Calling Yourself Christian is Not a Get Out of Hell Free Card!

If judgment looms under every steeple, if lofty glances from lofty people, can't see past her scarlet letter, and we've never even met her... - Casting Crowns

Being a Christian doesn't give us the right to treat people like crap or like we're better than them, because we're not. It doesn't give us the right to call people names, like stupid, or judge their character or beliefs because they are different. Calling ourselves a Christian is not a get out of hell free card. Faith without works is dead.

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' 23 Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.' - Matthew 7:21-23 (Read all of Matthew 7 at http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm) 

If judgment looms under many steeples... The weight of the judgmental glances tell him he's better out on the road... Jesus paid much too high of price, for us to pick and choose who should come...  Which Jesus do you follow? Which Jesus do you serve? If Ephesians said to imitate Christ, why do you look so much like the world? Pretty blue eyes, curly brown hair, and a clear complexion? Is this how you see him as he did for our sins? But the word says he was battered and scarred, or did you miss that part? Sometimes I doubt we'd even recognize him. Would Jesus be accepted in your church? His blood and feet might stain the carpet... 

Living like Christ means loving others. It means accepting others. It means listening to others, understanding others, not trying to change everyone around us to be like we think they should be. It means focusing on changing ourselves to look like Christ, so people will see him through us. It is not our job to save people - that is Christ's job. Sometimes we just need to shut our mouths, because all we do is dig a hole and push people away with our words. We should be imitating Christ so people can really see who he is. Christians tarnish his name with their terrible words and actions all the time. 

Going to the alter and getting saved doesn't automatically get you into heaven if you don't act like you are saved going forward.