John 13:34-35:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Did you know that corporations spend millions of dollars every year just to keep their names, images, and reputations from being confused with someone else?
Trademarks, copyrights and patents are all designed to help a company control and distinguish itself form others, and they are vigilantly guarded against infringement.
“Aspirin,” “Kerosene,” “Linoleum,” “Videotape” and “Zipper” were once trademarks, but because of a lack of diligence to protect these names from misuse, (or in the case of Aspirin, the spoils of World War I,) they have become generic terms for many similar products.
Especially in our world today, we see many products that look similar, and because of the presence of “knock-offs,” they even bear the same names. But, when you examine them closely, there is some trait, characteristic or element that separates the real from the fake -- the authentic from the imitation.
It is the same with “Christianity.”
The book of Acts, as well as the other letters of the New Testament, show us what Christians are. We see how people seeking God came into contact with the cleansing power of the Gospel, and began to lead new lives -- following the path that leads to eternal life with God and the redeemed. And, it is the same today. The power of the Gospel is as strong now as it ever was. A believer can find his way to God through studying His Word.
But -- what about finding others who are also believers?
Unfortunately, “Christianity” is as full of “knock-offs” as the world is. Many call themselves “Christian” -- and have found others to follow along with them -- but do not follow the true pattern found in the Word of God -- do not follow God’s pattern, but have forged their own similar pattern.
The problem with forging a “similar pattern” is that it is not the “authentic” pattern -- not what God, Himself, through Christ, revealed to us.
As His disciples were gathered together in the upper room, Jesus gave them their distinguishing mark -- they were to have a deep love and concern for each other.
As Christians, our following the teachings of the New Testament -- obeying the Gospel -- is of vital importance. But, the distinguishing element that separates Christ’s true followers from all the “copy-cat Christians,” is how we interact with each other -- how we exhibit our concern for the well-being of our fellow believers.
All of the elements might be in place -- all the doctrinal issues might be just right -- all of the practices might be perfectly aligned with Scripture -- but it is our LOVE that sets us apart.
1 John 3:10: This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
1 John 1:4: Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
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