ALEXANDER the great

Alexander the Great was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle. By the time of his death, he had conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks.

One day a cowardly soldier caught running from battle was brought into the tent of Alexander the Great:

"Soldier, what's your name?" demanded Alexander the Great.
"Alexander, sir."

Alexander the Great repeated the question: "What is your name?"
"My name is Alexander, sir," the soldier repeated.

A third time and more loudly Alexander the Great asked, "What is your name?"
A third time the soldier meekly said, "My name is Alexander, sir."

Alexander the Great then looked the young soldier straight in the eye. "Soldier," he said with intensity, "either change your name or change your conduct."

[Rebuke to MYSELF]

Don't call yourself a Christian if:
1) You only act like one on Sunday, but live otherwise from Monday through Saturday.
2) You are ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
3) You you are continuously stumbling others, and God forbid, bringing them into sin as well.
4) You refuse to share the "good news" with those around you.
5) You hate more than you love.
6) You don't take up your cross daily.
7) You are your own god.

I'm not saying you have to be perfect to call yourself a Christian. But I am saying, you MUST put all of your heart into loving and living for God. Of course I'm a sinner! And I don't hide that fact, I only boast in my weakness--because His power is made perfect in weakness.

However, it's a whole different thing to publicly declare yourself as a Christian but live otherwise because that is putting to shame the name of Christ. Believe it or not, fake hypocritical Christianity is visible to others--and it leaves a false impression in the minds of unbelievers, which takes so much more work to reverse.

So if you don't feel like being a Christian, then don't call yourself one. Change your name or change your conduct. Just don't spit on the name of Christ. On the other hand, if you're going to call yourself a Christian, then live as if it means everything.