American Christians seem to have lost their understanding of how to be, and what it means to be, a Christian. The definitive source for these questions should be the Bible. A review of a few relevant Bible version provides light on what it means to be a Christian.

The book of Galatians in the Bible was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Galatia a bit before AD 50. The Galatians were Celtic people formerly from southern France (then called Gaul) living in the area that roughly corresponds to the provinces of Ankara and Eskişehir, in modern Turkey.

Paul wrote to remind Jesus' followers in Galatia to embrace the Gospel message, based on faith that enables them to live like Jesus did. He was seeking to warn them about false teachers who were encouraging them to live under the Mosaic Law. Galatians is key to the Christian faith as in it Paul explains the assurance of salvation, Christ's role in providing it, and how Christians must live "in the Spirit" rather than for self.

Paul's writing is very instructive of what a Christian should be. His writing makes clear the contrast between what is expected, rather than what is often observed, from American Christians today. In particular, the church and the badge of Christianity, are being used politically to espouse and justify a range of policies that do not seem consistent with what Paul promotes in Galatians. Are American Christians reading and practicing the Bible?

Galatians 5:14 to 6:8

5:14: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
5:15: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
5:16: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
5:17: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
5:18: But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
5:19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
5:23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
5:24: And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
5:25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
5:26: Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
6:2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
6:3: For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
6:4: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
6:5: For every man shall bear his own burden.
6:6: Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
6:7: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
6:8: For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

How could Paul be clearer? He provides a specific list to avoid confusion. If you engage in what he calls "works of the flesh", which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, and revellings, then you will not "inherit the kingdom of God". Alternatively, engaging in the "fruit of the Spirit", which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, leads to "life everlasting".

Even if you are not a Christian believer, the guidance Paul provides is a useful philosophy to live a positive contributing life, so don't reject it just because it belongs to the canon of the Christian religion.

While I am not a Biblical scholar, or scholar of any kind, permit me to add my updated-to-modern-times definitions for the items on Paul's lists.

"works of the flesh"

• adultery: sex with others outside of marriage.
• fornication: sexual activity particularly when it does not include love.
• uncleanness: of course this includes dirty or filthy, but in this context really more about morally incorrect.
• lasciviousness: showing or demonstrating sexual desire.
• idolatry: worship of someone or something other than God.
• witchcraft: (Note: the word is a questionable translation of the original Greek.) sorcery or enchantments. I take this to be the intentional tricking of others to perform negative, harmful, or evil acts.
• hatred: I think you understand this one.
• variance: this one goes together with strife below. this is a mean spirit consumed with self-interests and self-ambitions seeking to split and divide including the inability to admit wrongness or to give an inch.
• emulations: from the Greek word zelos, which often denotes enthusiasm, fervor, passion, devotion, or an eagerness to achieve something. a strive to equal or excel. in this context, I take this to mean the strive to always beat others.
• wrath: a strong feeling of hatred or resentment with a desire for vengeance.
• strife: see variance above.
• seditions: this means to stand apart, as in being a rebel. one that steps away from someone to whom he should have been loyal. basically, disloyalty.
• heresies: promoting a position known to be in opposition to a substantial truth (in Christianity often a truth from the Bible).
• envyings: hostility toward someone because of an advantage, benefit or position that the other holds.
• murders: I think you understand this one.
• drunkenness: Yep, drinking to such excess that you loose control over thought and actions.
• revellings: generally drinking parties that extend into long periods often ending in inappropriate sexual activity.

"fruit of the Spirit" -- In the modern context I think most of these are clear so just a few definitions.

• love
• joy
• peace
• longsuffering: from the Greek, literally, long-suffering means "long-tempered." someone who is shows restraint when stirred to anger. a person who is not quick to take retaliation or to punish.
• gentleness
• goodness
• faith
• meekness
• temperance: emotional restraint or self-control. being slow to anger.

It strikes me how well Paul's "works of the flesh" describe the actions I observe in many American politicians that aggressively proclaim to be Christians. Too often these are members of the Republican party, who also tent to be the first and loudest describing themselves as Christians. More unfortunately, it describes the positions often called for by Christian churches and church leaders.

I fear a significant segment of the American public has been lead astray. Please consider, are your behaviors, and the leaders you support along with their policies, representing Paul's "fruit of the Spirit"?