We Can’t Be Sunday Christians Anymore

It’s in the title. We are Christians, followers of Christ. We have given our lives to Jesus, given our spirits to the growth of His kingdom. So why don’t we teach when we’re not being taught. Why don't we act when we’re not watching another actor? Why don’t we do something to change the world’s perspective when we’re not watching someone else work desperately for change?

Why are we still just Sunday Christians?

The definition of ‘Sunday Christian’ can go two ways.

The first way, is the way the world looks at it. All Christians are Christians. We’re all just perfect people who gather around a prefect pulpit to hold hands and pray. We’re there so we can boast in our perfectness.

Then you look at it from a pastor’s view. Most of us are lost. Christians who come to church on Sundays and ignore the Bible for the rest of the week. We’re people who devote our lives to Christ one day a week. That’s not what being a Christian really is.

Galatians 4:8-9 says, ‘Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principals of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more!’

My pastor went over this with me on Palm Sunday and, thanks to my notes, I still remember most of what he said.

Every time we’re not practicing what God teaches us, every time we’re not listening to our preacher, we’re denying Christ. We’re turning back to those pagan gods. God gave us a chance at freedom. He gave us a way back to the truth and by denying the Gospel, by not reading our Bibles, we’re turning back to slavery.

2 Peter 2:2-3 says: ‘And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.’

Every time we listen to something ungodly, we’re practicing unrighteousness. We’re practicing unrighteousness when we do not practise what God has called us to do.

I once heard this wonderful quote that went something like: ‘We always have time to do what God has called us to do.’ so if you never have time to go out for dinner, it means you’re not doing what God has called you to do. You’re not practicing righteousness.

Christians are not only called to be perfect, but they’re called to lean on Christ when their unperfectness leads them to sin. God has called us to take your time the Sword of the Sprit and make it to tomorrow with a bang to the people who call Christ a liar. We have to practise our righteousness so we can show others that we’re not the perfect Christian they all think we are. We’re really just leaning, usually heavily, on Christ.

2 Peter 2 also says this in verse 8: ‘(for that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);’

What you see and hear affects your actions. It’s true, every time you make an action, it’s influenced by the way the world spins, the time, the opinions of others.

But what should really be influencing your actions is God. Because when you live among Him day after day, you grow in Christlikeness. You grow in your walk with God.

Christians are not called to boast in their own perfectness. A real Christian will boast in the power of the Lord. We must keep our eyes on him, which means we must remove all the bits and pieces that are seeping darkness into our souls. If that means we stay up until midnight studying our Bibles, that's what if means. If that means we don’t go to Christmas dinner and go pray instead, that’s what it means.

Real Christians are called to practise righteousness outside of Sunday. That means others can see our righteousness when we’re not around other Christians. Christian’s are an example. An example of God’s grace, His giving us a second chance.

If you’re only going to church to meet with friends, stop going to church. Your call is to grow with God, to delve into His word and learn everything you can so you can share it with others.

So study your Bible. Don’t just read it, study it. Learn and read and search.

And if you’re already studying your Bible…don’t stop. Go to church, listen to your pastor (most of them have lots to say about Sunday Christians). And don’t forget what God said:

Deuteronomy 31:8. ‘It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

And Jesus says in John 14:1, ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.’

If I’m being honest, I struggle with it too. I struggle with reading my Bible. I struggle with prayer. The more I know about Sunday Christians, though, the more it makes me want to stop. It makes me angry. People trying to live like there’s no God. Thay’s what this blog is for. It’s a chance for you to meditate in God’s word, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. Open your Bibles, go finicpsh reading some of the passengers I write in here.

Because any worship out of the church makes you more of a Christian that the people I’m talking about above.

Act on your faith, in Jesus’ name.

And be safe,

-Claudia