"Defining The Undefinable"

“Defining the Undefinable Christian”

February 26, 2012

John 1:1-12

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, torn jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of

college. He is intelligent. Kind of independent and very, very bright.

He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, raggedy jeans, his holey T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started, so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can’t find a seat. By now people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, this had never happened in this church before!)

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this young man, everyone is saying to themselves that you can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the deacon to reach the young man. The church is utterly silent, except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes are focused on him. The minister can’t even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he

has to do. And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won’t feel alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I’m about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.

Jesus, He who created the heavens and the earth and made all things; He who was from the beginning of time; He who loves us so much - came from heaven to show us what God was like and to enable us to become children of God. We are not naturally Children of God. We are not automatically Children of God. We must believe and receive – but if we do – we become God’s child.

What is a Christian like? Is it this long haired, barefooted hippy? Is it the old white—haired senior? Maybe it is those sitting on the pew watching. Well the answer is – ALL of the above. The very word “Christian” means Christ-like. But just as you cannot define Christ, neither can you define what a Christian is. We are too different. We are in too many different stages of maturity. Our talents are too different; our education is so different; our thoughts are different; our personalities are too different. But there are some things that the true Christian has in common. I want to share six of those things with you this morning.

First of all. We believe. Our Scripture says,

“…to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (1 John 1:12)