Walk Like a Christian
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When I was a young man, there was a song titled “Walk Like an Egyptian”. The idea of walking according to a code is certainly a biblical idea.
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
We even have a phrase for this walk for new believers, we call it the Romans Road.
While I won’t be going into the who Romans road, there is one part I want to review today.
How we are to Walk Like a Christian
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
We start this walk with love, “agape”.
Without disguise, or hypocrisy,
With sincerity.
We are abhor what is evil,
Not simply dislike it, but to be horrified by it.
This is not as easy as these simple words may lead you to believe.
People are naturally hypocrites.
We “put on a face” that we show the world.
Many of us even put on a face that we show our families.
But we are told to love without hypocrisy, without disguise.
This is very scary,
Because it means we open ourselves to criticism,
And to others who may hurt us.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
We are to agape love without hypocrisy, and we are to phileo love one another.
We are to treat each other with affection, brotherly love.
Putting others and their needs before ourselves.
Of course, if all of us were walking as Christians, they would be putting our needs before theirs as well.
But it’s not all about how we treat others
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
We are to diligently serve the Lord,
With eagerness and fervor.
Ready to give an answer for your hope:
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Serving the Lord in both joy and pain...
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Our service should lead to joy,
But the World doesn’t like that.
So we should be patient when things go wrong.
And they will go wrong.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
And no matter what, we should pray.
I don’t mean going around on our knees begging for God’s help.
God knows what you need.
I mean, being in such a habit of talking to God, you don’t have to remind yourself to do it,
It’s as natural as breathing.
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
There will always be people in need,
We should be helping them however we can,
Not for recognition or reward, but in hospitality,
fil·on·ex·ee·ah Which is love to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
When someone threatens me or my family, my first instinct is to fight back.
But to walk as a Christian means blessing those who persecute you.
Does anyone else find this as hard as I do?
When politicians tried to shut down churches, I didn’t want to bless them.
In fact, I had a few choice names I wanted to call them.
But then, I was reminded of the Amish families that publically forgave the man who had murdered their children in school.
And when I hear of someone shooting up a church, my first reaction is to prepare to defend this one.
But then, I remember that the murderer has his own punishment to receive,
Far worse than anything I could do.
It is hard to bless someone who is persecuting you.
I do not believe that Paul is telling us to be doormats,
But that as we defend ourselves, consider the image of God that is inside that person.
Can you find it in your heart to bless a fellow bearer of the image of God?
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Pretty much everyone likes a party, yet few enjoy a wake.
It’s easy to rejoice with those who are rejoicing,
Not so much to weep with those who are weeping.
I think we have a tendency to “make people feel better” because we don’t want to weep with them.
Yet if we are to walk like a Christian, that is exactly what we are called to do.
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
True humility is a difficult thing.
We all think that we are right.
We all think that our priorities are better than others.
But the walk of a Christian demands more.
We can only be of the same mind if we give true consideration of what others are thinking.
Having one mind does not mean convincing others that you are right,
But helping each other find the truth.
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
We should not separate ourselves because we think we are too good.
Too good for that neighborhood,
Too good for that church,
Too good for that person.
As I said before, we all think we are right,
It is that arrogance, along with the unwillingness to conceive that we might be wrong, that has split Christ’s church into so many denominations.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
It’s easy to return the favor when someone punches you in the nose,
Or harms you in any way.
But “He did it first” is not the way to walk like a Christian.
This idea is so important, Paul goes on for several verses.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
I cannot control what other people do,
So I am not responsible for their actions.
But I can control what I do,
So as much as possible, we are to live peaceably with everyone,
Even those with evil and degenerate lifestyles.
And even those who would not do the same to us.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.