"Real Thing" Christians
Years ago, I watched an interesting documentary about Knoedler & Company; a highly respected art gallery in New York City that had been around for over 160 years. It was the kind of place that made headlines, shaped careers, and sold masterpieces worth millions. They were experts in recognizing beauty, authenticity, and value.
Around the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, a woman named Glafira Rosales walked into Knoedler claiming to represent a mysterious collector. She offered paintings allegedly by legendary artists—Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Willem de Kooning—all modern art giants. The story was vague, but the paintings looked stunning. Knoedler's director at the time, Ann Freedman, was convinced. These pieces weren't just believable—they were beautiful, and they sold for millions.
One noted couple, came in and saw a Rothko painting that they loved. They purchased it for a whopping $8.3 million dollars. They brought it home and displayed it prominently and proudly in their front door atrium. To them it was worth the price because they just absolutely loved the piece of art.
Everyone seemed to be winning. The gallery was prospering, clients loved the paintings, and Glafira was making a lot of money.
But here's the twist: all of the paintings were fake!
Every single one.
They had been painted by a Chinese immigrant named Pei-Shen Qian—not in a prestigious studio in Manhattan or Paris, but in his garage in Queens. He'd never met Pollock or Rothko. He just had a good eye and some old paint. For over 15 years, Knoedler sold these forgeries, collecting over $80 million. All because they wanted to believe the story, and didn't look too closely at the facts. Eventually, the truth came out. The gallery shut down. Lawsuits flew. Reputations were destroyed. People were betrayed. And Knoedler's legacy—built over more than a century—collapsed almost overnight.
The most interesting part of the story for me was the couple that had previously bought the $8.3 million Rothko. Before knowing it was a fake, they adored the painting, would walk by it every day and admire its composition, coloring, and whimsy. After discovering it was a forgery, they didn't want to look at it; they didn't even want it in their house. They hated it.
What I learn from this story is that there is significant power in what I call the "REAL THING."
The "real thing" is important to people. Any object can have symbolic and visual power. However, only the "real thing" contains the evidence to support its symbolic and visual importance.
The same is true of Christ-followers!
How To Spot the “Real Thing” Christian?
Let's look at our provenance. Trace back to the original. We are followers of Jesus; we should look like Jesus.
As we look at the New Testament, there are lots of commands of Christians; what we should be doing, but one repeated word keeps showing up … about what motivates a Christ follower. LOVE!
Jesus, being God, is love (1 John 4:8). His love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). His love seeks to serve, rather than be served (Matthew 20:28). His love seeks to save the lost (Luke 19:10) and lavishes the returning prodigal with grace (Luke 15:11–32). His love is patient and kind; it's not envious, boastful, arrogant, or rude. His love is not irritable or resentful, does not insist on its own selfish way, rejoices only in the truth, and bears all things (1 Corinthians 13:4–7). The love of Christ transcends every other virtue; it is the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:13).
And Jesus said this kind of love would be the distinguishing mark of his followers, the most remarkable thing about them (John 13:35). By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Because they would love like he loved, they would be his love-ambassadors on earth. Christians are meant to be the most love-focused, love-pursuing, love-dispensing people on the face of the earth. – Jon Bloom.
How should the world be able to pick out the "real thing" Christian?
Not attendance. (Although good and needed)
Not giving. (Although commanded)
Not mission trips, serving (Although should be happening)
Not by our title or role.
Not by how we dress.
Not by our lingo.
Do you LOVE like Jesus? That is the marker!
When people walk by the art canvas of your life, do they see the distinguishing brush strokes of the "real thing"?
The world will know we are "real thing" Christ-followers if they see His love. Jesus really didn't leave any loopholes as to who this love was to be applied to.
We are supposed to love God.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. – Deuteronomy 6:5
We are supposed to love one another as Christians.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." – John 13:34-35
We are supposed to love our neighbor.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." – Luke 10:27
We are supposed to love our enemies.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, - Matthew 5:44
How Do We Love?
What should this love look like?
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. – John 13:3-5
God in the flesh, sovereign over creation, the Lord of Lords, got on his hands and knees and washed the filth off the feet of his disciples. He taught them. Fed them. Served them. Protected them. Healed them. Forgave them. Washed their feet. DIED FOR THEM. Took their sin. Made them free. Made them family. Gave them an inheritance of eternity.
We are called to love by putting on the servant's towel like Jesus and serve. "I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" - John 13:15.
We show ourselves to be his disciples when we humble ourselves and seek the good of others at our own expense. On His knees He looked at ones who would soon abandon Him. Betray Him. Deny Him. We serve and love like Jesus when we love and serve in order to give, not receive. We are seeking others good …. not anything in return. (Parnell)
Jesus gave us a new object of love … and reminds us that He is the source of our love. We love as Christ has loved us.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:1-2
Kerrville Flooding Response
We have a great opportunity to love our neighbors in Kerrville that have been devastated by unprecedented flooding. We will be collecting select items to assist with immediate needs as they begin to recover. You can visit the following link for more information. citybridgechurch.org/kerrville