Wednesday, December 31, 2008

What Is a Christian?

When I lived in New York, a Yankee was someone from New England. In the South, I discovered, a Yankee is anyone from the North. Later, when I was in Europe, I discovered a Yankee is anyone from the United States.


The designation of “Christian” is much like that. To many, anybody that does not belong to an obviously non-Christian religion is a Christian. Others believe that a Christian is one who belongs to or is associated with a Christian church, whether it be Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox. Some, being of narrower thinking, would limit the designation only to those who belong to their particular church, sect, or denomination.


The followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26) because they were mimickers of him. They were devoted — body, soul, and spirit — to Jesus. People outside their ranks knew where they stood and what they stood for.


In the United States, according to a Barna poll taken a few years ago, a full 74% of the population claims to have made a commitment to Jesus Christ. That means that almost three-quarters of the country believe they are Christians. If that many Americans are “mimickers of Christ,” why is this country in the mess that it is in?


Do you consider yourself to be a Christian? What difference has that made in your own life? How has that affected your family life? How has that affected the society in which you live?

Being a Christian is more than belonging to a church. Being a Christian is more than being baptized and confirmed. Being a Christian is more than being faithful to the services of the church. Being a Christian is even more than just believing in Jesus Christ. Although a part of Christianity, none of these things can make you a Christian.

What then is a Christian and how do I become one?

A Christian is one who has been given spiritual life by the Holy Spirit resulting in a full acceptance of all that Jesus Christ is and claims to be along with a complete submission to the will of God in all areas of one’s life. This new life is entered into through the new, or second, birth and matures the Christian over the years as he learns more of God’s will and Word. In the Christian, God the Holy Spirit is performing a life-changing feat which will eventually result in the believer’s becoming more and more like Jesus Christ himself.

Is this your experience? Do you more and more hate those things that God hates and more and more love that which he loves? This is the experience of the true Christian. This is the experience that will effect changes in our society. This experience and this life can be yours for the taking. It comes simply by believing. “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life,” John 3:36.