Recently, I've been reading Evangelicalism Divided by Iain Murray, and it's got me thinking. In it, Murray plots the 2 paths that Evangelicalism has taken in the past 50 years. A path toward biblical Christianity or a path toward liberalism. One of the many forks in the road for these 2 paths was how the following question was answered: "What is a Christian?"
So that's the question I'm posing to you. What is a Christian? What makes someone a Christian? I think this is an important question for all of us to think through, and the answer has massive implications that we might not realize. So here's what we're gonna do.
You have one week to leave a comment on this post answering the question, "What is a Christian?" I'll try to interact with you as you post your answers. One rule though... I want people to feel free to answer this question without the fear of ridicule or condemnation. Therefore, if you leave a comment that is derogatory towards anyone's answer, it will be deleted immediately. Let's be gracious to others just as Jesus has been gracious to us.
At the end of one week's time, I'll follow-up with a post that summarizes your answers, show some of the implications of some of those answers, and then share how the answer to this question caused division between Evangelicalism in the past 50 years. So have it.
What is a Christian?
A Christian is one who lives for Christ--who does what Christ said he came to do--to preach good news to the poor, release the prisoner, bring healing to the sick, and proclaim the Lord's favor. Both the "biblical" and "liberal" have it wrong--faith without works and works without faith are both empty.
ReplyDeleteMan, I need to read something by Iain Murray before the summer's over.
ReplyDeleteA Christian is someone who's experienced regeneration. Everything else is implication.
I think the answer to that depends on who you ask. It would seem to me that there are many definitions of the term "Christian". In fact, since there are so many definitions of the word I hardly use it as an adjective for my beliefs when dialogging with those who clearly do not identify themselves as "Christians".
ReplyDelete1) If you ask a Russian, anybody who is born in Russia is automatically born in the orthodox church and is therefore Christian.
2) If you ask a politician, a Christian is somebody who comes from a generally conservative moralistic constituency that is against abortion, and gay marriage.
3) If you ask some in certain denominations notably Catholic, Lutheran, and Church of Christ (each denominations I have a deep respect for, although I am not a member of them) Christians are people who have been baptized.
4) If you ask Middle Eastern Muslims what a Christian is, they'd tell you Americans.
5) If you ask most protestants, its somebody who's asked Jesus into their heart.
5A) If you ask somebody who holds to a free-grace view of salvation (Like Chuck Swindoll or Bill Bright), they'd tell you a Christian is somebody who has decided to make Jesus their Savior.
5B) If you asks somebody who holds to a lordship view of salvation (like Wayne Grudem, John McArthur, or Paul Washer) they'd tell you that a Christian is not only somebody who has decided to make Jesus their savior, but also the Lord of their life.
6) If you ask your average Joe who's never been to church, he'd tell you that Christians are people who go to church.
7) If you asked some, but definitely not all, groups of Pentecostals (again a group I have a deep respect for, although I'm not pentecostal) that a Christian is somebody who's been baptized in the spirit.
8) In a lot of philosophy departments around the US, theism is equated with being Christian, so to many philosophers to be a theist is to be a Christian.
9) You ask some Christians who are concerned with social justice, and they'd tell you that true Christians are the ones who take social justice seriously.
10) Some fundamentalist groups would claim that only they are Christians.
11) Mormons say that they are Christians, while most protestants reject that.
12) One ultra-reformed presbyterian denomination claims that only true 5 point Calvinists can truly be Christians.
13) One family in my previous church once made the claim that only children brought up through home-schooling could be Christian.
14) Religious Pluralists would say that Christians are people who focus on one aspect of the supreme being's character and nature.
Et Cetera.
For me personally, I think a decent working definition of a Christian is a sinful person whom God has chosen to draw to himself in grace and who through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus is forgiven of their sin, and is given the right to be called a child of God.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ephesians 2:8-10 encompasses the true essence of Christianity, because its to focused on the God who saves, and not on the person who is saved. It is only through the gift and grace of God that we receive true saving faith. The reception of this faith is through no work of our own. It is a free gift, that only God can bestow upon us. The true determination of who is a Christian and who is not does not fall to men, but to God, since only God can truly elect and truly save. There are so many ways we as men can define the term Christian, but it is only through the grace of God that men can truly be considered "Christians" by God.
And then, not only is God sovereign over those who truly are "Christians" by His definition, we find in verse 10 of this passage, that he has prepared the good works for us in advance for us to do. His sovereignty and dominion do not only apply to salvation, but to our lives afterward. It is through his power, and his sovereign will that we grow in the faith he has given us, but it is also through his sovereign will that we do those things that He calls us to do.
To me, it seems like there are as many definitions of the term "Christian" as there are people (okay, maybe that's a bit extreme, but there are a TON of ways to understand the term), but there is only one definition that truly matters and that is God's. But regardless of the words we would use to make God's definition, we can say that through a reading of the New Testament, those whom God choses to show mercy and grace to to, those whom God choses to forgive, those whom God choses to call his children are those who are truly Christians.
Bob, thank you for faithfully reading this blog and interacting with it. I always enjoy your thoughtful & biblical responses. Often times, I find myself benefiting from much you have to say. And since I know you, I know that you will be offended when I say the following. After many comments & responses, I am now officially declaring you to be the 'Longest Comment Leaver' in the history of this blog. Congratulations! This is a very prestigious award. Keep 'em coming, Bob!
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness though, please do keep them coming and don't shorten them one bit. I really do enjoy hearing your thoughts.
Ann, thanks so much for your thoughtful answer to the question. Faith without works & works without faith are absolutely empty. I do have one follow-up question to your answer. You said that "both the biblical & liberal have it wrong." Could you clarify what you mean by 'biblical' Christian & 'liberal' Christian? I think it might be helpful to further the discussion.
ReplyDeleteTo me a Christian is not only one who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, but is also a follower.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally