What Does a Christian Look Like?

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Many people would take umbrage at the idea that Christianity is anything other than a religion of the heart and mind. After all, you cannot judge a book by its cover, right?

But Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 that “You will know them by their fruits.” Isn’t fruit an outward and visible manifestation of a tree or a plant? Doesn’t He mean that you can tell what’s on the inside of a person by the open manifestation of their words and deeds? What they say and do. What can be heard and seen.

What did the Apostle Paul mean when he exhorted the Corinthian believers to “be imitators of me…” not once but twice (1 Corinthians 4:16 & 11:1)? Doesn’t he mean to do what they see him doing and speak the things and the way that he is speaking?

What you say and do (that which can be heard and seen) paints a viewable picture of what you think it means to be a Christian. With very little historical context, the Corinthian believers were struggling to present a cogent picture of what being a Christian looks like. They were presenting a very confused and fragmented picture of Christianity to their neighbors. Paul’s mission in the two letters to this church that are in the New Testament seems to be to help them display their newfound faith properly.

Here are a few admonishments that Paul gave this church to help them display the salvation they had so recently received but were having trouble modeling.

The church is bigger than you, so act like it

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Divisiveness is easy to see. Factions, cliques, and sects are all outward manifestations of the absence of unity. Disagreement is often the pathway to knowledge, as Proverbs 27:17 says, Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another but bitter quarrelling usually only leads to division, and the body of Christ is not to be divided against itself (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Christians are to have a greater perspective than their own place in the body of Christ. It is fairly easy to see when they get it wrong or right.

“Your boasting is not good” (1 Corinthians 5:6)

When humility is being practiced, it may be difficult to discern. Words that are not being spoken but are held in check. A demeanor that masks resentment or hurt. But arrogance is always easy to spot. It’s impatient, acts unbecomingly, provokes, and keeps a scorecard (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

Boasting is a picture of insecurity and discontentment. In other words, turmoil. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote,

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am (Philippians 4:11).

Some people aren’t content with God’s specific calling in their life. They want more. More responsibility (minus the accountability). More recognition. Just more of everything. And they let everyone around them know it. Of course you can see it.

Be sexually chaste (“Flee sexual immorality” 1 Corinthians 6:18)

This is something Paul addressed repeatedly to the Corinthians in both letters. Some people think you can only see sexual immorality if you walk in on it (caught in the act). But that is far from true.

When a man tells a dirty joke, you’ve just heard him trash biblical sexuality. Women who wear provocative clothing aren’t fleeing sexual immorality. A married person flirting with someone who isn’t their spouse isn’t fleeing sexual immorality. Anyone who views pornography isn’t fleeing sexual immorality. These are all things that can be seen and heard.

Do you remember the uproar that ensued when former Vice President Mike Pence said he adhered to the “Billy Graham rule”? That is, he made a point to never eat alone with a woman who wasn’t his wife. That’s noticeable.

“Pursue love” (1Corinthians 14:1)

Right after an entire chapter describing what love is and isn’t (1 Corinthians 13), Paul told the Corinthians (and us) to pursue love. There are only two things to pursue in life: love and self. Those who pursue God look a certain way, and those who are pursuing self-promotion look a certain way. It’s not very hard to tell the difference. Those who are pursuing God (love) are reaching out for righteousness, holiness, sacrifice, and obedience. Everyone else is just wanting to be recognized.

When people strive for recognition, there is little care for the wellness (spiritual or otherwise) of others. Narcissists are easy to see.

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Those who routinely question the legitimacy of others’ faith rarely examine themselves.

New Testament writers speak a great deal about discerning the motives and ambitions of others. False teachers and prophets were doing a lot of damage (and they still are) to the church. So, John wrote:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).

However, there has to be a level of personal accountability as Christians warn others about the wolves in sheep’s clothing. It’s pretty easy to see when someone in the church has adopted a “rules for thee but not for me” mentality. As a former Pharisee, Paul knew all about that. Make sure you can answer the tough questions about your own faith in Jesus Christ before you put others on the spot.

So, what does a Christian look like? Maybe this has helped bring it into focus.

But ultimately, the real question is, “Do I look like a Christian?” And not just to you, but more importantly, to the Christ.

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