Genuine Christianity Makes Good Friday Everyday

Yesterday was a good Friday. Many different religious groups who profess Christianity here in the Philippines maintained certain religious practices so devotedly. Some were genuine, some were not. Some were plausible, some were ludicrous. My claim is that we can determine genuine Christians among them. Essentially, the difference is that genuine Christianity worships God in spirit and in truth while fake ones don't. But how do you know if a certain person or a certain religious group worships God in spirit and truth? Aside from the soundness of doctrines and practices, the evident manifestation is in religious passion or desires. The following are some religious desires wherein genuine and false Christianity differ:

1. Desire to make the day God-glorifying

On Good Friday, many people desire to be godly. They want to talk about God or dedicate some of their time to God on this day. Genuine Christianity, on the other hand, glorifies God every day and every hour and in everything: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31, NIV) A genuine Christian is someone whom the world observes and remarks: "this man cares so much about God".

2. Desire to make the day Christ-centered

On Good Friday, many people desire to talk about Christ and go to church. They will temporarily set aside their worldly stuff for the Nazarene who once died in this world. On the other hand, Genuine Christianity believes that "to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21) A true Christian daily aims for a "fruitful labor" (vv. 22, 24) for and like the Lord. He lives daily for Christ alone. His words and actions are Christ-centered.

3. Desire to make the day Cross-exalting

On Good Friday, many people lend some time thinking about Jesus' cross in the Calvary. Some to repay Him, some to thank Him. Genuine Christianity on the other hand is constant, daily cross-exaltation. "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2) A genuine Christian daily manifests his great indebtedness to what Jesus did for him. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

4. Desire to make the day Sin-mortifying

The term "mortify" means to kill. On Good Friday, many people do their best to keep themselves from sinning. They pray, they read the Bible, they listen to sermons, and they cease their vices. In short, they do religious actions they don't usually do. Genuine Christianity, however, declares a lifetime war with sin. "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live" (Rom. 8:13) "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Col. 3:5)

Some say that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God, as if religion cannot be a good thing. I say Christianity is a relationship with God that essentially worships God in spirit and in truth and inevitably manifests in a daily passion for a God-glorifying, Christ-centered, cross-exalting, and sin-mortifying religion.

Genuine Christianity, guided by truth and the Spirit, makes Good Friday every day. Are we then genuine Christians?