Are you an "Almost Christian?"

Are you an "Almost Christian?" What's that you say? Glad you asked. You see I think there are many many people who are living deceived. Some perhaps are self-deceived but I think the majority are living under the new norm in our culture.

So what's an "Almost Christian?" Perhaps you can identify...err I mean, perhaps you know someone who this may apply to.
You may have had numerous church moments in life.
You may have even had some genuine encounters with God at some point in the past. Perhaps in a Christian camp setting?
You may know Christians
You may be a current church attender.
You may have an uncle on your mother's side who is a pastor.
You may believe in God.
You may believe that Jesus died for the world and was raised from the dead. (Satan knows and believes this)
You may be a "good person" and have "never killed anyone."
You may know what "WWJD" stands for.
You may have a fish (Ictus)on the back of your car.
You may throw some money in the bag during offering time at church
When people ask "what religion are you?" You may readily identify yourself as a "Christian."
You may say "my family and I are Catholic."
You may throw some prayers up for help in this area or that area.

But no where in that short list of possibilities is located the things that Jesus say matter. What makes a Christian a Christian and not just some 'one [particular brand of a religious person among many choices?

It's actually pretty simple. A Christian means "follower of Christ" or more biblically correct an "emulator of Christ."
It is someone who has had a genuine life altering encounter with the Living Christ. (Jn 3:3)
It is someone who is actively and continually choosing to trust Christ with their lives via their personal relationship with Him.
It is someone who, yes, believes that Christ died for the world including them, but also confesses the Lordship and Divinity of Jesus. (Ro 10:9-10).

Let me break it down. Basically there are a whole lot of 'Almost Christians' who hang around the cross rather than getting on the cross. (Gal 2:20)
God has no grandchildren, only children.
God does not recognize 'almost children', only his kids whom He adores.
God does not have acquaintances, only those who stand as enemies against Him and those who stand as loving recipients of the terrible but willingly paid purchase price of our salvation...the cross of Jesus.

By way of balance let me mention this, being a Christian does not mean:
You are perfect.
You never sin.
You are not continually in need of the grace of Jesus until we meet Him and become like Him.

Being Christian is a journey of becoming more like Jesus as you discover who you were created to truly be and what you were created to do. It is a journey filled with error and failures and struggle with sin all along the way. But all the while there is a reality of a surrendered life and a longing to know Jesus more. Sure, you do the stuff Christians do and can check off the right set of beliefs, but that alone doesn't make you a Christian. It's what's in your heart that truly makes you a follower of Jesus.

Don't be an "Almost Christian." It sucks. There's no joy there; no life. Nothing done half way is ever worth anything. Dive in and join the adventure of being Christian! the cross rather than climbing up and hanging