Everyone may have an idea of what a genuine Christian is but the Bible is pretty specific. A majority of those that took the poll had an idea that they met a least one.

• 5: Yes, several.
• 3: Yes, at least one.
• 2: Not that I know of.
• 5: It would not matter if I had.

A real bona fide Christian is one that has the likeness of Christ in all that they do. That means they love the Lord with all of their hearts and they love everyone as themselves treating them like they would like to be treated. They do not hide their Christianity but give honor to God in all that they do. They are humble and slow to anger yet quick to forgive. They do not judge but will gently correct a fellow Christian when necessary. They defend the Lord’s honor when it is in jeopardy. They boldly preach the Gospel not shying away when given scorned looks.

Truthfully it is difficult for a Christian to be Christ-like at all times. We are not robots and have feelings. We live in a world of darkness and the enemy picks at us just as much if not more than on a non-believer. Our eyes are not always on the Lord’s work and when they are not then sin can enter into our minds and then expressed with actions or spoken words. Bottom-line, we are sinners like everyone else.

Surprisingly Christian’s are often not genuine among themselves. We have those that do not seek forgiveness when they have wronged a fellow Christian and have not given an apology. Worse yet, we have brothers and sisters in Christ that do not forgive and hold a grudge. If you hold a grudge against someone for a past trespass then you have not forgiven them and therefore cannot be forgiven for your trespasses against God.

Love is the highest commandment. Love the Lord with all your being and your neighbor as yourself. When we do those two things actively and sincerely then we are true Christians. We will not need to wear a sign on ourselves to tell the world either. True Christian are self-evident. Their light from God within them pours out endlessly. Everyone around them wants to draw closer to them and discover what it is they have.

It is not impossible to be a genuine Christian 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 356 days a year. It takes total dedication to the Lord’s work and will. It also takes a baptism of the Holy Spirit to shield the Christian from the enemies arrows. I have not met anyone like that but I aspire to be that genuine of a Christian and so should everyone else. May it be so!