David Alan Black 

The early disciples were first called “Christians” by unbelievers, not by their fellow disciples.

What did the world see in those first believers? They saw their Christianity – their “Christ-likeness.” I once heard a child refer to this, not as Christianity, but as Christianality. I like that word. Would our neighbors see Christ in us, would they recognize our Christianality?

That’s a question I ponder daily here on the farm. In a close-knit community like ours, it is difficult to fake this sort of thing. People want to see reality. I encourage you to spend some time this holiday season getting reacquainted with the Book of Acts. Perhaps you will conclude, as I have done, that our lives and churches are so far removed from the pattern of the New Testament that it’s time to make some real changes in the new year.

This will not be easy. Long-held habits do not die overnight. It will take a great deal of prayer and effort (in the Spirit) to overcome our false habits and thoughts. Nor will the Devil take it lying down – as my wife often reminds me. He will be there constantly to tell us that it doesn’t really matter, that change is so difficult it is also dispensable. It is at this point that we must be sensitive to what the Spirit is saying about true Christianity.

This includes the Christian obligation to exercise hospitality toward others – opening our homes freely and graciously to others, and going out of our way to care for the orphans and widows in their need. This is something the Lord has been impressing upon me for several years now, and today I would just as soon visit shut-ins than preach a sermon. In fact, on Christmas Day our family will have the joy of singing at the local nursing home as our “Christmas present” to the community. I know that many of you will be doing something similar.