What Does it Mean to be an Active Christian?

Many people call themselves Christian due to their religious beliefs and possibly because of the beliefs within the family they grew up in. However, it’s one thing to believe in God and Jesus, and another thing to be an active Christian. What does it mean to be active Christian?

An active Christian doesn’t just believe but also holds certain characteristics and participates in activities that further one’s beliefs. It’s about living by what you believe and carrying out the tenets within your everyday life. Let’s consider some factors that go along with this descriptor.

Personal Devotion

Being more active as a Christian may begin with something as simple as putting aside some time, preferably every day, to focus on God. This may include reading the Bible, praying, pondering God’s messages, reading a respected person’s thoughts on God, writing about God, or some other activity that helps you connect with God and further your relationship with Him. This aspect is meant to happen by yourself, while other religious time can be spent with others.

If personal devotion feels difficult or like a chore, keep in mind that you don’t have to force yourself to practice it the way anyone else does it. This time should be spent on your own relationship with God, whatever that looks like. Also, you can always start with small amounts of time and gradually increase it until personal devotion becomes a regular routine within your life.

Relational Devotion

Another activity for active Christians is to practice relational devotion in regards to other people. This refers to bringing God’s messages and your religious beliefs into your relationships, especially with a spouse and family members. You should be devoted to these close people in your life and also be devoted to God within these relationships. It’s important to follow Christian values, such as forgiveness and reconciliation, within relationships.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an important Christian principle that is focused on in the Bible, especially through Jesus’s messages. You can learn to practice forgiveness within your life by forgiving those who are close to you, acquaintances and colleagues, strangers you interact with, and perhaps even public figures. You may sometimes even need to practice forgiveness towards yourself.

Reconciliation

Christian values lead those of the faith to reconcile with people they may have become estranged from or had conflict with. When there is a conflict, you can practice Christian values like forgiveness, turning the other cheek, and loving the other person. Ultimately, these values can help lead you to reconciliation.

This process may be difficult if the other person is not following Christian values. However, you can continue to practice the Christian way and potentially be a role model for the other person to follow. You can lead the way to reconciliation and give the other person a chance to achieve reconciliation as well.

Encouragement

Christians can offer encouragement to other Christians and to their community and beyond. Encouragement is a great way for Christians to support others of the faith in being an active Christian and living in the best way possible. In addition, Christians can encourage other people to form connections with God or offer them hope when they need it.

Encouragement can come in various forms, yet ultimately, it provides a positive way to look beyond yourself and provide love, hope, and support to the people around you.

Outreach

When we consider what does it mean to be active Christian, it’s important to sometimes look beyond yourself and those closest to you. Rather than only focusing on your personal and relational devotions within the small circle of your daily life, you can look beyond that to become a more active Christian. This means broadening to perform outreach.

Usually, outreach means connecting with other people within your community, as you help local people, educate about God, and potentially support people in finding their own connections to God. In today’s modern world, it’s also possible that you provide outreach beyond your own community by carrying out missions in other places or by performing outreach through the internet. The latter option gives a way for most people to carry out outreach, despite any physical, locational, or time limitations.

Service

An active Christian understands that life is not just about oneself. It’s important to spend time serving other people and the community. This may mean service to your church in whatever capacity it is needed. It may mean helping people in your community who need support or are less fortunate. Service can also be to your neighbors and your loved ones who need assistance.

You may want to become part of a ministry within your church or become a greater participant within a ministry you’re already a part of. Churches offer a variety of ministries to help each person find a way to serve that suits their personality and God-given gifts, fits around their other responsibilities, and fulfills the way God calls each person to serve. If your church does not currently have a ministry that calls to you, talk to your church leaders about whether one could be started in an area that interests you.

Take Steps to Become a More Active Christian

Hopefully, this list provides an answer to the question, what does it mean to be active Christian? While being an active Christian is in part about reflecting on God’s word and connecting with Him on a personal level, the larger focus is on giving your time and efforts to other people. It’s about using your Christian values within your relationships and to help and support people in the community and the larger world.

Local churches can help you find ways to be a more active Christian. To take the next step forward from wherever you currently are on your Christian path, start by attending Chicagoland church events, joining a local church, or participating in a ministry.