But it’s a good first step

Recently I saw a social media post that said (I’m paraphrasing) that it wasn’t enough to act like a Christian, that if you hadn’t accepted Jesus as your savior when you die, you won’t make it to Heaven.

At the most basic level, according to Scripture, that’s true. But does that mean that non-Christians shouldn’t act like Christians?

I’ve always understood that the definition of a Christian is simple: It’s someone who believes in Jesus Christ and accepts him as their savior. It’s only natural that someone who is a Christian would follow what Jesus taught.

But there are people who look at what Jesus taught and think it’s a good way to live, yet don’t accept Jesus as the Son of God. For many years, I was one of those people. I wasn’t a Christian, but I tried to act like one. I wasn’t always successful—in fact, I failed in some spectacular ways, but I tried because it’s a lifestyle that just makes sense: be kind, serve, forgive, care, respect, honor.

There’s nothing wrong with acting like a Christian even if you’re not one.

I’m not talking about the “fake it till you make it” career advice that used to be so popular. I’m not talking about claiming to believe something you don’t. I’m talking about following the teachings of Jesus because that’s a simple way to make the world a better place.

Here’s the thing about being a Christian: it’s a journey. It’s a process through which we grow and evolve. We’re not born as believers.

So I’ll repeat: There’s nothing wrong with acting like a Christian even if you’re not one. And if you want help doing that, here are some tips.

Three ways to act like a Christian

1. Be part of a Christian community.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT)

I associated with Christians long before I became one. They were my family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. It was through those associations that I came to realize what being a Christian meant and that knowledge eventually led me to my own personal relationship with Christ.

There’s more to Christian community than simply going to church. Church families can be awesome (and, like biological families, sometimes tiresome and frustrating), but so can other Christian communities. I belong to a Christian writers group called Word Weavers and the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce, which is a community of believers doing business in the marketplace.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17, NIV)

Everyone has something to learn. Everyone has something to teach. We are made to be part of a community, so seek out Christian communities with people who are on various stages of their own faith walks.

2. Read the Bible.

It’s hard to act like something if you don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Reading the Bible tells you who Jesus is and what he taught his followers so that you can decide if you want to become a Christian.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

Don’t accept someone else’s word for what’s in the Bible—read it for yourself.

3. Pray.

Go to God in worshipful prayer every day. Thank him for his gifts. Ask him for his help. And listen to him. Don’t do all the talking.

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. (James 5:13, NLT)

Before I became a Christian, I regularly prayed for God to help me understand what I irreverently called “the Jesus thing”. I would talk to God about my Christian friends, about how they obviously knew something I didn’t, about the special joy and peace that was in their lives but not in mine. I would tell God how much I wanted that and if it was important to him for me to have it, to please make it happen.

Finally, in God’s mysterious and absolutely perfect timing, he touched my heart with “the Jesus thing” and made it all clear to me.

If I hadn’t been acting like a Christian, I don’t know if that would have happened.

So, while it’s quite true simply acting like a Christian doesn’t make you one, it’s a good first step toward becoming one.

Jacquelyn Lynn
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