Marks of the True Christian

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,^[a] serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.^[b] Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[c] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans

There are, of course, very few of us who are Christians who live this to the letter. If we lived to this standard we would be saints indeed. Yet it is without doubt God's standard for the life we ought to lead and a character sketch of Jesus himself. Our love has to be genuine and given freely to all we are to live in hope and not moan about our aches and pains and problems, "challenges" in modern newspeak. Can we really care for those we loathe ? Well, God says we can and who knows us better ?

As a psychologist I know that most psychologists would say nobody could live to this standard we are a product of our inborn traits and acquired characteristics. To say this is to say we cannot change ? Yet, I have known Christian people in whose presence one senses all these things they radiate the love of God and one feels shamed and humiliated in their presence. One such was Prof H.A. Hodges who was professor of philosophy at Reading University when I was a young student. I remember his lectures on moral philosophy - one of the few people whose lectures were always crowded out. His books on the Christian life are well worth reading. I still have them close to my desk as I write this.

So, it IS possible to live the Christian life. I know I am far from it I harbour too much ill feeling towards those who squander riches upon themselves and ill treat the poor and needy. The hallmark of the life God wants us to live is that it is in radical opposition to all that we desire.