The Question We've Forgotten to Ask (What is a Christian?)
By What is a Christian?
It almost seems like one of those things that is ruined in the process of definition, akin to asking "What is love?" or "What is beauty?" But the fact is that the authors of Scripture were concerned to help us define what a Christian is and what it isn't (e.g. I John 2:4-6).
Now, there are a lot of ways that we could accurately define from Scripture what it means to be a Christian. We could say that a Christian is one who has been adopted into God's family (Galatians 4:4-5) or we could say that a Christian is one whose sins have been forgiven by God (Colossians 1:13-14).
But in my new book Am I Really a Christian?, I define a Christian in this way: a Christian is someone who has received the new birth as a free gift from God. Of course, Jesus himself said that no one would see the kingdom of God unless they were born again (John 3:3). I think this definition is particularly helpful because the concept of being born again carries with it the idea of a new life that necessarily follows as a result. Anyone who receives the new birth as a gift will begin to live a new life, discernible in real actions and real fruit.
Now, this might sound obvious and unremarkable, but think about all of the other definitions that we sometimes use (intentionally or by default) in our churches:
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A Christian is someone who has prayed "the sinner's prayer". - A Christian is someone who has "walked the aisle".
- A Christian is someone who "made a decision for Jesus".
All of those things can be good and they may coincide and even indicate the beginning of genuine spiritual life. But they can also be dangerous, because if we look to those things as the basis for our assurance of salvation, we can be deceived.
So, in Am I Really a Christian?, I look at five things that the Bible says will always accompany true conversion. If you have these things, you have more firm evidence of God’s regenerating work in your life. If these things are absent, you have reason to be concerned.
- Belief in true doctrine. You’re not a Christian just because you like Jesus.
- Hatred for sin in your life. You’re not a Christian if you enjoy sin.
- Perseverance over time. You’re not a Christian if you don’t persist in the faith.
- Love for other people. You’re not a Christian if you don’t have care and concern for other people.
- Freedom from love of the world. You’re not a Christian if the things of the world are more valuable to you than God is.
If you know someone for whom this kind of thing would be useful, you can check out a website and some videos at amireallyachristian.com.
Michael McKinley's Posts
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I put up your article and video on my blog, but so far (anyway) it's not getting rave reviews.
If you'd like to come over and better explain what you meant, you are more than welcome.
I did put links to this site along with the piece and the video.
Thanks, very much.
Excellent start on what a Christian is. This is what happens when the idea that doctrine doesn't matter and how we live is unimportant for so many years. We find ourselves going back to the very building blocks of true conversion. We need more of this. I am getting ready to blog "Christianity and Homosexuality - Understanding the Hostility." My whole point here is that two opposing forces cannot occupy the same place at the same time. I refer to Christianity as the "Christian Distinction," and Homosexuality as "The Homosexual Choice." I appreciate all the work your team does! Keep pressing forward.
I think you can make it more simple.
You make very good points, but we need to relax a bit and remember 1 John 2:27.
A Christian is someone who has received the new birth as a free gift from God whose life is obviously changed.
The Holy Spirit can cover the doctrine, love, and perseverance.
The hatred of sin and the world simply grows in time the longer you actually live in the Kingdom. The problem, of course, is that we cannot see many of the changes in others right away. They do not emerge into the soulish or fleshly world until we have matured quite a bit. But, if you have been truly reborn, the changes will come as part of the package. "He is faithful and He will do it."
David,
You said "We need to relax a bit." I think this has been the prevailing attitude in the Christian community for years now. That attitude has us in the position where we are debating silly things like, "can practicing homosexuals be Christians while practicing their sin?" I agree that we all grow in Christ over time. But the idea that we should RELAX when it comes to our sanctification is NOT the message of Scripture. It is the urgency of fleesing from sinful behavior that propels us to grow in our faith. John was actually dealing with antinomianism when he wrote 1 John. Paul says we are in a war. He refers to the abuse of grace by continuing in sin as devastating to the Christian life. John says people who practice sinful lifestyles are of the devil. I read a lot of remarks in the NT about fleeing from sin, about sanctification, about living holy, about growing in Christ. Never once have I ever read where we should "RELAX!" We should be attacking sin everywhere it appears in our life, doing all we can to rid ourselves of this evil. Now, that being said, of course I recognize we sin repeatedly. I fully recognize we all need grace. That is not my concern. My concern is our attitude toward sin in our lives. Relax just isn't the word that comes to mind for me.
Ed
I've always found the three-fold evidences which the Puritans used as being helpful:
1. You believe the gospel
2. You exhibit the fruits of the Spirit (growing in Christ-likeness)
3. You're persevering
Like a triangle, as soon as one of these is removed, the other two fall over. True conversion should evidence all three.
Mike, my wife and I were just discussing this very issue with the kids after a recent sermon on election. As reformed folks that agree with your outline above as the criterion, how do we counsel those that have had miscarriages or friends with children that have severe intellectual disabilities? Do we say that it is "normative" that you must confess with your mouth and believe in your heart but allow a sovereign God to work alternatively? Alternatively, do we simply say that we just can't be certain unless you meet the above 5 standards? In other words, can you be elected if you don't meet all 5?
Excellent. I am going to buy the book.
You cannot be a Christian if you enjoy sin?! We ALL enjoy sin - that is why it is so tempting!
The bible makes it clear that God is doing the judging and not us, so maybe we shouldn't be 'judging' whether someone is a Christian or not - lest we make a mistake due to the plank in our own eye :)
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