| Sunny Side Up! June 20, 2001 �2001, by Kathleen Gibson For Beginners, Hypocrites, and Saints: The Basics of Christianity There�s semisweet, semisoft, semitrailers, semicircles, semitones and semicolons. And recently I read a new one. Semi-Christian. Why didn�t I know about this before? It�s the perfect label for those folk who keep others away from Christ by living a lifestyle inconsistent with their vocal claim to Christianity. The �Christian� politician who is known to be dishonest, the spiritual leader who abuses his position of trust, the Sunday School teacher who is consistently late for work. The guy who just ran that red light, while flashing a bumper sticker that says �Honk if You Love Jesus.� I�ve been guilty of semi-Christian behavior sometimes, and I�m more than semi-embarrassed to tell about it. There was the time I neglected to tell the sales clerk she had undercharged me. (I did smile sweetly as I said good-bye.) Then there was that long distance charge I had the operator erase even though the wrong number was my own silly mistake. And, oh yes, there was that used but immaculate postage stamp I reglued to another letter. Then too, there�s the less-than-Christ-like attitudes I reveal in my own home. A friend from abroad related this experience: �When I first came to Canada I asked everyone I met, �Are you Christian?� So many said yes, I was very excited. But soon I saw them do un-Christ-like things and I was sad.� Then he looked straight at me and asked, �Tell me, what does it mean in Canada, to be a Christian?� Ouch. I said nothing about the semi-Christians. Frankly, I don�t think there is such a thing. Disobedient Christians (like me, sometimes), and people who think going to church on Sunday makes them Christian, but semi-Christian? Maybe a semi-atheist would empathize, but somehow, I don�t think God believes in either of them. I�m glad my Bible is clear about all this semi-stuff. It calls it what it is�sin�probably the most unpopular word in our world. Some clergy even stumble over it. (While preaching about semi-hell.) Ever want to cause semi-pandemonium? Tell a clerk you sinned at her check-out and you want to pay for an item you were never charged for. Do the same at the phone company, and the post-office. They won�t know what to do with you�I know. But that�s nothing compared to what occurs at home when you announce that you�ve come to realize that your attitude gets, (cough), downright sinful, and will they forgive you, please? My friend has found a test of his own for Canadian �Christians�. He says, �Now I no longer ask, �Are you Christian?� I just watch to see if you�re like Jesus.� A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. Followers know their leaders�what they love, what they hate, what they�re up to, what they expect. They know this because there�s a close relationship between them. We have homework to do, I think. Move those semis on out, boys. Let�s give �em the real thing. You can respond to this column at <[email protected]> |