6 Signs of a Jesus Follower

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Would anyone be able to pick you out of the crowd, at your place of work or in your neighborhood, and identify you as a Christian? Can people definitively say, “I know he/she is a Christian,” or “I know he/she is a follower of Jesus?” What makes you look, act, think and speak differently than those whom you work and live with? Today, the Christian faith has not only come under attack, but many Christians themselves have become complacent and compromised their beliefs for the culture we live in. Unfortunately, Christians are known more for what they are against than what they are for. In the U.S. in particular, many Christians have adopted for the most part a barely recognizable form of Christianity that almost completely ignores the teachings given by the Bible by the man we say we want to follow and be like: Jesus. But there are those who are true followers of Jesus, applying his basic teachings to their everyday lives. Here are six signs of a Jesus follower.

They are Not Hypocritical

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There is likely no accusation more provocative than that of a hypocrite. When Jesus taught the significance of prayer, fasting and alms-giving for kingdom people, He discouraged us from following the examples of those who are hypocrites. By making long public prayers, employing extreme measures to ensure others noticed their fasts and parading their gifts to the Temple and the poor, they revealed only an outward attachment to the Lord. While the Pharisees performed well their dramatic role as public examples of religious virtue, they failed miserably in the inner world of their heart where true virtue resides. As followers of Jesus, we are called to give to those in need and pray often, but we should do so without calling attention to ourselves. A Jesus follower doesn’t look for praise for the things they do. They walk humbly. Anyone giving, praying or fasting in such a way that draws attention to themselves would be like a Pharisee, the group of people that Jesus spoke most harshly.

They Don’t Serve Money

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Nothing’s wrong with the desire to improve your financial situation, but when money is your major driving force, it can ruin your life. A Jesus follower doesn’t serve money. They recognized they can’t serve both God and money. One of them will be more important to us than the other. And if money is what’s important to us, we will come to hate and despise God, because God tells us that we should not put money first – and we don’t want God telling us what to do. Money as an idol will destroy relationships –including friendships and marriages – and the obsession of money will drive you in a pit that’s hard to get out of. When it comes to money, your focus should be contentment. Ask God to help and guide you and let Him to do the rest.

They Treat People the Way They Want to be Treated

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We all know the Golden Rule: do unto other as you would have them to do unto you, or in other words, treat others the way you would like to be treated. A Jesus follower lives a life that reflects the Golden Rule. Jesus Himself says that this simple rule captures all of the Law of the Prophets. Interestingly enough, He follows up the Golden Rule by reminding us that it is a path that few take; but it does lead to life. Jesus followers also practice the kindness virtue, where they give people the same respect we’d like given to us. Matthew 7:12-13 says, “So whatever you wish that other would do to you, do also to them for this is the Law of the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” We exhibit love and kindness through generous acts of service. People who practice this are not only compassionate and considerate, but have the ability to see the best in others.

They Trust and Depend on Jesus

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Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours” (Matthew 11:24). As Christians, we know that prayer is a key part of our relationship with God but it isn’t always a part of our regular practice. Many Christians struggle with making adequate time for God, through prayer and communication. We live in a fast-paced world and while many Christians say Jesus is most important their life, many struggle with fitting God into their daily agendas. But a Jesus follower always has time for God because their lives center on Him. They trust and depend on Jesus fully. Too often, our lives don’t always reflect that God is at our center. What’s special about a solid relationship with God is that when we face struggle, we know where our help comes from.

They are Genuine and Discerning

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Jesus warns about people who claim to represent Him but don’t actually live as a follower of Christ; He called them ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. He makes the statement that not all who claim to be Christian are who they say they are. It’s important that you listen to the substance of people’s messages. The message for Christ should always be central. “We have everything we need for life and godliness in Him” (2 Peter 1:3). For the false teacher, “They will secretly introduce destructive heresies" (2 Peter 2:1). Pay attention to the word secretly here. Movement away from the centrality of Christ may be subtle. Christ is not central to the message. However, something very corruptive is. Their messages are not aligned with Scripture, but their own warped version of it.

They Witness and Influence the World Around Them

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One of the key elements of Christianity is being open and willing to share your faith with others, but the practical way of doing that is often a struggle. Many Christians don’t share their faith out of fear of being ridiculed, disapproved and persecuted by the world. We hesitate to share and fear-based thoughts begin to show up. How do we tell others about God in a way that is effective? Some people think of sharing their faith as a commandment enforced by knocking on doors and throwing Bibles. Fortunately, this is not what God commands. A Jesus follower is unapologetic about witnessing and influencing the world around them. We serve a loving God who didn’t design sharing your faith as a way to condemn others. We can witness to others by spreading God’s love and approaching witnessing with the right attitude and state of mind.