If someone were to ask you why you’re proud to be a

Christian or better yet what in the world is a Christian,

what would your answer be?

In the early church, scriptures refer to Christians as:

God’s family and temple, Christ’s flock and bride, as

salt, as leaven, as fisherman, as a bulwark sustaining

God’s truth, and in many other ways. Back then, the

church was thought of as a single body of believers.

When Paul and others went on missionary trips,

their purpose was to establish and build up local

bodies of believers.

In Acts 4:32-35, we are given a great illustration of

what Christianity was supposed to be about, and

how Christians were supposed to live their lives.

 Vs 32-35 read, "all the believers were one in heart

and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions

was his own, but they shared everything they had.

 With great power the apostles continued to testify

to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much

grace was upon them all.

There were no needy among them. For from time to time

those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought

the money from  the sales and put it at the apostles’

feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he has need."

A real life example of the different views held among

Christians as to how we are to handle ourselves

occurred in my life. A small town church in St. Mary’s,

WV had prayed and sought Gods will and blessing for

weeks before putting on the powerful drama,

“Heavens Gates, Hells Flames”.

This small church had a seating capacity of maybe 400

people and the congregation had committed their love

and time in prayer and preparation, to having God fill

 the church and bring about a much needed revival

to the area. They had planned and felt led to put on

the presentation for three days and had advertised

it as such.

Little did they know how God had anointed all those

 involved. The drama went on for 13 days and each

night God led people and families from as far away

 as 300 miles to witness the drama. Each night when

the altar call was given the entire stage was filled to

capacity with people from all ages and backgrounds

who were accepting Gods plan of Salvation, or who

were rededicating their lives to Christ. The looks

of joy and excitement were impossible to miss.

To contrast, compare this congregation's attitude

and commitment to reaching souls for Christ, no matter

what peoples backgrounds were, and referring them

back to local churches in their areas for follow-up

 and fellowship, to the reaction of my church at that

 time in which some in the congregation wanted

nothing to do with praise being given to God for

 His mighty move because the move wasn’t

happening in “our” church, or denomination. God

 forgive us our spiritual arrogance when we preach

praising Your Holy name, and at the same time

decide for ourselves which move of Yours’ is

worthy of our praise.

So then, what is a Christian, or the Body of Christ?

Paul described the church as “One body in Christ”,

 (Rom 12:5 and as “His body” (Eph 1:23). The Church

is made up of a single community of those united by

the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. Early

Christians understood that what they did with

their own bodies and lives affected the Body of

Christ.  (Rom 12:14; 1 Cor 6:13-19; and 2 Cor 5:10).

They understood that Christians of various races,

classes and churches become “One” in Christ

(1 Cor 12:3); (Eph 2:14-22), and must accept,

love and encourage each other in a way that is

noticeable to others.

By describing the Body of Christ, the early Christians

properly emphasized that Christ was the head of

the church. (Eph 5:25). He directed the churches

activities and deserved all the praise it received.

He still does!! All the churches power and service

 is His gift. The spiritual love, unity and purity of

Christians around the world is supposed to be

 in stark contrast to the hatred, bitterness, and

corruption of the world.

Thank you Pastor Strimer, and your congregation

at  the First Baptist Church of St. Mary's, for

demonstrating year after year that same love,

unity, and purity of Spirit that all of us Christians

are supposed to demonstrate on a daily basis.

Because of your love and commitment to community

outreach each year, thousands more people from

our area KNOW where they will spend eternity.

No one does it better!!

When someone asks you why you are proud to be

a Christian, or what exactly is a Christian, what

will your answer be??

Love in Christ Always,

Evangelist Ken Godfrey Jr.

Your Cross Outreach Ministry

www.yourcross.org