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Distinctively Christian Character

Unpaid bills. Common-law marriages. Unruly children. Verbal insults. Rude drivers. Misplaced responsibility. Immodest apparel. Belligerent attitudes. Indecent entertainment. Profane values. Nasty conversations.

Unfortunately, these characteristics are not the exception to the American culture, but the norm. Therefore, the believer must permeate his mind with God, or the current moral quagmire will overwhelm him. Ephesians 5:1 states the truth clearly, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." Verse 3 tells us how to respond to secular society: "Let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints." Again in verse 7, "Be not ye therefore partakers with them."

Just as a clear distinction appears between a skunk and an animal of beauty, an even greater distinction should exist between a saved person and an unsaved person.

A skunk looks and acts like a skunk because he is a skunk. Let us apply this observation to people. John and Charles Calvin came from the same parents along with the same possibilities. Both were born as spiritual skunks-–in fact, we all are born with sinful natures alienated from God. Whereas Charles chose to remain a spiritual skunk, John chose to be born again. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) As a result, he left the skunk portion of the human race. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)

My friends, I write clearly and pointedly because I love you. Since you are created in the image of God and since the Savior died for your sins, you can be and live like a child of God.

Again, why should I be a child of God and why should I live the Christian values?

  • God made me.
  • God died for my sins.
  • God designed me to be a Christian mate.
  • God appoints me the spiritual leader of my children.
  • God reveals His nature through my display of His character.
  • God desires me to experience life to the fullest through my utmost pleasure in Him!

I Corinthians 16:13 states these concepts in a succinct, old English verb: "Quit you like men:" It means to conduct yourself like a man; behave properly; conduct yourself in a way that is consistent with human dignity. Or the concept may be stated with a positive and a negative: live like a human being, not a skunk!