Being Christlike Isn't About Pleasing People or Being Popular

Dear Christians, we need to recognize and correct this popular lie: “If Christians behaved like Christ, they’d be more popular, accepted, and loved, and they’d make the gospel more attractive.” 

It’s absolutely true that Christians should be gracious, expressing ourselves without anger or mockery. 

But the more Christlike we behave, the more unpopular we'll be with the majority (John 15:18-22).(1)

Some Christians think we put people off by mentioning sin or hell. But if we quit mentioning those things, we won't be acting Christlike because Jesus frequently mentioned both.(2) 

Non-Christians might be friendlier if we didn't claim that Christ was the only way of salvation. But we can't do that and be Christlike because Jesus clearly proclaimed that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). 

This is the truth: The reason the path of salvation is narrow and few find it is not because Christians are un-Christlike. It's because most people want to please the majority (Matthew 7:13-14). 

But Christians want to please the Lord (Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 5:8-11). 

So let's not forget this wonderful news: We find our joy in Christ, not man. He helps us share His salvation with the "few" who will listen.

And let’s not be intimidated by the majority! There is still a “harvest” and we have meaningful work to do (Matthew 9:37). 

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Thinking we can be popular with the majority is the main focus of ex-vangelicals. I encourage you to check out the Bible Love Notes collection called Beware of Ex-vangelical Teachings.

Footnotes:

(1) “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.  Jesus, John 15:18-22

(2) See what Christ said to His unbelieving brothers in John 7:7. See What Jesus Said About Hell. See If Jesus Talked About Hell, Why Are We Ashamed to Talk About It?

Bible Love Notes