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Christianity isn't just a team that you declare for, there are rules and beliefs that you actually have to follow and believe in. It seems like so many people don't get that.

This is a common thought today that really has shades of Matthew 7 to it

Mat 7:13  "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. Mat 7:14  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. A Tree and Its Fruit Mat 7:15  "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Mat 7:16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Mat 7:17  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. Mat 7:18  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Mat 7:19  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Mat 7:20  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. I Never Knew You Mat 7:21  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Mat 7:22  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' Mat 7:23  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

There are seemingly always people that claim to be Christian.

I know people really groan at the "True Christian" monkier but it's an appropriate distinction. There will be people that are misled

2Ti 4:3  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 2Ti 4:4  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

The number of these people seemingly is many. People sometimes have religious inclinations and like certain aspects of said religion. Humans like to do it ala carte. I'll take the peaceable happy loving Jesus and grace but an ability to sin here and live this way over here.

You can call people on it but when someone is deceived they are deceived. Prior to his conversion Paul thought he was properly following the way. Those Pharisees we see with their focus on the law tend to think they are doing it right too regardless of their contrary nature.

When the chips are down it's easy to see who a real Christian is. It was more evident in the early development of the church because it wasn't always easy. There was persecution. When constantine came on the scene it changed things. It was attractive to be a Christian. It became watered down.

In our generation today even more so. But reflect on Matthew 7 and really think about it as the days and months go by. There are seemingly two sets of people. Those that are truly his sheep and hear his voice and those that "know of him" but are not really all that different from the demons in James.

Jas 2:19  You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! It's never a head knowledge, it's never verbal profession only (the point of James), it's never just going through the motions (Matt 7:22). It's the changed life. The new heart. Eyes that are on Christ.

The scripture is fairly plain on these things. There is a reluctance to see those things when your mind is busy making little Jefferson Bibles of it's own. It's a dangerous path to trod though it's far easier.