Last week I decided to pay a visit to the church I grew up in, just to see how things are going (and nothing wrong with double the dose of praise and sermon!). While the experience was mostly positive, getting to see old friends, I noticed that for some reason I was trying to fight off a bit of hostility in my heart. At last week’s Bible study, in response to a question raised by Pastor Hong on whether we had people in our lives that we didn’t love, I off-handedly remarked that I hated no one that I knew personally. And at the time I thought there was some truth to what I said, that I really didn’t hate or despise any of my peers. Or so I thought.

During service, I couldn’t help but notice that there were some people who still attended this church that I, quite frankly, didn’t consider to be “true Christians”. Basically, people who did all the motions by going to church, singing their hearts out during worship and praying ever so earnestly, but didn’t seem to be very Christ-like outside Sundays. It’s a word that’s flung around a lot these days, “true Christian”. In politics, you’ll see the religious rights and lefts argue over whether certain candidates are truly Christians. In churches, pastors will give the occasional sermon on how te be a true Christian/not be a fake Christian, to ensure that Jesus will not say to you in the end that He never knew you (Matthew 7:21-23). Google search “are you a real Christian”, get 181 million results (in 0.37 seconds).

However, I’ve probably heard the word used most amongst Christians towards other Christians. I’ve seen countless Christians pointing fingers at each other when some of them fall in sin, quick to condemn them as not really being true Christians, just like how I was quick to condemn some of the people I saw at church as not really being followers of God in my heart. Only later on did I realize just how foolish I really was for labeling some of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as fake, being ever so keen in paying attention to the speck that is in my brother’s eye while failing to see the log in my own eye (Matthew 7:3)! I hadn’t seen these people in years, who was I to think that they hadn’t changed? And even if they hadn’t, it still gives me no right to judge others, allowing myself to be consumed by the hellish flames of pride and self-righteousness. The very thought of considering some of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to not really be in Christ should only make me wary and examine myself, “for with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2).

As we strive to walk closer with Christ, let’s remember that love is the foundation of what makes us genuine followers of Christ. Love God, and love others – that includes friends, neighbors, nonbelievers, enemies, and those who consider themselves Christians but may have strayed from the path. Instead of pharisaical judging, maybe I should make a greater effort to love them and help them strive to walk closer with Christ as well.

-Solomon