The bible teaches us that we are to always be conforming into the image of Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:29 (NKJV)

²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

We conform to His image by emulating His character…His love…His attributes. That’s how we ‘look like Him’.

Unfortunately, the ‘face’ of Christianity has devolved into what is characterized by angry, mean-spirited, insulting, arrogant, and judgmental ‘believers’ who are labeled as ‘evangelicals’. Many, but not all, of these people are impressed by so-called ‘strong words’…threats…profanity…insults…everything that is the exact opposite of the Fruit of His Spirit, and the behavior He demands of all His disciples…

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

They consider what God calls strength, such as gentleness, as weakness and even celebrate and applaud insults and profanity from the mouths of leaders. They consider themselves to be the definitions of patriotism, courage, and Christian character. The character God demands is clear…

James 3:17-18 (NASB)

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, ^[c]reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, ^[d]impartial, free of hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace ^[e]by those who make peace.

The disciples of the early church never called themselves Christians, they were called Christians by outsiders first in Antioch…

Acts 11:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

THIS IS WHY I’D RATHER BE CALLED A DISCIPLE RATHER THAN AN EVANGELICALS. HERE ARE 2 SIMPLE REASONS…

1. JESUS HIMSELF DESCRIBED HOW WE WOULD BE KNOWN AS HIS ‘DISCIPLES…

John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Notice that Jesus said, “As I have loved you”. Go back and look at how He loved us. He had compassion. He healed. He fed. He forgave. He always spoke kind and compassionate words to ‘sinners’ while He always sharply rebuked the ‘religious’ people for their hypocrisy and His disciples when they displayed ‘small faith’. Contrary to how mustard seed faith is depicted as ‘little faith’, it takes great faith for something as small as a mustard seed to grow into something big. From when Jesus calmed the storm in Mark Chapter 4: 35-41 to when He rebuked His disciples in Matthew 17:17, the Savior was always frustrated by ‘little faith’ while He was impressed by ‘great faith’ (Matthew 8:10).

Loving AS He loves us is how we are recognized as He stated…His disciples.

2. MANY OF THOSE WHO ARE KNOWN AS EVANGELICALS HAVE CHANGED THE ‘FACE’ OF ‘CHRISTIANITY’ FROM A SMILE TO A ‘FROWN’…

Those who claim to be evangelicals claim to speak for God, but through their chosen narrative of the scriptures. They are angry, self-righteous, justify pride and arrogance, place more faith in guns and weapons than the power of Yehovha Saboath (The Lord of Hosts), and don’t share the Gospel in love. Jesus told us to be very careful how we carry ourselves among unbelievers…

Colossians 4:5-6 (NKJV)

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Remember, the Pharisees thought that they represented God too, but Yeshua reserved His most scathing rebukes for them. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT JESUS’ MOST SCATHING REBUKES WERE FOR RELIGIOUS PEOPLE RATHER THAN ‘SINNERS’…

Anyone who can’t share their faith in love needs to keep it to themselves. We draw no one to Christ through the behavior of many of those who call themselves evangelicals.

Please refer to me as a disciple.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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It (1) takes (2) just (3) as (4) much (5) strength (6) to (7) ask (8) for (9) forgiveness (10) as (11) it (12) does (13) to (14) forgive (15).

Anyone who has ever hurt someone knows how difficult it is to sometimes admit that you were mean, unreasonable, impossible…that you were wrong.

Many times we assume that it takes more strength to forgive rather than to ask for forgiveness. But, both are selfless acts of denying ourselves and a total rejection of pride.

When we already know that someone has something against us, and we have given them a good reason to feel that way, then God places the responsibility on us to go to them and ask for forgiveness.

Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)

²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Sometimes the best way to say I LOVE YOU is saying I’M SORRY. Once you’ve done that in sincerity, the spiritual responsibility shifts from you. ARE YOU EASY TO APOLOGIZE TO…?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The bible teaches us that it’s God that gives us the power, ability, knowledge and strength to get ‘wealth’, and that is very true…

Deuteronomy 8:18  (NKJV)

¹⁸ “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may ^[a]establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

But, how many times have you heard someone say, or said yourself,  “I deserved everything that I have because I worked hard for it!”

You planned…

You’ve worked hard…

You’ve sacrificed…

You’ve made good decisions.

You even had great faith.

Let me give you a quick reminder in humility and God’s grace and mercy…

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Yes, you definitely ‘earned’ it, but be very careful before you say you deserve it.

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Before you say that you deserve your success and influence because of your hard work and effort, think about all of the people who also planned, worked hard, sacrificed, made good decisions, and had great faith…and for whatever reason, things just didn’t work out.

Think about all of the businesses that fail every day.

Think about all of the relationships that fall apart every day.

There are plenty of people who have planned and worked…

Just as hard or harder…

Just as smart or smarter…

Sacrificed just as much and more…

Made decisions that were just as good or better…

And, things just didn’t work out in their favor.

From the macro-economic environment, to social conditions, unforeseen sicknesses and circumstances, there are innumerable reasons why sometimes hard work is not rewarded with success.

And let us not forget about those people who want to work but can’t because of a disability they can’t help.

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All in all, it’s only by God’s grace and mercy and His plan for our lives that things, work out as we hope and plan.

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Remember…

Proverbs 16:9  (NKJV)