Am I Really a Christian? (Ngabe ngingumKristu wangempela yini?)

Jesus divided the world into two groups—those who follow him and those who don’t. But what happens when someone thinks he or she is a Christian, but isn’t? With his witty, engaging style, Mike McKinley takes readers on a journey of what it means to be a Christian. He asserts that “manipulative evangelism techniques and a poor understanding of the gospel have resulted in an abundance of professing Christians who have no idea what it means to follow Christ.”

Each chapter title begins with “You’re not a Christian [if/when/just because you]…” As he surveys what it means to be Christian, McKinley offers criteria for evaluating one’s standing before God. Readers are guided through a series of challenges to reflect, repent, remember, and report to another person. Am I Really a Christian? ends with chapters on salvation and the local church. This unique book is written for nominal or new Christians and can be used in personal or small-group study.

This book was made available in partnership with Imprint. Visit their website here.

Ngabe ngingumKristu wangempela yini?

Uma bekungathiwa ake sibeke amaqiniso obala, ngabe ikhona yini enye into emqoka okumele engabe siyazihlupha ngayo ngaphandle kokuzibuza [ngenhloso yokuzazi] ukuthi siyiwo ngempela yini amaKristu noma siyadlala? Miningi imizamo eseyenziwa abathile ukuphendula noma ukucabanga ngalombuzo. Kukhona abathi ukuze uziqinisekise ukuthi uyilo ngempela ikholwa kufanele ukwazi ukukhumbula ilanga ‘abakhuleka ngalo umkhuleko’, kuze kuyofika ekubeni nekhadi elasayiniwe. Ukuzihlola ngokwethu ukuthi sikuyo yini inkolo ngokweqiniso kubiza okungaphezulu kwalokho. UMfundisi McKinley unikeza usizo oluqavile kolangazelela ukuhlola eyakhe inhliziyo ngalombuzo. Lencwadi yinhle kakhulu ngoba ungayisebenzisa wedwana lapho ukhuleka okanye ufuna ukuzisondelanisa noNkulunkulu. Ilungele nawukusetshenziswa yiqeqebana elincane elifunda iBhayibheli ndawonye. Okunye okungenzeka uma uyifunda nengikulindele ukuthi, kungenzeka ukuthi kwabanye kube yithuba lokuqala leli lokuthi baziqonde okwangempela izindaba ezinhle zoMsindisi wethu uJesu Kristu.

Greg Gilbert, UMfundisi omkhulu, we-Third Avenue Baptist Church Louisville, Kentucky

Engabe ukhona yini umbuzo ongahle ubalulekele empilweni njengokwazi ukuthi niyaphilelana noNkulunkulu? – ukwazi ukuthi emveni kokufa uzoya ezulwini yini noma esihogweni? Nginesiqiniseko sokuthi wonke umuntu osesemaphakadeni kumanje – bonke ngothi lwabo kungekho noyedwa ongaphumela eceleni kulezo zigidigidi ezilapho – bangaqinisa ukuthi into ephuthumayo nengu-ngqa phambili phezu kwakho konke ngukuthola impendulo kuloyombuzo. Yingakho kufanele uyifunde lencwadi uma kuwukuthi ubuzonqikaza ngempendulo obungayisho uma lombuzo bewuqondiswe kuwe. Ngelinye ilanga uzokwedlulela komunye umhlaba. Lokho kuyokwenzeka ngosuku oluphathekayo njengalolo owafika ngalo emhlabeni, usuku oluphathekayo njengalolo ofunda ngalo lawamazwi. Kuloyomhlaba yilapho oyohlala ingunaphakade. Umbuzo ngowokuthi engabe usululungele yini lolosuku na? Uma kungenjalo, lencwadi izokusiza uqonde indlela eshiwo yiBhayibhel ukuthi sizilungiselele ngayo.

Donald S. Whitney, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality, Senior Associate Dean of the School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; umbhali, wencwadi ethi-How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian?