There Is No Such thing As a ‘Good’ Christian

There is no such thing as a good Christian as some people assume. By the world’s definition this would mean a Christian who goes to church, reads the Bible, prays eloquently, doesn’t swear, volunteers, tithes ten percent, is not actively or publicly sinning and I’m sure other things could be added but these are some initial ideas to get the concept. The world and people in Christian communities would place a ‘good’ Christian in some form of Pharisaical category of Christians who follow the law and teachings of the Bible and because of this these Christians are esteemed, like a person standing on a hill with a view of all other people beneath them. The hill is full of pride, self righteousness and a lack of humility.

There are also no bad Christians. This could be defined as a Christian who has openly sinned, who does not attend church often, who rarely reads the Bible, who swears when they stub their toe, who feels they do not have money to tithe, who has sex before marriage, who has committed adultery, who woke up with a hangover from the night before, who has an addiction they are in bondage to. This person may naturally feel inferior on their own. They may also be made to feel inferior from those around them.

Let’s see what the Bible says about this.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Romans 3:10?-?20

Keeping the law of God and the teachings of scripture does not make us good. The Pharisees kept the law beginning to end. They prayed. They openly did good deeds, they honored the sabbath, they did not steal, kill etc. Yet time after time they could not understand why Jesus would heal the blind, heal the sick or associate with sinners. They did not understand why Jesus would associate and have compassion for ‘bad’ and what some would label as ‘bad’ Christians. Jesus told the Pharisees that their father was the devil and that if they knew Jesus they would know the Father. These men had no understanding of grace, forgiveness, humility, or freedom from sin. They thought they were sinless by keeping the law and because of the hill they placed themselves on it left them without need for a Savior.

This Biblical account between the adulterous woman, the Pharisees and Jesus is an example for all of us and whether we want to admit it or not we are all the adulterous woman, even those of us who would be considered ‘good’ Christians. We are all the adulterous woman who have sinned against God. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

I have sinned greatly in my life. I have lied, stolen, cheated, been drunk, sexually immoral, I have idolized people and things in my life, I have not honored the Sabbath day, I have sworn, I have greatly failed and greatly sinned. There are times in my past when I was struggling with one or many of these sins. There was a time in my early twenties when I especially lived a life I am not proud of. At that time of life people would have considered me a ‘bad’ Christian. A prodigal daughter.

I stood there like this woman, as others accusatorily judged me. Some openly to my face and others behind closed doors with gossiping rumors headed my way- They cast stones. People chose the route of the Pharisees and instead of walking away, recognizing that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, they decided to cast stones.

But praise be to my Savior, because Jesus put a wall inbetween the stones so they could no longer hit me. The wall He put up was his own body. He stood between the stones and me, and took the hit of each one of them. In His great mercy, death on the cross, and by the redemption of His blood, He saved me. While I was still a sinner Christ died for me. He knew every sin in my life. He knew the shame, guilt, and pain associated with my sin. I was brought low by others and brought low by my sin. He confronted me, associated with me, forgave me, raised me up and said I do not condemn you and they cannot condemn you, now go and leave your life of sin.

There are not good and bad Christians. We are all sinners. There are Christians living in sin who need to be GENTLY confronted. If you cannot confront without casting a stone then you need to ask yourself if you are living with the mind and heart of Christ or are you a Pharisee set on a hill?

If there are no good and bad Christians then what classification, if any, should we have for people?

There is only ONE classification of all people and that classification is SINNER. There is also only ONE difference and that difference is Jesus.

Christians: All Christians are SINNERS who have been saved by grace, through faith, not of ourselves, who have received salvation from God as a free gift which no one can boast about. Ephesians 2:8?-?9

Non-Christians: are unrepent sinners who have not yet been saved.

We all have the same classification of Sinful human beings and the ONLY difference is Jesus Christ.

The Christian and non-Christian in your life, that is struggling with active sin, the one you are casting stones at, this person needs to hear that Jesus will and can forgive them. That they can turn away from a life of sin. That you will come alongside of them and pray for them, love them and encourage them. God has given us tools and promises in scripture to defeat the enemy in our lives. Greater is He living in us than the enemy of our soul. 1 John 4:4

This hierarchical system of good and bad Christianity NEEDS TO END because it leaves people behind, it turns people away, it makes people bitter, sad, lonely, isolated, and discouraged. Instead, we need to welcome others lovingly like the Father welcomed the prodigal son (us), instead, we need to seek the one lost sheep (us) who has wandered off, instead, we need to care for the Samaritan (us) and not walk by, instead we need to say neither do I condemn you like Jesus said to us. Every action of our life needs to come from the humble place of the forgiven adulterous woman.

Sadly many people do not see Christ in our actions and if others don’t see Him then what is God seeing? This is what God said to the church of Sardis: I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Revelation 3:1?b-?2 This is not what we want to hear from our Great, Loving and Merciful God.

Jesus confronts, convicts, heals, loves, forgives and says there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus and to leave your life of sin. The ONLY reason a Christian is no longer condemned is because of Jesus, not because of anything ‘good’ we have ever done. Rest in His goodness because who the Son sets free is free indeed!!

The Lord Bless you and Keep you,

Kara