Are You A Thespian Or A Christian?
Ever heard, “if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it’s probably a duck”? This might work with ducks or roses or many other things, but not with a Christian. To simply “look” like a Christian (whatever that is), or “act” like a Christian doesn’t make one a Christian. Of course, for a duck to be a duck, it must be hatched as a duck, produced through procreation as God intended, and delivered to life within an egg. The Christian can also only be “formed” one way. One can only be “born again” through baptism for remission of sins to become a Christian. We know this from Jesus’ John 3:2-7 nighttime conversation with Nicodemus.
Sadly, many today are simply claiming to be Christians, not having been born into the everlasting kingdom of Christ. These try to “act” like Christians, having embraced denominationalism. True, many of them “do good” in that some live moral lives and are fully convinced that they have laid hold on eternal life (1Tim 6:19). Yet, at the same time, these folks are like the hypocrites of Jesus’ day in Matt 15:9 - But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Foolishly, they fail to realize the fate stated in 1Thess 1:8 - In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: These have never yet “obeyed the gospel”. As such, these are not the subject of the title of this article as they are not yet Christians. They are simply religious.
Those being considered are those that have “put on Christ” in baptism as Gal 3:27 teaches, but have become hypocrites. This may sound harsh, but the word hypocrite and the word thespian mean the same thing. There are those in the N.T. Word of God that are in this sad condition. Consider Hymenaeus and Alexander, early Christians that “put away” faith (1Tim 1:19-20) and were delivered to Satan. Hymenaeus is also mentioned with Philetus (2Tim 2 17-18), who taught falsely about the resurrection and overthrew some folks’ faith. Consider the Ephesian church in Rev 2:4 who had “left their first love”, and the Laodicean church of Rev 3:16 who were “neither cold nor hot” but were “lukewarm”. If they continued to be “thespian Christians”, (hypocrites) the Lord would spew them out of His mouth. He gave them all time to repent. One cannot simply “act” like a Christian, they must fully obey God their Father daily.
Several years ago, my wife’s father, O.D. Wilson, wrote words to the tune of the hymn “Make Me A Channel Of Blessing”. The words of that song, while not inherently wrong as it asks some great questions, seems to be asking God to “cause someone” to be a channel through whom others might be blessed. This appears to leave out the individual responsibility each Christian has in being a faithful child of God. I’m not sure if my father-in-Law had those erring Christians previously mentioned in mind, or if there were those he knew whom were “professed” Christians, yet were not as “true” or as dedicated as they should have been as the baptized believers of Christ. The words of the song are provided below.
To Be Consistent
1 – Is it true that you are a Christian,
or a person who just wears the name?
Are you really committed to Jesus,
not acting or playing a game?
2 – Do you go to worship each Lord’s Day,
Are you just a “one timer” each week?
Do you eat the Lord’s Supper the right way,
always the Lord’s Will do you seek?
3 – Do your neighbors know you’re a Christian,
By the things that you do and say?
Have you tried to win them all for Jesus?
Don’t wait, there’s no time like today.
Chorus – To be consistent is so hard to do.
I want to serve, Lord and always be true.
Say what I do Lord, do what I say Lord,
be an example, each step of the way.
O.D. Wilson – deceased
Folks observe others daily. If we profess to be Christians, can we prove it? Sure, we can likely quote Scriptures relating to obeying the gospel. We can truly say we have obeyed these inspired Words. But are we only “acting” as a Christian? Are our lives good examples of Christianity as are the lives of many of the N.T. saints in the early days of the church? Are we consistent in our Christian life, or just “acting” like a Christian? Even while Christ was on the earth before He died to purchase the church, He warned of the false prophets of His day in Matt. 7:16-20. The same thing applies to Christians. He said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
If one has not obeyed the gospel, they should learn God’s N.T. plan for Salvation and obey it before it’s too late. Then, one must strive to remain faithful and always try to bear fruit that is pleasing to God. One that has not obeyed the gospel and the “thespian Christian” or one only “acting” as a child of God faces eternal condemnation.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
