Being a Christian is not easy but it is simple. It start with the heart. as the beloved spiritual used as a basis for this meditation reveals, if we aspire to be a true Christian, we must try to be like Jesus.
This African American Spiritual was likely composed in the 1750s in Virginia. Although the details of the development of this deeply theological spiritual are not known for certain, Miles Mark Fisher has a good idea of the origin of the song. In 1756, a black slave approached Reverend Davies, a Presbyterian preacher, and made this statement regarding his own salvation.
“I come to you, sir, that you may tell me some good things concerning Jesus Christ and my duty to God, for I am resolved not to live any more as I have done . . . Lord (Sir), I want to be a Christian.”
Regardless of the accuracy of this account, we have this powerful spiritual which has been recorded over the years by many renowned artists. This impressive list speaks to the universal appeal of this spiritual: Yolanda Adams, Chanticleer, Kirk Whalum, Hank Jones, Little Richard, Cassietta George, John Fahey, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Barbara Hendricks, James Cleveland, and Blind Lemon Jefferson.
The simple lyrics speak of an earnest desire to live as Jesus would have us live.
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.
At the end of this devotional are two different presentations of this spiritual for your worship and reflection. The first is an international choir and the second is a more traditional African American recording of the song. However, this spiritual applies to all persons regardless of nationality.
Let’s look more closely at the fundamental theological principles contained in these lyrics.
A prayer for transformation
One way of looking at these lyrics is as a prayer to God for Him to transform us. There is a critical biblical process imbedded in these words. They begin with the desire to be a Christian . . . to be saved. Then, as a result of that salvation, there is the desire to be more loving. Then, we see the plea to be more holy. Finally, we see the ultimate goal of being like Christ.
This process is entirely consistent with scripture! Let’s confirm that from the Bible.
First Petition – I want to be a Christian
The word Christian appears only 3 times in the Bible . . . all in the New Testament. In Acts 11, Luke writes that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Also in Acts, Paul is addressing King Agrippa about his own conversion. King Agrippa concludes the conversation with this question. “Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Finally, Peter encourages us to praise God if we bear the name of Christian even though it means suffering.
What does it mean to “want to be a Christian”?
I think most would agree that it means I want to be among those who follow Christ . . . one of His. So let’s look at three critical components of being a Christian. And, we will work backwards by identifying the evidence of being a Christian, examining the process, and then how to begin.
How do we know one is a Christian?
The proof (evidence) that one is a Christian can be found in many places in the Bible.
In John 15:8, the words of Jesus are very clear regarding this question: “by this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit so as to prove you are my disciple.” So, the evidence that one is a Christian is that the person bears good fruit (refer to Galatians 5:22 for the fruit of the Spirit). It is critical to understand that good fruit is not the means to being a Christian but the evidence of being a disciple of Jesus.
Now, what does one do as a disciple of Jesus? Again, He answers that question for us in a number of places in the New Testament. Consider Luke 9:23: “If anyone wants to come after me (be my disciple) he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.” In other words, Jesus must be our first priority as we obey and follow Him. And, we must be willing to suffer in the process.
Finally, how does one begin?
Again, Jesus answers that question for us in His conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born from above . . . born again. Paul describes this in Ephesians 2. Paul writes that we are all dead in our sins. God, because He is so merciful, raises us from this spiritual deadness through faith in Jesus. It is His gift to us . . . nothing we can do for ourselves.
So, how do I begin? I must recognize and acknowledge my sin. Then, I must confess it to God and earnestly repent from my sin, trusting that Jesus died for the remission of my sins. All the while, I am praying that God will work within me to give me a new heart (born again) as described in Ezekiel 36:25 – 27.
Second Petition – I want to be more loving
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is, He responded that we should love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbor as our self (see Matthew 22: 37-40).
In the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible, the word “love” is used 235 times in the New Testament . . . 72 of those occurrences are in John’s writings:
- John (the Gospel) – 39
- John’s First Epistle – 26
- John’s Second Epistle – 5
- John’s Third Epistle – 2.
John writes a great deal about love. His greatest theme is “love.” He calls us to love the Lord; to love the truth; to love our calling; and to love people (Maxwell Leadership Bible). And, he warns us not to love the world. In John 15:12, Jesus commands us to love “one another as I have loved you.” We are to “abide in His love.”
Third Petition – I want to be more holy
To become more holy is to become more righteous . . . less sinful. It is not perfection but a direction toward holiness. Why is this important? God cannot look upon sin (wickedness) . . . Habakkuk 1:13. To be in fellowship with God and to live with Him forever, we must be without sin . . . we must be holy. Jesus gives us that righteousness but we must also make every effort to abstain from sin. Paul instructs us to take off the old sinful “clothes” and put on new “clothes” (Colossians chapter 3).
Becoming more loving and becoming more holy comprise a growth process that is called sanctification. Wayne Grudem describes this process this way:
“Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.”
Fourth Petition – I want to be like Jesus
We want to be like Him because He is the only human to ever live and commit no sin. He alone is perfect. Paul writes that He “is the image of invisible God.” And, “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.” Jesus is God. He testifies to that in His high priestly prayer in John 17 and while He is on trial. John gives us the assurance that we will be like Him in 1 John 3.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” And, “He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
1 John 3:2
Where? In my heart
This phrase, “in my heart” is repeated throughout the spiritual. When a phrase is repeated, it is important. The writer certainly got this right according to Jesus. One of His most critical and fundamental teachings involved the heart. Nowhere is this clearer than in Matthew 15.
In the beginning of the chapter, Jesus is responding to the criticism from the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They criticized His disciples for eating with unwashed hands. Jesus used this opportunity to teach a critical spiritual principle. He called the crowds to Him and explained that it is not what goes into a person that makes him/her unclean. It is what comes out of the person that makes them unclean.
And, He says this to them and us.
Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.
Matthew 15: 17-20
The writer of our hymn clearly understood that our heart is the problem, echoing what Jeremiah said in chapter 17.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9
So, if I want to be a Christian . . . it starts with my heart!
Closing prayer
May our prayer be as follows . . .
Lord, we do want to be a Christian. We do want to be like Jesus. Work in our hearts so that we would be more loving and more holy. And, on that day, we would be made like Him. Amen!
Hymns for Him 