What is a Christian?

I once heard someone say that you can no more be ‘sort of Christian’ than you can be ‘sort of pregnant’. You either are, or you are not!

In the case of pregnancy, whilst the new life growing inside a mother may not be immediately obvious to everyone, the mother certainly knows things have changed. Similarly, when a person takes their first steps to commit themselves to become a follower of the Lord Jesus, the early signs may not be so obvious to everyone either, but the new believer will very soon have to come to terms with the ramifications of their new condition.

Again, during pregnancy, as that ‘new life’, that ‘new creation’ begins to grow in complexity and strength within the womb, it slowly develops all the attributes that will eventually enable it to literally stand-up for itself, and survive in the big wide world outside. Likewise, metaphorically, the developing faith of a new Christian should become progressively stronger and more developed, providing that they eat the right ‘food’, avoid unhealthy environments, and take care that the ‘new life’ within them is not exposed to things that may be toxic. Faith will grow stronger with exercise and thus enable the believer to deal with all the challenges that everyday life has to throw at them, it just takes persistence. 
But it is very important to understand what the Bible says 'faith' is: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1. 

 

So please keep the above analogy in mind as we spend just a few minutes considering what is involved in being a Christian.

To begin with, the Dictionary definition of a Christian is quite interesting (Ref: Oxford English) 'Relating to or professing Christianity or its teachings. A person who has been Baptised or is a believer in Christianity'. (Ref: Merriam Webster) 'A person who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ'.

So according to the writers of the secular dictionaries, a person who says they are Christian, who says they believe in the Bible and says they follow Jesus teachings, and who may have been Baptised, IS a Christian.

That seems straight forward enough!

But is that statement supported by what we generally observe each day?

In the population Census for England and Wales in 2011, 59.3% of the resident population: 33.2 million people identified themselves as being Christian.

While just 25% of the population: 14.1 million people responded that they had no particular 'religion' at all. Interestingly, a comparison with the previous Census in 2001 revealed that there had been a decrease in the proportion of people who identified as Christian: Down from 71.7% to 59.3% in just ten years. (Data from Office for National Statistics in April 2013) 

Considering this data, is it be unreasonable to wonder why; if more than 50% of the UK population declare to a Government Census that they believe the Bible, follow the teachings of Jesus and who may have been Baptised by one of the various Church denominations in the UK... do we observe so much dishonesty, casual and violent crime, immorality, adultery, sexual perversion, vulgar language in the public arena? 

Likewise, why are TV programmes such as Big Brother, Jeremy Kyle, Graham Norton and Soap Operas like East Enders and Coronation Street both of which proudly present, develop and pubicise increasingly immoral, lurid and sensational story-lines so popular?

Where is the Godly moral influence of the ‘Christian 50%’ in society?

What if perhaps some of the 30 million professing Christians are mistaken in their understanding of how a Christian is supposed to speak and behave?

What if perhaps they have not actually read the Bible all the way through, and have not seriously considered its content and instructions, but instead have created a personal philosophy, morality and lifestyle that they choose to call Christian, in order to make them feel good about themselves?

Perhaps you know someone who says they are Christian, but also say something like;   “I have my own private faith, so please don’t impose your interpretation of the Bible on me, thank you”.

Maybe the Bible can give us a better definition about what a Christian is, and how to become one. Specifically; a person who can actually be both ‘Salt and Light’ in society.

Jesus said: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world..."

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven"  Matthew 5:13

You may be surprised to learn that the word Christian is used just three times in the Bible: Acts 11:26. Acts 26:28 & 
I Peter 4:6. In each instance the Greek word 'Christanos' is used, which is defined in the Bible as a; 'follower of Christ'. 

Note: The Hebrew word which is at the root of the word Christ and Christian, originates from the Old Testament concept of the Moshiach or Messiah, which translates as the 'Anointed One' ...who is the Jewish Messiah of biblical prophecy. (Read: The Book of Daniel 9:20-27) 

The New Testament records how Jesus regularly argued and disputed with the Jewish Religious Authorities about their treatment of the ordinary Jewish people. In particular Jesus challenged their interpretation of the Hebrew scriptures and the Law, especially regarding how the people should behave, worship and serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

You see, Jesus disagreed with how the 'clergy' of that time had created numerous 'man-made' rules and regulations, many that were not actually found in the Torah: the Old Testament book of the Law of Moses. Jesus told them that they had neglected the spirit or 'intention' of the Torah, whilst imposing their interpretation of the 'rule' of the Law.

The leaders of course did not take kindly to Jesus challenging their authority, and especially calling them hypocrites. Meanwhile, the ordinary people watched this dispute with great interest, probably because they too saw the double standards of the leaders, but were too afraid to speak out.

It is because you cannot hear My word. "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies". John 8:39

About one thousand four hundred years had elapsed between God giving Moses the Law and the Covenant in the desert of Sinai, to the time when Jesus began teaching and healing the Jews in Jerusalem and Israel. He called on them to repent, because He said that the Kingdom of God was at hand. 
The Jews were under the military Rule of Rome, but also were experiencing oppression by a corrupt religious establishment. The people had given up hope in Messiah.

Jesus began His ministry by selecting a dozen disciples to ‘follow Him’ and He called them to be ‘fishers of men’. Jesus said they were to go out to the 'lost sheep of Israel', and help them find their way back to a trust in their God.

People were generally ‘religious’ by way of their rituals and traditions, but did not  understand or actually believe what the Bible said or what their prophets had warned. Their 'condition' was very much like we witness today among many professing Christians, attending Church only at Christmas and Easter, or maybe Christenings, Weddings and Funerals. 

They went to the Temple in Jerusalem, and to their  local Synagogues, and they even gave their tithes and offerings, but they had no real knowledge of the Bible, no sincere faith in what the Bible said about the past or the future, and had no personal relationship with their God or belief that He heard or even answered their prayers.

Jesus said to the religious leaders: "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the One and only God? "Do you not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. "But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" John 5:39

Sadly like so many people today, including many who even attend Church; the simple Gospel truth that you MUST be Born Again is questioned and ridiculed.   They angrily protest: “How dare you say that Jesus is the ONLY way!”

In fact today, two thousand years after the trial, scourging, death and Jesus miraculous resurrection from the tomb, the destructive influence and writings of corrupt men and women, self-opinionated atheist academics and liberal clergy, have brought the Church and the wider society to essentially the same condition that Jesus encountered when He came first for the ‘lost sheep’ of the House of Israel.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;... Jesus answered and said to him, "truly, truly, I say to you, unless one s born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

We read in this passage that even Nicodemus, a religious teacher and leader did not grasp the simplicity of the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed. Specifically, that the promise of eternal life is a free gift, bestowed from above by our Creator, and all we have to do is repent (ask forgiveness), believe that He can forgive our sins and then accept His promise of a new life.

But what does it say?... if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:8

What has all that got to do with me?

Imagine for a moment that you were taken to ‘court’ and charged with a crime, accused of being a Christian… Do you think there would be sufficient evidence available to convict you? Would there be any witnesses who could testify that you are guilty as charged? What evidence would be presented?

I ask this simple question, because contrary to a large number of professing Christians, you are not one because one or more of your parents say they are. Neither do you become a Christian because you are 'sprinkled' or 'dipped' in water as an infant. You do not automatically become a Christian because you attend a particular Church or denomination or even an Evangelical ‘Mission’ where someone lays their hands on you and you perhaps ‘fell down’.

NO! You become a Christian by making a conscious decision that you want to be a follower of Jesus. You should become overwhelmingly aware that you are a sinner and that no amount of saying sorry for past wrongs, or promising to do the right thing ‘from now on’ can make you deserving of going to heaven rather than ending up in a literal fiery Hell for eternity.

Your sins CAN be forgiven and consequently will not be waiting for you at the judgement…    BUT, your repentance has to be heartfelt and sincere. You must accept that it is ONLY Jesus’ death on the Cross at Calvary, on your behalf, (because it is you who actually deserve death!) that is the effective antidote for your terminal condition.

He (God the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21

Never forget this fundamental truth!

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

You have a choice between opposing world-views…

Either what the Bible says, or what numerous philosophers and secular scientists believe. What an Omnipotent, Omniscient Creator God who was there says…               

Or what numerous fallible, atheist men and women, who were not there, profess they believe.

Remember: "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of Christ" Romans 10:17

But the two views can’t both be right!

Please don’t be misled, the Bible DOES tell you that there is a coming judgement, including the basis God uses for deciding who has been naughty and who has been nice… as the Christmas song goes.

The Atheist, the Muslim, the Hindu and the Buddhist etc., the academics, and the liberal clergy and even the; ‘all religions are the same’ types, often say they ‘like’ or ‘admire’ what Jesus did as a good person, and how He fed the poor and so on. But they ALL emphatically deny His assertion of the Father and Son relationship, they reject Jesus explanation for the Origin of the world and of Sin. They reject a literal Adam and Eve, and a worldwide Flood. They reject His Death and Resurrection, and they definitely reject and are greatly offended by His warning of a coming judgement for those who choose to go their own way.

So your choice is quite simple… Will it be His Way or the 'broadway'!

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13

Your future is in your hands.

For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.                           II Corinthians 5:10

Just as you can’t be sort of pregnant, neither can you be 'sort of' a Christian and continue to hang on to a contra-biblical belief that mankind and the universe is just the result of random chance Evolution that took millions or even billions of years without any design, plan or purpose.

The Theory of Evolution absolutely requires NO Creator or Design or Plan. So 'logically' demands a rejection of a belief in a Creator God, and by this same logic, rules out an origin for Sin and most assuredly rejects the 'fairness' of a coming judgement for how we have lived our lives. Oh, and by the way… don’t be deceived by suggestions that God used or even initiated Evolution!

The Evolutionist and the Atheist rather, insist that because we are just evolved Apes and acting according to our primitive ‘nature’, we should not be judged! 

This is the same conceited pride that inspired Lucifer to lead his rebellion.  See: Isaiah 14:12-17

An American Evolutionary Biologist, Geneticist Academic: Richard C. Lewontin wrote in a forward to Carl Sagan's 1995 Book: 'The Demon haunted World'...

"It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a-priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door... To appeal to an omnipotent deity is to allow that at any moment the regularities of nature may be ruptured, that miracles may happen."

Evolution 'is' the worlds Religion!

Evolution is 100% the opposite of the Biblical account that says Sin came into the world through Adam’s disobedience in the garden in Eden, and so Jesus sacrificial death holds NO logic if there was NO original fall!

If the ‘Sins’ that the New Testament says Jesus made Atonement for, were not really our fault all along, because, as the doubters say; Adam and Eve did not exist, they were not really tempted by a literal Satan in the form of a Serpent in a real Garden in Eden… 

Fundamentally this argument implies that Jesus was a liar, the Gospel writers were liars and the Bible can’t be trusted. 
Read: I Corinthians 15:45-49

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

Only one of the accounts can be true, and a Christian can only grow in faith and understanding by trusting in the Biblical account, because to try to believe bits of both will ensure constant conflict on an almost daily basis, which will eventually result in compromise, maybe even a loss of faith. The battle we face is for control of our hearts AND minds. 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.   Romans 12:2

Many 'secularists' argue that they are free thinkers, and do not follow myths and legends. But in reality, the world tells you daily what to believe, what is right, what is moral, and the media, the schools, scientists, and even many so called churches and clergy regularly assert that things are right and acceptable, when the Bible clearly says they are wrong. In fact the liberal clergy seem to want to re-write the Bible every other week, so they can appear loving, non-judgemental and so not offend the world.

So decide now whom you will serve.

"For the scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed'". Romans 10:11

For sure, there are many difficult and perhaps initially confusing passages and events recorded in the bible. Things that can only be understood by study.

But the author of the Bible promises to help us to understand it's content and meaning. But we need to study to show ourselves approved, and to develop our faith in His Word.

"I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "But when He, The Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come". John 16:12

You will read in the Bible many things which are quite contrary to what our many years of secular education, secular atheist media influence, and ever-changing societal values have imposed upon us. The challenge from this point onward will be to be like the new baby in the womb, and be ‘Born Again’ with His values and His standards. Our new faith has a new goal.

Remember; "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval". Hebrews 11:1

What of tomorrow?


“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? 

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.                  II Peter 3:3

Please consider these thoughts carefully, be honest to your heart, and may the Lord Bless your reflection.

                 Shalom in Jesus wonderful name.