Double Agent

Recently I've been confronted with this idea of being a "double agent" Christian. Is that even possible? I think of a double agent as one who has two identities. You know what I'm talking about, right? Maybe the person has an actual identity but must have an alternate one because of being a spy or working undercover. In movies and books, I've seen this person trick another person or even another country into thinking he or she is in their support when they actually are not.

Now, I'm sure in the world of spies and peace-keeping forces this might be called for. But, can I share with you that as a Christian, there is no place for a double agent.

A young friend of mine has been trying to witness to another friend. This unsaved friend has grown up in the church throughout her life. When asked why she hasn't made a decision for Jesus, her answer always reverts to the so-called Christians around her. She reports the things these Christians do that go against what she has learned to be proper behavior for a believer. Her reasoning is: "If they act like that, why do I need to be saved?"

Of course, we immediately throw out the argument that even we Christians are hypocrites. We can't be perfect. We still do things wrong - sin. Does this exonerate us from trying our best to live as Christ calls us to live? I say, no.

In my Bible reading for Saturday, Paul had this to say to Titus: "Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live." He goes on to say that these kind of Christians are disobedient.

God calls Christians to be what that name means - little Christs. We are to strive each day with everyone and in every place to be like Jesus. Is this hard? Yes. Will we flub? Yes.

There are no double agent Christians. Being a believer is someone you are not something you do. You can't just turn it off and on. God might use the term lukewarm to describe a double agent Christian - someone who acts like a Christian on Sunday but doesn't live it on Monday. That type of Christian makes God sick. Check out Revelation. A lukewarm Christian makes Christ want to vomit. Graphic? Yes. True? I'm afraid so.

The scariest part to this double agent Christian is that a person who needs to accept Christ might be blocked by the duplicity. How tragic to think that someone would not come to faith because of a Christian's bad example.

Oh, Christian brother and sister, let's examine our Christian walk and get rid of any double agent tendencies for the sake of our unsaved friends who are watching.