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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 reflected on what it means to be a good Christian versus a bad one. According to Jesus, no one is good except God alone. This is a crucial distinction, as it highlights that true goodness comes from a relationship with God, not just from outward conduct or natural disposition. A good Christian is one who has an inward quality of humility, meekness, and kindness, which is founded on a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. In contrast, a bad Christian is not someone who is inherently evil, but rather someone who is pursuing goodness in the wrong way. They may be doing good deeds, but their motivations are not rooted in a desire to please God, but rather to earn approval or achieve personal gain. This is why Jesus said that the man who called him "good" was mistaken, as only God is good. A bad Christian may still exhibit outward signs of goodness, but their heart is not in the right place. So, what's the difference between a good Christian and a bad one? It's not just about their outward actions, but about their inward motivations and relationship with God. A good Christian is one who is humble, meek, and kind, not because they're naturally good, but because they've been transformed by their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. A bad Christian, on the other hand, may be doing good things, but their heart is still focused on themselves, rather than on pleasing God.
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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