself a Christ-follower rather than a Christian because too many evildoers call themselves Christians, even when it is perfectly clear by their actions and words that they are not.

I am not a religious leader, nor am I a religious scholar. I am a Christ-follower. I try to live my life following the words of my Savior. I am nowhere near perfect – and never will be.

And believe me, I have waited to write this article, but as each day passes and the news shows escalating evil and nonsense happening, these words just flowed. And yes, I am well aware of looking at myself, my actions and words, my feelings toward others, before I call out so many others.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” -Matthew 7:3-5

As I review my work and my social media posts, all I see is someone who is attempting to serve as many people in the world with words of education, empowerment, and encouragement – to find healing, to return to better health, to begin the journey of finding wellness.

I have experienced multiple traumas in my life, and through healing, have forgiven those who hurt me as well as forgiven myself for questionable behaviors when I was deep in my trauma. Through healing, I discovered the ultimate power of love – for myself and for others -- and its Divine source.

Through healing, I realized that regardless of the color of our skin, or sexual orientation, or religion, or country of origin, we are all one… one people, under God. We are all brothers and sisters. It is not us against them. We should all love and respect one another, not treat ourselves (and people like us) one way and others a different way.

Final Thoughts on Being a True Christian

Ask yourself one question: looking back at your thoughts, words, and actions, are you living the life Christ instructed us to live? It is that simple.

If your life is ruled by hate, disdain, anger, mistrust, and support of immoral people and immoral actions, then please either pray to have Jesus come into your heart and transform you, or stop calling yourself a Christian.

This is an issue of morality, empathy, and healing.

As one person posted, “If you support racial profiling and the tearing apart of families, take the bible verse off your bio, your car, your email signature.”

Christianity is a weapon of love, not of hate. If you believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior, please fix your heart and pray to God for forgiveness.

Finally, remember that MAGA Jesus is not the real Jesus, but a warped, bizarre, fantastical, and heretical version.

Critical Bible Verses to Take to Heart

• “You shall not murder.” -Exodus 20:13

• “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” -Matthew 5:21-22

• “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” -1 John 3:15

• “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” -1 John 4:8

• “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” -1 John 4:20

• “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” -Luke 6:37

• “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” -1 John 4:18

• “We love because He first loved us.” -1 John 4:19

• “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.” – Proverbs 14:21

• “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” -John 13:34-35

• “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” -1 John 4:7

• “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” - Ephesians 4:2

• “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:31-32

• “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.” -2 John 1:6

• “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:18

• “This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.” -Jeremiah 22:3

• “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” -Proverbs 31:8-9

• “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” -Philippians 2:3

• “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” -James 1:19

• “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” -Romans 12:9

• “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” -Romans 12:18