You have seen them. These are the “Jesus is my co-pilot” bumper sticker Christians. The ones that just “feel” like they know what God wants for their lives. The ones that are “called by God” to make a ministry out of every obscure verb or concept. The ones that say they are praying for you but are never around when life gets really hard. The ones that can’t back their faith up with facts, just feelings. In the end, they are a hollow cliché. Due to the overwhelming number of cliché Christians, the name Christian has become a societal pigeon hole for good people that mention Jesus and have weird ideas on moral issues. Because of them, you have a hard time telling people you are a real and legitimate follower of Christ. They think, “Oh, another Christian,” and into the pigeon hole you go. You then try to take the time to explain what the Bible says about being a Christian. But, you get the “I have never heard of that” response, and you are stuck into the pigeon hole labeled, “What I Don’t Understand,” next to tax law and The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
So, what do we do to stem the tide of confusion? First, let’s all make a pact not to be a cliché Christian. Don’t start a conversation about a Bible subject with, “I feel.” It doesn’t matter what you feel, only what is written. Be a student of the Word and back up doctrine with corresponding Scripture. Did you know that the phrase, “It is written,” is found 63 times in the New Testament? Learn to use the Sword of the Spirit with surgical precision.
Second, continue to hold your moral compass in line with God and “His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). We must be those who would live above reproach, even to the detriment of our own desires (1 Tim. 6:14; 1 Cor. 8:13). When we compromise and stray from moral center, then we become just one of the masses that claim to know Jesus.
Third, be ready to receive those that repent and help them come out of sin. This can be difficult. It involves a lot of prayer and time spent with people. Remember always that you are helping people escape the captivity of Satan’s snares (2 Tim. 2:26). The golden rule applies here also (Matt. 7:12). You may one day need that same help yourself.
Lastly, remember that Christ fought against the clichés also. He repeatedly stated, “You have heard that it was said…but I say unto you” (Matt. 5:21-22). They weren’t Christians then. They were Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Jews. Whenever we change, water down, skew or otherwise taint the image of the original, we become a cliché. The Bible says we become a stumbling block (Rom. 14:13), a hindrance to the knowledge of Christ. Do not be a cliché or a cheap imitation. Put the effort into being a genuine Christian.