“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” 1 Corinthians 5:17

A few decades ago in college I was running as hard as I could away from God. But there was one conversation that I could not shake. Sitting across the table from me was a fellow student I’ll call Mike. I remember saying to him, “I don’t get it, the hypocrisy of it all. These people claim to be Christians yet they treat each other worse than most atheists I know”. Mike just sat there and sipped his coffee as I continued my rant, for I felt that there was so many things wrong with the church and those who walked through its doors.

“Tell Me I’m Wrong”, I said.  

Mike just smiled, saying, “No, you’re not wrong. Christians can be no better or worse than anybody else. They’ve just been forgiven. Whether someone chooses to let Christ change their life is a different question. Some don’t. They tuck their fire insurance policy in their back pocket and go on with life however they please. But then there are the one’s who truly take up their cross and follow Jesus. They are the lights of the world that Jesus talked about. They stand out. You see the evidence of that change all over their lives. The fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control are self evident. It doesn’t mean they’re perfect, they just get up each morning striving to do what Jesus would have them do, and love the way that Jesus would love.” Then, he looked me right in the eye and said, “The question is, what kind of Christian do you want to be? Forgiven – Or – forgiven AND changed?”