As a boy who grew up near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore, Maryland, anytime I see a picture of steamed blue crabs my mouth begins to water. Summer crab feasts were a part of our summer culture growing up in Maryland. When my wife and I were on our honeymoon in South Carolina, I found a restaurant that advertised “Maryland style” blue crabs. It was there that I realized that anyone can take some Old Bay seasoning and pour them over a steamed bushel of shells, but unfortunately, just adding a little bit of seasoning doesn’t make them authentic Chesapeake Bay blue crabs.

Now here’s the problem I have with that: Too many people have visited this little restaurant in South Carolina and have gone home and told all their friends they’ve had Maryland-style blue crabs. No you haven’t! For those of us who have grown up eating authentic Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, we know the difference.

A similar discrepancy takes place in the spiritual realm. Just because someone or something bears the label “Christian,” it doesn’t necessarily make it Christ-like. The word “Christian” means much more than a belief system—it comes from a Greek word meaning “little Christ.” Sadly, millions of people have been turned off to Christianity because of the distorted example of many so-called “Christians” who don’t look anything like “little Christs.”

Have you ever asked the question: What makes a Christian authentic? Too often we equate authenticity with nothing more than a rigid belief system. While it is true that we are saved by God’s grace plus nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9), that doesn’t mean that everyone talking about grace is in genuine fellowship with the Author of grace. Jesus gave us a litmus test for authentic Christianity. It’s found in John 13:34-35 (ESV) where Christ said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

According to Jesus, authentic Christianity isn’t just a mere belief system seasoned with a few self-serving Bible verses, a scrupulous moral code, or adherence to a particular denominational creed. And it’s certainly not about allegiance to a specific political party. Jesus defined authentic Christianity, that which would prove to all people on earth who His true disciples were, would have a direct correlation with how God’s love permeated and flowed through their lives.

Jesus was saying that at the very heart of this thing we call “Christianity,” is a staple that is bigger than life itself. It transcends every language, race, ethnicity, socio-economic class, political agenda, and institution known to man. That staple is God’s love. We are not only to be on the receiving end of God’s love, but the giving end as well. God loves us when we are the most unlovable (Romans 5:8). That’s the unconditional love of our God. Yet how many of us can truly say that we love others unconditionally? We tend to only love others based on conditions that insulate our own insecurities. In other words, we tend to love people more in relation to how they will love us back.

Just because we have received God’s mercy, attested to His goodness, and placed our faith in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, doesn’t mean that we are genuinely living (abiding) in fellowship with Him. To live in fellowship with Him means that we love as He loves.

In 1 John 4:20 God’s Word tells us “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.” Wow! These are power words from the Holy Scriptures.

What is authentic Christianity? While there are certainly many virtues embedded in our faith, nothing speaks to a lost world more authentically of God’s character than when Christians walk in a love like that demonstrated by Jesus, Himself. We cannot love God without loving others—especially those who have wronged us. Never do we look more genuinely like Jesus than when we are walking in His love toward those who deserve it the least. That’s when we truly bear the resemblance of “little Christs.” That’s when our faith truly looks authentic.

Remember that as you Abide in Him today.

Never do we look more genuinely like Jesus than when we are walking in His love toward those who deserve it the least.

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