What makes a good Christian?  Growing up that answer was shaped by the teachings I received in church every Sunday.  I’m not talking about the actual words said during a Sunday School lesson or sermon either.  I’m talking about the things I learned from watching the actions and words that weren’t part of the “official” teaching.

Allow me to describe two different people whom both attend the same church to you.

Let’s start with John Doe.  John is at church for every service.  He gives his tithes and offerings every week.  John sings in the choir.  He volunteers to help anytime there is something to be done around church.  No matter what needs to be done at the church you can count on John to volunteer.  As a matter of fact John spends so much time doing things for and at church that his wife feels she doesn’t know him anymore.  His kids feel like they aren’t important to him because all his commitments to the church keep him far too busy to spend any time with them.  The truth of the matter is that John doesn’t feel close to his wife anymore.  He has no idea how to relate to his children.  So, he uses all the commitments to church as a way to hide from his responsibilities to his family.  John’s wife lives in constant depression over her failed marriage.  John is the only example of Christianity his kids have ever seen, and for that reason they want nothing to do with God.  Instead of being an example that draws them to God, he has completely turned them away.

Person #2 is Sam Jones.  Sam misses services at his church sometimes.  Since Sundays are often the only day he has off Sam takes his whole family to the local homeless shelter to help serve meals on Sundays.  Sam’s wife and children know he loves them.  He has a great relationship with each one of them. Sam doesn’t volunteer for much at church because he doesn’t have time.  There is a elderly widow down the street that struggles to get by.  Sam often uses his tithe money to buy her food or medicine she needs.  Sam is a great example of Jesus love and grace to his family.  They are each following Jesus to the best of their ability each day because of the example they have seen in Sam.

Now let’s look at how the church views each of these men.

John Doe is held up as a model Christian.  He is constantly praised from the pulpit for all the things he is doing for the church.  Everyone is sure that John holds a special place in heaven because of all the things he does for the church.  John is the unspoken super Christian in church.  He is the man that will be nominated for Deacon, board member, usher, and any other nonpaid position of esteem.  Despite the fact that the leadership of the church knows about his personal life they still hold him as the standard to which everyone else in the church should strive to attain.

Sam Jones on the other hand is looked upon as a marginal Christian at best.  He is told he should have his family at church every Sunday.  Never mind the fact that his family has been a tremendous witness to not only the people who get their meals at the homeless shelter, but to the others that work and volunteer there as well.  Sam hears from the pastor that his tithes must go to the church.  Only after paying his tithes to the church should he give money to the widow down the street.  Who cares that she might die from starvation or lack of proper medication as long as the church gets Sam’s tithe first.  In other words Sam is not meeting his Christian obligations because he hasn’t put church as the most important thing in his life.

So, what did I learn about being a good Christian?  I learned that being a good Christian means you do things for your church.  I learned that you can not do anything for God if it doesn’t go through your church or else it doesn’t count.  God only looks favorably upon acts done for your church.  It doesn’t matter why you do them.  It doesn’t matter how you live your life outside the church.  It doesn’t matter what type of example you set to others.  The biggest thing I learned is that church equals God.  As long as you do a lot for your church and claim you are doing it for God you can wear the red C on your chest that stands  for SUPERCHRISTIAN.

Many years, many heartaches, and a lot of disillusionment later I have learned something.  I will never be a superchristian.  I no longer feel the need to be either.  I am too imperfect to ever reach such lofty status.  I am content to know that I am simply a guy that is doing his best to be a Jesus follower, and at the end of the day that is really all he expects of me.