The True Seriousness of Saying You Are a Christian

If asked, millions of people in America and the world would describe themselves as being Christian, and that is certainly a nice thing to say. However, have we ever considered the seriousness and responsibility that comes with such a profession of faith? Do we recognize that we are living examples to others around us of our faith? Sadly, I believe many have forgotten or don't realize this.
Far and away the two biggest reasons I get for people rejecting Christianity are:
 1.Bad things that have been done in the name of Christianity.Things like abusive cults or clergy, violence, injustices,oppression,etc.It only takes a moment to see how bogus these reasons are. You can't blame a faith for the bad behavior of one person or group just as you can't condemn a whole race or culture because of the actions of one of its members.
Now for the second reason, one that should cause all Believers to have genuine concern: People will often say something like this: "most Christians I see or know are phonies."
Unlike reason #1, this complaint is something we as professed Christians have control of. It leads to the question we all need to ask ourselves, are we walking the talk of our faith?
Are we living as called out believers in Jesus? Are we trying to follow His teachings each and every moment of our lives, or, do we live,dress,talk and act as if we are "in the world" as opposed to not being "of this world"? (paraphrasing Jesus' words here).
Scripture tells us in Romans12--"And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
I could go on and on about how our behavior influences others and their view of the Christian faith but let's finish with this, what does Jesus have to say about people who say they are Believers but don't live and act as if they are?
Jesus said in Mark7--“Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
And finally, Our Lord has this to say: "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven."
May we all walk the talk of our faith. In doing so we achieve genuine peace in this life and paradise in the world to come.