Stop Giving Christians A Bad Name
Last week a student at MSU yelled as he walked by me “Stop giving Christians a bad name.” I don’t know if the young man is a professing Christian or maybe an atheist that grew up in a Christian home, but I’ve been thinking about his comment. I wonder if he really knows what giving Christians a bad name really looks like?
Obviously, he thought proclaiming the wonderful name of Jesus in the open-air was offensive. I understand that open-air preaching looks foolish to lost souls. The Bible even confirms this: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
What Does Christian Really Mean?
The problem is this young man doesn’t really understand what the word Christian really means. To be a Christian means to be Christ-like. What did Jesus do? Yes, He healed people and He performed other miracles including raising people from the dead. But He also preached the Gospel. In His very first message Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14-15).
Jesus preached the Gospel! He preached against sin. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:10-11). People love to focus on the first part, but neglect the last part – go and sin no more! Jesus wasn’t saying that we will be perfect and never sin again. No, He was telling the woman not to commit adultery anymore. When you have a genuine encounter with Jesus Christ, your life is not the same afterwards. Don’t forget, the woman called Him Lord.
Must Be Born-Again
The Lord preached that you must be born-again. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (John 3:3-7).
Christ preached that you must repent. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:4-5). Jesus even says we need to repent in the book of Revelation – the very last book of the Bible. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth (Revelation 2:16).
Who Talked About More Than Anyone Else In The Bible?
Jesus talked about Hell more than anyone else in the Bible. Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire (Matthew 18:8-9).
Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:21-22).
Jesus Sent Out The Apostles And Disciples
Not only did Jesus preach, but He also sent the 12 apostles out to preach the Good News. Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2). Yes, they healed the sick and many people focus on this part, but they also preached the Gospel!
Right after that, Jesus sent out 70 disciples. After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest (Luke 10:1-2). And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you (Luke 10:9).
I wonder if this young man at MSU would accuse Jesus of giving Christians a bad name? If so, he’s not alone. Jesus, the one true Lord would not be welcomed in many churches across America. How do we know this? Because He isn’t being preached in a lot of churches. They water down the Gospel in order to make it more appealing and less offensive. Sadly, many churches don’t preach the full counsel of God, they don’t preach Jesus; the Jesus of the Bible. The one I described earlier.
Who Really Gives Christians A Bad Name?
So proclaiming the Gospel like Jesus did; like His disciples did, is giving Christians a bad name? I think not. Those who don’t share the glorious Gospel are the ones who give Christians a bad name. The young man actually has it backwards. It’s not those of us who preach the Law and the Gospel that give Christians a bad name. No, it’s the lukewarm Christians that give Christianity a bad name. All those who profess Jesus Christ with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.
Those who say they are saved, yet they still flirt with co-workers, laugh at and tell dirty jokes. The professing Christians who look like, talk like and act like the world. The ones you can’t tell they are Christians because they are just like everyone else. They are the ones who give Christians a bad name. The Lord thinks so too. He wants to spew them out of His mouth. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).
Does The Preaching Of The Cross Bother You?
So tonight, if our open-air preaching is offensive to you or looks foolish, then you really should examine yourself and see if you are in the faith. Jesus said if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father in Heaven (Matthew 10:33). When you walk by us, does it make you want to look the other way? Does it make you want to hide your face? Are you ashamed of us? If so, then Jesus is ashamed of you.
Folks, this is not a game. We are not playing tonight. We are out here pleading with you over your eternal soul. You will spend eternity in the presence of God or far removed from His love where you will suffer torments in eternal damnation. You are either a blood bought child of God’s or you are a child of the devil.
Who’s Your Daddy?
Who’s your daddy tonight? God the Father or Satan the father of lies? Who has your allegiance? What are you living for? Why are you downtown tonight? What are you seeking? Are you walking in the Spirit or in the flesh? Are you saved or lost? Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Oh, but you must come to the Lord on His terms, in order to be saved. If not, then you will die in your sins.
Come to Jesus and be saved. Put your trust in Him. Repent and trust Jesus. Surrender your life to Him. He is the only Savior. Jesus is Lord of all. Turn from your sins and turn to the risen Lord. Believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved. Believe in His finished work on the cross. Understand that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself. You can’t make yourself good enough for God to save you. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Trust Jesus
Oh, trust Jesus tonight. Confess and forsake your sins. Jesus is Lord and He rightly demands a complete and full surrender; an unconditional surrender. You can’t hold onto your rebellion against God with one hand and hold the hand of Jesus with your other hand. In the Old hymn Rock of Ages it says: Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling. You can’t cling to Jesus with one hand.
The first stanza of Rock of Ages says: Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure.
God is angry with the wicked. Almighty God’s wrath abides upon you if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ is the double cure. He saves from God’s wrath and He makes you pure through His goodness; through His righteousness. Oh repent and put your faith in Jesus. Your sins can be forgiven. Your guilty conscience can be cleared. You can become a new creature in Christ tonight. Repent and trust Jesus. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Do this tonight. Don’t put it off.
(This message was proclaimed on February 24, 2017 in downtown Springfield, MO)