Many times Christians will say of other self-proclaimed Christians,"Well, they're not real Christians." I can see why they may want to distance themselves from Adolf Hitler or others who have committed atrocities that all people would consider to be heinous. Unfortunately, some also make that claim about other denominations within Christianity.
It's time to turn that around, because what is a Christian anyway? If Christianity can be defined as the recognition of the divinity of Jesus, then that includes all denominations. There must be something more to it than that, for so many within the Church to label others as non-Christian. Luckily for all of us, Jesus gave some pretty clear guidelines for how to spot one of the anointed and how to recognize the wolves in sheep's clothing, so to speak.
In the sixteenth chapter of Mark we get the lowdown on the real followers, right before Jesus leaves for good:
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
So we can see that the true believers can perform exorcisms, speak in tongues (although I think the implication was different languages, not gibberish), handle deadly snakes and drink poison to no effect, and instantly heal the sick/injured. Well, priests do exorcisms on occasion, and there are some Fundamentalist churches that handle rattlesnakes and/or speak in tongues.... It's not looking good for all you moderates out there. I think the Fundies have got one up on you with the man upstairs. Sure, they don't exactly do
all of these things, and many have died from snakebites, but they are trying. You have to give them that much.
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Now things get a bit tricky. You may be able to alter and manipulate that statement from Jesus to include most Christians. Fine, I suppose--I'm used to that sort of thing now. But I contend that no Christian has ever performed the Miracle of the Fig Tree, or anything like it. If I can be shown incontrovertible proof of any Christian doing this exactly like Jesus did in the twenty-first chapter of Matthew, I will immediately convert.
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
Fascinating. This, by the way, is where the notion of "moving mountains" comes from. I have never heard of any miracle of this magnitude ever being performed. Not in recent history and not on tape. I have never heard of mountains actually moving or throwing themselves into the sea, much less at the command of a theist.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Ever had an unanswered prayer? Clearly, you just don't believe. After all, whatever you ask for, believing, you will receive. Really? I suppose Christians would respond that all prayers are answered, but not always how we choose. (I would suggest a thorough reading on the fallacy of prayer.) Really? Not how we choose? Is this what Jesus meant here? Frankly, if someone could throw a mountain into the sea just by asking, that would impress me and make me believe that some supernatural power was manifest in that person. All things are possible in Christ? Prove it.
For a deity that supposedly wants all people to believe and can grant huge powers to his true followers, God sure is shy. It is amazing, yet not surprising, that the people who claim to be closest to God and to have personally witnessed his almighty divinity active on Earth can never seem to prove anything. Where are the big miracles? I want to see pillars of fire filling the whole sky, people who have been dead for years coming back, instantaneous healing of all people in a country, or anything else which is huge, meaningful, and cannot be explained otherwise. How about a loud, booming voice from God with his instructions to all people everywhere in their own language?
Call me crazy, but "God found my car keys" or the Virgin Mary in a window (if you turn your head sideways and shut your left eye) doesn't seem like much of a miracle. Actually, it seems quite cruel with all the suffering going on in the world to simply put a woman's picture in a tortilla. How about some food, or some justice, or some cheap, chewable morphine?
I think Jesus might ask,"Where all my dawgs at?" Based on his own criteria, he doesn't seem to have any real followers at all.