What is normal for those who live in Christ? For the followers of Jesus, what does normal look like? Many, may answer, “me” as though their walk was average. The world may say a normal Christian is weak, reverent, docile, and goes to church. Is normal simply reading your bible, attending church, and identifying Jesus as your personal lord and savior? Or does a normal Christian look like a superhero who instantly heals people, sees the future, is immune to disease, and goes through problems without an issue? Could it be that the truth, that the bible, that Jesus has a different, higher, greater standard for His followers? We must look to what Jesus said and what the bible elaborates on to determine what is stated about the expectations of a Christian.
Is like Christ
By definition the term Christian means ‘little Christ’, implying that the goal of those who identify as such are striving towards emulating Christ. They are starting to act, talk and think in the same ways Jesus did, becoming a version of Jesus in their own way and in their own places. In short one way to answer the question ‘what does normal Christian look like?’ is Jesus. As a Christian, someone who follows, or a disciple of Jesus your goal is to become like Jesus, learning how He did things and doing them yourself.
Is Dead
This can only be done in the form of a loving relationship and cannot be done out of obligation or of a self-seeking ambition because the first way you become like Christ (Christian) is joining Jesus in His death. It is quite strange how for someone who promises life, one of the first tasks is to die. In this way, however, one of the fist qualities of a Christian in they are not focused on themselves, in a way they have died, and are now primarily concerned about God and others. As they have joined Jesus in His death, they no longer live for themselves.
Is Loved
Secondly, a Christian is part of a loving family. Every Christian everywhere is part of the same family, with God as their Father and Jesus as an older brother. A Christian is loved, and they know it. They have no need for other lesser forms of affirmation, as God has adopted them and has shown His great love for them. They know their values is significantly greater than anything the world could ever hope to offer. They have no need for wealth, popularity, approval, power, control, or security as they already have what those things are promising, and nothing can take it from them.
Is Free
Since a Christian is part of Gods family and loved regardless of what they do, Christians free to engage with this world in an objective way, not being skewed by power, money, fear or approval. They are free to do what is best and to truly love those around them due to already being truly loved by God, who is love.
Is Connected
Not to mention they have direct communication with the creator of all things by the Holy spirit and the already completed works of Jesus. Due to this they have a coach who will teach them any and everything they could ever want to know. As Jesus has already done everything the right way, He is able to teach and show His family how to do everything the correct and propper way.
Is Driven
Because a Christian is dead to themselves, perfectly loved, and in contact with God they are immune to failure. They may not succeed but they will continue on because neither failure, nor success has any effect on who they are or how much they are loved and accepted. They do however have an effect on how much others are able to know God, causing a Christian to strive for the best so that others can discover what they already have. Due to this desire for more people to have what they have and to add more members to their family, Christians will be excellent in everything they do, honor everyone they meet, follow every law, custom, rule and obligation they can, and forgive any offense in order to meet people where they are and turn them to know Christ. In this they glorify God by showing others His likeness and helping them build their own relationship to Him.
Is Humble
A Christian can be difficult to spot in good times unless you are in their path or know what to look for. As a laser can only be seen when its contacts something, so to you will only notice a Christian when an issue arises, you know where to look, or you are for some reason trying to mess with one. The easiest way to spot a Christian is when they encounter an issue, difficulty or challenge. That being said you can tell a Christian by what they say. While it is less likely that they will tell you they are a Christian it is more likely they will tell you about Jesus, God, or simply complement others while talking less of themselves unless asked. As an others focused being, a Christian spends most of their time and energy on others, primarily God and those around them, choosing to do what is best for people they meet and know.
Loves
A Christian is a good friend, a good coworker, a good boss, and a good subordinate due to being focused on the betterment of those around them. Due to their identity, value, love and acceptance being secure and immutable they can and will endure hardships and difficulties in order to work towards the betterment of those around them. They will go to great lengths to care for, support, and improve the people around them. They will go through the effort to learn and grow to fill any role they need to in order to be the most effective where they are and will relinquish those roles when the time comes, or another is better suited.
Is Protected
However, this does come with a warning if you think a Christian would be easy to manipulate and use to your advantage. You will only find yourself dealing with their Father, because they are already spoken for. See, although a Christian does not defend themselves this does not mean they are defenseless; in fact, this is quite the opposite of the truth. A Christian has no need to defend themself as they are, one, already defended by their father, who fights for them, and two they already have everything they need in Christ. They can deal with any storm, stand in any oppression, and walk through any hardship because they are completely and totally supported in ways that are not conceivable to us at this time.
Endures
As a Christian goes through issues, difficulty, or obstacles you will notice a few specific things. They will show great patience and endurance in the midst of these problems. They will be fully in and aware of their issues and pain but will continue through them not trying to cope or escape. It will seem strange why they continue to choose to engage with issues and difficulty instead of avoiding the hassle, however as you watch them you will see that the issues only serve to make a Christian better and more of themselves.
Is Committed
There will be a persistence that continues regardless of circumstances, likelihood of the outcome, or the number of failures. A Christian will simply keep trying. Having set their mind on something they will continue until it is accomplished. This may be more obvious at times than others, but they will follow through on what they have set out to see accomplished.
Is Joyful
A joy will accompany a Christian, even as they are in the midst of trouble, from seemingly nowhere. In the middle of great struggles, issues, and dire circumstances you will find them, singing, praising, loving, giving, and enjoying the good things in their lives. Even stranger they will be thankful of those good things no matter how small, as well as even being thankful for what is being accomplished through the issues. As strange as it may seem you will probably hear a Christian be whole-heartedly thankful for their trials because of what God is developing through them.
Grows
During difficult times, especially when times are difficult for everyone, A Christian is less if not completely unaffected in their normal behavior and outlook. Sure, they may lose health, money, family, jobs, and security but they themselves will remain largely unchanged, and most likely will even get better as the difficult times continue. Being both fully sustained and complete from the inside out, they will continue on even though everything around them falls apart. Don’t make the faulty assumption that they are somehow to blame for these issues and problems, while it may seem that issue and problems follow Christians around these things only serves to highlight the Christians qualities.
Lives in Rythm
During these times of difficulty, and also in times of ease, a Christian will have a consistent pace of life. They simultaneously are constantly both preparing and enjoying, pursuing growth and practicing rest. This pace (or rhythm) continues unaffected by pressure or circumstance and is only possible because a Christian is already fully loved and provided for. Combine this with an awareness that this life is only the preparation for the real one, you get the reality that a Christian is already fully loved and also not yet fully home so they will follow their Fathers directive to live at a constant pace of working and resting. This rhythm of life allows a Christian to truly be where they are, enabling them to truly experience the moments and people around them. Due to this a Christian really cares, not rushing to other things or removed from the realities effecting people around them.
Gives
As they are able to be fully present, can really feel and truly care; combined with always being both rested and strong by their rhythm of constant growth, a Christians can help people whenever they meet them. A Christian is in effect always saving, preparing, and searching for people to help. They have their whole life set up in a way for them to meet the needs of whoever they come across or to know someone who can. They understand how it feels to be lost and in need. As they are already provided for, they genuinely desire to see other provided for eternally.
Is Human
That being said a Christian is still a human, always on the journey to becoming more like Christ. They are permanently in transition between being lost and being Christ like while they are here on earth. They will fall short and mess up, they are always in need of salvation, however they are in constant pursuit of being more like Jesus and practicing what He said. They constantly die to themselves as they are not yet in a perfect body or world. They must constantly think on the Word and remember the truth of who they are because the days are evil and the truth is largely hidden as to allow for the process of becoming Christ like, otherwise none of us would be able to be in God’s family.
Lives In Tension
A Christian then is characterized by this constant tension being both fundamentally new and not yet changed. While the old may be dead it is not yet gone, leaving a Christian living in a tension between the old self, which is dead and dying, and the new self, which is alive and growing. Every Christian is caught in this tension as the old is always diminishing but never gone on this side of heaven. This is why a Christian will not always exhibit all of these habits at all times. Although a Christian is a new creation they are not rid of the issues, habits, wounds and pain of who they were.
Simply Difficult 