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Your Question:
What's the difference between a good Christian and a bad Christian?
Answer:
As a pastor and a Christian, I've often been asked to define what it means to be a good Christian. In my experience, a good Christian is someone who lives a life that is guided by a relationship with Christ. This means that their outward actions and conduct are not just a result of their own self-control or natural disposition, but are instead rooted in a deep humility and recognition of their need for God's love and redemption. In contrast, a bad Christian is someone who may outwardly appear to be living a good life, but is actually motivated by a desire to please themselves or others, rather than a genuine desire to follow God's will. This can manifest in a variety of ways, such as a focus on external moral codes or a desire for personal gain or recognition, rather than a deep surrender to Christ's lordship. For me, the key difference between a good Christian and a bad Christian is not just about external behavior, but about the heart and motivations behind that behavior. A good Christian is someone who is humbly aware of their own sinfulness and dependence on God, and who seeks to live a life that is pleasing to Him. A bad Christian, on the other hand, may appear to be living a good life, but is actually motivated by a self-centered desire for approval or recognition.
Sources:
mere christianity
c s lewis
christian theology
millard erickson
why does god allow evil
clay jones
elemental theology
emery bancroft
concise history christian thought
tony lane
confronting christianity
rebecca mclaughlin
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