CHRISTian or chr(I)st(I)an?

The people of the world considers the following as Christian...

1. Anyone who has a christian sounding name. E.g., Joe, Lizy, Justin, Harris, Iman, Solomon, Rose, John, Jeff, Bill...

2. Anyone who belongs to a so called christian country - USA, Canada, UK, France or many such countries in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia or Australia

3. Anyone who is born to parents, either or both of them belonging to a christian family

4. All Anglo Indians - British, Portuguese, Dutch, French or any other colonizer

5. Anyone who belongs to a christian denomination - Roman Catholic, Protestant, Puritan, Calvinists, Brethren, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormon, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Jacobian, Syrian, Mar Thoma, Evangelical, Anglican...

6. Anyone who is a member of a church named after St.Sebastian, St.Antony, St.Teresa, St.Peter, St.Thomas, St.Paul or any apostle or disciple or believer of Christ

7. Any one who attends a fellowship / church with a name RC, CSI / CNI, TPM/CPM, AG, ACA, CCA, AFT, BFC, CFC, LEF, SDA, Jehovah Shammah, Watch Tower Society, Church of Jesus Christ of the Last Day Saints, Calvary Temple, New Life, Victory, Faith Tabenacle, Lakewood, North Point, Life, Willow Creek, Saddleback, Fellowship, Vineyard, Elevation, Yoido, Apostolic etc.

8. Anyone who attends a church headed by a man or a woman, big, rich and reputed.

9. Anyone who holds a Bible in hand to read or show off

10. Anyone who preaches from the Bible promising prosperity, physical healing and success in life if you follow Jesus

11. Anyone who sings for a Jesus with an orchestra (forget about the salvation of the troop members!), releases a single or plays music for christian concerts (also for worldly ones including cinema and serials / soap operas)

12. Anyone who prays to a Jesus for security, prosperity and social recognition and asks you to send him / her their prayer requests

13. Anyone who is involved in church, evangelism, and missionary or conversion activities

14. Anyone who wears white, black or saffron - robes, jibba and dhothy, shirt and pants (men) or saree or habit and veil (women)

15. Anyone who hangs the photos of a Jesus, Mary or any other saint on the walls of their home

16. Anyone who raises voice for a christian cause

17. Anyone who is pro-life (opposes abortion), supports Black Lives matter, is against the LGBQAIO+ movement and shows allegiance to such causes publicly

18. Anyone who preaches and prays for physical healing, prosperity and comforts of life

19. Anyone who runs a religious institution / mission with either Jesus or Christ or both in the name of their ministry

20. Anyone who does a business with the name of a Jesus or another christian-sounding name, sometimes with a subtle or minor change in the spelling (to attract non-christian clients and customers)

21. Anyone who speaks gibberish making people believe that it is a sign of being filled with the 'spirit' (and ridiculing others who don't speak likewise!)

22. Anyone who has a B.D., M.Div., M.Th., C.Th, D.Litt., degree as a credential for proficiency in Scripture

23. Anyone who has attended a Seminary, Bible college or a Theological institution for days, weeks, months or years

24. Anyone who loves to be called a Bishop, Reverend, Cardinal, Apostle, Prophet, Pastor and 'Aiyah' / Iyer

25. Anyone who preaches on the pulpit, TV or YouTube or other video channels

26. Anyone who leads or is a part of one or more prayer groups in Whatsapp

27. Anyone who keeps listening to 'sermons', 'daily bread', and morning devotions from Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

28. Anyone who keeps saying 'praise the lord', 'hallelujah' and 'amen' every now and then

29. Everyone who goes to church on Sundays (and Tuesdays and Fridays and other special days of the year)

30. Anyone who can tell memory verses from the Bible or give a lecture about a given subject from the Bible

However these need not be Christians. Most of them are not . Not according to the Bible.

The Bible defines a Christian as one who fears God, who has CHRIST within and shows forth His light to the world through him / her. This 'light' includes righteous deeds, right conduct and right relationships. Such a person does not exhibit his self which is sinful, self-righteous and deceiving. A Christian is not proud, puffed up or egoistic. A Christian has put an end to his carnal life and has submitted his / her will to God to do the will of the Father enabled by the Holy Spirit. He / she is a born-again new creation in Christ because Christ is in him / her. A Christian has the mind of Christ - humble and simple. A Christian is accountable, honest and is open to correction. The 'I' in the Christian is dead and the 'CHRIST' in him / her is evident. God is glorified in a CHRISTian.

Are you a Christ-centered CHRISTian?