ASYMPTOMATIC CHRISTIANITY

Marcella Ward    

Have you ever heard the term asymptomatic?  According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary it says: not causing, marked by, or presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease.

We hear the term used more often now because of the pandemic.  But I would argue that it can also be applied to Christians who claim to be Christians but lack the evidence or “symptoms” or signs manifesting their true identity as a follower of Christ.

You probably have heard the saying, “If you were brought before a court of law, could you be convicted of being a Christian?  What would be the evidence that you are a Believer in Christ? 

“So, how do I know if you are a Christian? How do you know if I'm one? There must be evidence. Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). If someone examined your life, would they find any spiritual fruit—hard evidence to prove that you are a true follower of Jesus Christ?

Or, let me put it another way: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? By "evidence," I don't mean how many Bibles you own, or how many bumper stickers you might have on your car with Christian sayings on them. I mean hard evidence. If your family members, neighbors, and coworkers were interviewed and asked the question, "Is (your name here), in your opinion, a real Christian?" we might not be happy with the response.

The only way others can tell whether you are a Christian is by your works. While all the good works in the world won't save a person (Titus 3:5), they are reasonable evidence that someone is saved.”  (Are You A Christian? Greg Laurie Harvest Ministries November 24, 2009)

It is by our works.  It is by what people see or hear from the Believer.  Jesus did not only preach to the people but He showed His love and compassion in action by healing people and meeting their needs.  He went out to the people.  He went out to the streets and interacted with people.  Jesus is the embodiment of God on the earth.  Jesus showed us how to live and how to love.

Galatians 5:14-18; 22-26 NIV

 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 
Where there is injury, pardon; 
Where there is doubt, faith; 
Where there is despair, hope; 
Where there is darkness, light; 
And where there is sadness, joy. 

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console; 
To be understood, as to understand; 
To be loved, as to love; 
For it is in giving that we receive, 
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. 
Amen.

1.  Christians speaks out rather than be silent about moral issues even when it is not “politically correct” to do so.

2.  Christians do not hide from the truth or are ashamed of who they are in Christ.

3.  Christians do their part to come against the “powers that be” when it comes to standing up for issues such as pro-life; Biblical marriage; freedom of speech; etc.

4.  Christians exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit--- love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

5.  Christians, though not perfect, are “a work in progress.”

Yes, we are all “a work in progress.”  Thank God for His grace and His mercy.  We don’t deserve His love and we will never be worthy of it but because God loved us first, we are clothed in the righteousness of God in Christ because of His death and resurrection.

Let’s not be asymptomatic Christians but lights shining in the darkness in which others will be attracted to us because they see the love of God in us that is uncompromisingly dedicated to bringing the Kingdom of God on the earth. We live in the realm of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”  John 18:36 NIV

WE ARE KINGDOM DWELLERS!

 Marcella Ward August 4, 2021  Author of "Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One"