Why Don’t Christians Act More Like Christians?

Hypocrite. Self-righteous fop. Intolerant bigot. Moralistic jerk. These are just a few terms that people might use in less kind moments to describe Christians. It’s been said before that the greatest hindrance to the church is the church – meaning the people who comprise it. Why is it that we are so often thought of in negative terms? Is it just because there is a spiritual battle being waged between darkness and light and we are being persecuted by bad people because of our obvious goodness?  Or has it often been true that those who profess to follow Christ are just really not that much like Him and, therefore, end up bringing criticism on themselves and others of the faith as a result of perceived hypocrisy, real unkindness or, worse, just outright selfishness and hatefulness?

We’re in the third week of our sermon series today called “The Reason for God” which deals with popular objections that people have to the Christian faith. Today our subject is, “Why Don’t Christians Act More Like Christians?” It’s a time to get real about how our lives either (1) strengthen and provide support for what we say we believe or (2) weaken our testimony that we are followers of Jesus Christ the righteous.  

If someone asked you “Why don’t Christians act more like Christ?”  Would you be able to answer beyond, “We’re just forgiven, not perfect”? Doesn’t that answer sound like a cop-out by the way? Hopefully today will give us an opportunity to move beyond the superficial. . .         

God bless, 

Will (for the pastors)