"Bad Christians"

As John Calvin was re-called to the pastorate in Geneva, he was greatly concerned about the lives of the church members there. Here is a quote from his address to them as he considered once again assuming the position of pastor:

“I consider the principal enemies of the Gospel to be, not the pontiff of Rome, nor heretics, nor seducers, nor tyrants, but bad Christians.”

What was Calvin’s problem in the mid 1500’s is still the problem today. We think that the threat to the Gospel and to Christianity comes from the Roman Catholic church or maybe the Jehovah Witnesses or the Mormons or maybe Islam. But they are not the primary enemies of the Gospel. The enemy is not outside the church but firmly fixed inside it. It is those who profess to be Christ-like and then evidence by their life anything but Christ-likeness that are real enemies. It is those who are “Christian” in word only and not in deed.

More people will be dissuaded and disillusioned about Christianity by those who profess a relationship with Christ and then that relationship involves no commitment or change on their part. Yes, they claim Christ as their Savior but then this Savior gets only a small portion of their attention. Usually, when there is nothing else going on or nothing else to do.

Yes, I agree! I shout a loud, Amen! The biggest problem the church faces today, in sharing the Gospel to the unconverted, is “bad Christians.” They are those who profess knowledge but are void of a true relationship with Christ. These “bad Christians” deceive themselves and discourage others. The unconverted have for far too long seen professing Christians who have the same appetites as they do, go to the same places they do, speak the same language as they do, dress the same way they do, and are wrapped up in materialism and pleasure to the same extent as they are. There is no difference between the professor and the unconverted.

May God give us the boldness to deal with this mortal enemy to the Gospel. And may He help us, who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, live lives worthy of our high calling.