Should Christians Be Christ Like?

I could not help but notice a recent news headline that asked whether Miley Cyrus (Hanna Montana) should represent Christianity. The writer did not make a claim one way or the other about being a Christian, but simply raised the question about the recent scandals that the actress had been involved in concerning immodest dress and other rebellious behavior. The article seemed to imply that Miss Cyrus was a hypocrite.
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After reading the article, I could not help but think that Miley was not all that different from most people who use the title Christian. Sadly we live in a culture where most people who call themselves Christians really don’t think it is necessary to live like Christ. It is not my purpose in this article to speculate on whether or not Miley is genuine, but simply to cause each one of us to “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5a.
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How much confusion does such an approach cause? Why do so few seem to understand it? Does a commitment to Christ actually mean that we should be concerned about what God thinks, or does it mean we can just accept His grace and then tell Him to leave us alone and let us live our own life? Does the Bible have anything to say about such things?
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The Scriptures often speak of those things that are opposed to God as being of the world. An example is found in Christ’s words in John 15:19 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Folks may wonder what a preacher means when he speaks out against worldliness. He is talking about those sinful things that are commonly practiced by the world, but that should not be done by Christians.
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So does God really expect Christians to be different from the rest of the world? 1 Peter 1:16 says, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” The context of this verse is telling Christians that they should not model their life after the things that they used to follow, but should model it after the standards of God (read vs. 14-16 of I Peter 1).
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Some may argue that we should act like sinners to reach sinners with the truth of God. First, how can we effectively share the truth of God when we ignore it ourselves? Further, the Scripture deals with this very attitude. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” Matthew 5:13-15.
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Jesus challenged Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. Being born again means, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. In other words when we are born again, there must be changes in our lives. A born again person is naturally different from the rest of the world. We do not live righteously just so God lets us into his kingdom [we simply are able to look forward to it by His grace (Eph. 2:8-9)], but we must also understand that if we have truly come to Him there will be evidence of a change (Eph. 2:10).
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The first of the ten commandments says that we should have no other gods before us. When asked about the first and greatest commandment Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37. Sadly too many people today have made popularity their god, and have bowed at the alter of worldliness, compromising the standard of the clear teachings of God. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1.
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To read past articles by Pastor Miller, please visit bancroftbaptist.blogspot.com