Entry 5 - What is a Christian??

I bet you think you know, don’t you? In matters involving politics and religion, most thinking men and women have their own cherished opinions which they insist must be right simply because they believe them to be so. It is much easier to run the country from a chat board than from the Oval Office since the former asks only for an opinion while the latter demands action and result. Ask me what I think and I will entertain you for hours. Solicit my opinion on the subjects of national security, the death penalty, tax rebates, push ballots, heaven, hell, God or the devil himself and I will tell you much more than you ever wanted to hear. But of what profit is that to you? Opinions, though expressed as truth may, none the less, prove false and leave not only the speaker but the hearer in complete ignorance of what truth truly is. Of supreme importance, therefore, is not what I think to be true but what is true and to keep my opinion out of it.

Now, I ask you again. What is a Christian? I did not ask you what you think a Christian is. I am not looking for opinions. In matters as important as this, you need to know what a Christian is especially if your eternal happiness depends on it. Maybe it would be good to uncover the truth by first unmasking the error; to look at what a Christian is by unveiling what he is not. It is a widely held and erroneous opinion, for instance, that a Christian must be denominationally defined. In other words, many believe that they are Christians for no better reason than they are practicing and faithful Baptists or Methodists or Catholics or Lutherans or any other popular branch of denominationalism. If I am a Baptist I must therefore be a Christian. If I am a member of good standing in the Episcopalian church then I have the right to call myself a Christian. To be born a Catholic is to be born a Christian. You know how the thinking goes. It is the way by which specific groups monopolize the Christian world the way Microsoft monopolizes the computer world. You cannot become a Christian until you first become something else and enjoin yourself to a particular church or creed. Now that may be a clever way of legitimatizing one’s specific denomination, but it in no way touches upon the true meaning of the word Christian. A person may very well be a Christian and associate himself with the Baptists or Catholics or Lutherans, but being a Baptist or Catholic or Lutheran does not necessarily make that person a Christian. We must be clear upon this matter. To define a Christian by using denominational name tags is nothing more than defining a pretzel by the brand bag it’s in. You cannot define the one by its association with the other. This will not work.

Another widely held approach is to define the Christian not so much by who he is but by what he does. Here the Christian is zeroed in on as one who works hard, gives to charity, keeps the speed limit, minds his own business, doesn’t use coarse language and lives a responsible life. His children are polite, his home is maintained and his appearance, well-groomed. He polishes the halo over his head with the proud proclamation that he has lived a “good life”, has never hurt anybody, is a much better person than Charles Manson and, unlike our former president, has never been unfaithful to his wife. His works are weighed in the balances and as long as his good deeds outnumber his bad, he has earned the right to identify himself with Christ. A Christian, therefore, is just an all around good guy; a hardworking, law-abiding, church-going,
all-American Joe. Now, it is certainly beyond argument to concede that being charitable, keeping the law, speaking respectfully and living responsibly are honorable things. These are things that we all, whether Christian or not, should pursue. But we must be clear that the doing of these things, regardless of how reputable they are, does not make the practitioner a Christian. A Christian will always be noted by his good living, but his good living does not, by sheer consequence, make him a Christian. These things may describe how he lives but they in no way define who he is. No, this will not do either.

Well, where will we go with this? To what source shall we turn to find the plain meaning of what a Christian is? Well I can think of no better source than that from which the name was first used- the Bible. Granted, there is an inherent hesitancy in our age to turn to the Bible for anything. We expect information to come to us in pinstripe suits and lab coats. After all, technology and science are recognized as the most reliable sources of undisputed fact available today, aren’t they? Well, in the world of briefcases and test tubes, some say so . But when it comes to matters more spiritual than lab rats and computer chips, the Bible is the superior source. Christianity, after all, is not about the internet or corporate profits or even us. It is about Another. It has nothing to do with denominations, seminaries, church affiliations or religions. It has everything to do with a Person who had no church affiliation, never exhausted a moment in a seminary Bible class, and would recoil at ever being considered a “religious person”. Christianity in its purest definition is Christ. He is the focal point, the center of attention, the One around whom all of Christianity revolves, and He came to fulfill a most profound mission. Paul tells us of it in his first epistle to Timothy. In nine short words Paul gives us the creed of Christianity. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That was great news to the Apostle Paul since he, by his own humble testimony, considered himself to be the chief of sinners and in need, therefore, of a great Savior. A Christian, therefore, is one who recognizes himself to be a sinner and has been saved, not by his denomination, minister or favorite deacon, but by Christ Jesus Himself. He is one who has come to realize that a truckload of good living and charitable deeds will never be good enough to appease a God who demands nothing short of perfection. And, he is one who humbly places his eternal-well being, his salvation, his faith and his trust in Jesus Christ alone. Now that is a Christian. It is not Billy Graham’s opinion. It is biblical fact.

Now may we move on? Forgive me, but I do need to get a bit personal and ask you a question that only you can answer. Are you a Christian? Please don’t say “I think I am”. That would be expressing your opinion and, like the question that opened this paper, this needs to be answered with fact. Again, are you a Christian? If you say “Well I think I am since I attend a Baptist or Wesleyan or Catholic church and I help old ladies cross the street” well, I am afraid that you are living by what you think and not by what you know. Let me pose the question another way. Have you placed your need for forgiveness and your hope of heaven in Christ and in Him alone without the slightest measure of confidence in your own goodness or religious persuasion? If you say “yes” then you are a Christian. The crucial point is not the church door you pass through but the relationship you enter into in Christ. It is that relationship which defines what a Christian is, and in a topic as important as one’s eternal destiny, I would much rather live by fact than opinion. Wouldn’t you?

Pillow Passages (or something to lay your head on at night)

Here is a “Pillow Passage” for you as you close the night. It is from Psalm 4:8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. I recall a preacher once saying that if anyone slept soundly at night it should to be the Christian. The night goblins that keep others awake should have no power over those who make the Lord their safety. Even now there are some poor, restless souls who are tossing the night away over a pending problem that torments their minds with endless threats of loss and trouble. The midnight menace sits crouching at their ears and whispers into their minds that destruction and misery will surely come. They have no safety net to catch them when they fall. But it is not so for the Christian. Those who dwell in the Lord dwell in His safety as well. He is a Daddy who chases the phantoms away and provides a restful sleep when His children are weary and heavy laden. Are you troubled on every side? Do your troubles shadow you in your bed at night? Then take this prescription from the Psalmist. Lie down in peace and sleep. why? Because your Lord makes you to dwell in safety by day and by night. Night goblins have no power over those who dwell in the Light. Follow the Psalmist's example and cast all your care and trust on Him. If you do so, you too will lie down in peaceful sleep. May that precious promise be a soft pillow for your head and a tonic for your troubles this evening.

Entry 4- Christmas Card Christianity

One of the fond memories I have from my youth came during the closing weeks before Christmas when the mailman’s arrival meant another ten to twenty Christmas cards would be deposited in our box. Back then postage was cheap so it wasn’t unusual to receive that many cards on a daily basis. My mother would divide the cards between my sister and I and we would each enjoy the benefit of opening the envelopes entrusted to our childish hands. I think what I was drawn to most were the pictures on the face of each card. Images of reindeer, bells, snow laden chimneys and decorated trees held the attention and amazement of this young boy. Most of all, I think, I enjoyed the cards that displayed pictures of churches situated on hillsides, with snow carpeting the landscape, deer standing in the distance, a clouded moon lighting the sky and faint images of church goers singing favored Christmas hymns. To me that was a pristine picture of peace and joy. It was a colorful essay of harmony, tranquility and love; a treasury of things most absent in a world of sin. Maybe deep down that card represented what I was longing for most. Possibly so. I can’t say for certain what was running through my mind back then but I do know that those childhood Christmas images sufficiently reflect what I was longing for most as a young Christian some fifteen years later. It was my certain, though sadly disappointed, expectation that Christianity would unfold in my life like one of those prettied up Christmas cards. Having entrusted my eternal wellbeing to Christ and His most generous gift of forgiveness, I felt that my life would take a certain and obvious turn for the better. Like that snowy hillside, I felt that peace, love, joy, acceptance and lifelong tranquility would come as a natural consequence of my union with Christ. My marriage would be great, my life happy, my ministries successful and my love for Him and His church ever abounding. Miscarriages in life and love only come to those who are outside of Christ. These, foolishly so, were expectations created more out of my own personal desire than Scriptural and historical truth. Not surprisingly, my “Christmas card Christianity” was soon thrown to the rubbish like those cards once the Christmas holiday had passed. Christianity, at least on this side of eternity, was not to be enjoyed on clouds of ease. There would be many temptations, trials and losses (some horribly gut wrenching) that would rip my colorful and deluded expectations to shreds. After thirty one years of laboriously walking with the Lord I can say that the battle scars are still there. I have been disappointed in love, passed through valleys of depression and often brought to the point where peace seemed like a word of letter but without substance. I had come to the sad realization that “Christmas card Christianity” was as make believe as Santa himself. But, though I despaired, I did not despair as those who have no hope. There was a greater, far more profound reason for hopefulness. The Savior and His wonderful promise of eternal bliss are no fancied images of a child’s imagination. It is certain that in this life we will have our share of tribulation. But, be of good cheer. He has overcome the world through His resurrection triumphs and we, like our great Predecessor, shall be raised triumphant as well. The peace for which we all long for will one day be eternally ours. That is a cetainty that isn't as wavering as a child's imagination. Now, that is the best kind of Christmas cheer and one, I am certain, that will never be found on the face of a Christmas card.

Pillow Passages (or something to lay your head on at night)

Here is a “Pillow Passage” for you as you close the night. It is from Mt 11:28. Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. The command to us is simple: come. His response is clear: “I shall give…” . Such is the dear nature of the Savior; He is a giver. We come and He gives. But what does He give? Judgment? Wrath? Angry rebukes? No, He gives rest; a peace that passes understanding. Dear believing readers, do you see the outstretched arms of the Savior? He is inviting you to come and dwell in His rest. Let not your heart be troubled. There is a rest that quiets even the most bleeding heart. May that be your pillow tonight.

Entry 3- Pocket Idols

A. W. Tozer once made the observation that “Grace will save a man but it will not save him and his idol”. I am sure that he meant to aim his arrow in an evangelical direction and point to the less than controvertible fact that the Lord saves lost people from their idols not with them. The converted sinner can not take his stone statues with him into the kingdom. When the true God calls, all false gods must be cast aside. But this truth can be applied to the Christian’s heart as well. We may not bow before images of chiseled stone or polished brass but let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that we are without our idols. The idols that most appeal to us are pocket idols; the kind that are outside the range of human eyesight but are there none the less to trip us up. One such idol is doctrine. You know the tags. We all use them. I am a Calvinist. You are an Arminian. We are Dispensationalists. They are Covenant theologians. He is this and she is that. Just add an “ian” or “ist” to virtually any word and you can form for yourself a new idol of dogma and doctrine that multitudes may be willing to follow. What am I really? If I answered that question fifteen years ago I probably would have identified myself as a Reformed Baptist with puritanical convictions and premillenial leanings. That is the idol I would have stuffed in my pocket. And if any disagreed with me I would have shown them, in a very pompous way, why they should leave their idol and come over to mine. I would never have admitted that I had an idol but that is why I carried it in my pocket. If it is out of sight it really doesn’t exist even if it is very much in my mind. You see I found, much to my displeasure, that I was so preoccupied with Calvin that I had almost forgotten my Christ. That is what happens when sound doctrine becomes a senseless idol. Doctrine is good when it causes us to think more of the Savior. It is bad and idolatrous when it causes us to dwell more on the teaching and less on the Person it is supposed to reflect. Now we must all concede that truth is indispensable. Teaching and doctrine both come from the same Greek root and underscore the fact that you cannot have true teaching without true doctrine. But doctrine by itself is sterile and lifeless. Dogma cannot pardon a lost soul. It is only the person of Christ that can save a wretch like me. What am I really? Well if answered today I hope, above and beyond all other things, I would say that I am a Christian. The doctrine is there. It just that I took it out of my pocket and put it where it belongs. What’s in your pocket?

Entry 2- The heavy weight of sin

There are Christians (at least self proclaimed) in the church today who say they have never felt the weight of their sins. When they call Jesus Saviour I often wonder what He has saved them from. If not the guilt and penalty of sin, what then? Bad breath? Poor posture? Sub-par hygiene? I don't want to come across in a mocking tone but when I analyze my own sinful propensities I know exactly why Jesus died for me. You see sin is a weighty thing. It is the chief weapon in the devil's arsenal. He is , after all, quite clever here. It isn't that he wants to drive you to drunkenness or pornography or womanizing (or "manizing" to give the ladies equal time) for the singular purpose of letting you enjoy those things for a measurable period of time. He has no interest in gratifying your flesh if the Lord will not. What he is aiming for is the after effects; the feelings of guilt and alienation that inevitably come to our minds when we have shamed Him by our actions. You know the thoughts full well. Oh I have sinned again. The Lord must really be disgusted with me now. I'm going to get chastised for sure. What will it be this time? A flat tire? Sudden sickness? Stubbed toe? Or maybe even something far worse. You see when we think this way the devil has gained the victory. Repentance is good. Self condemnation isn't . If He has saved you then you will forever be saved. He doesn't stop loving you because you have erred. Don't let the wicked one tease you with such things. Sin is a weighty thing but I think the Lord's arms are strong enough to hoist it far above his head and slay it forever on the old rugged cross. I wonder what consolation other "Christians" have who have never experienced the weighty nature of their sins? Probably no consolation since, in their own minds, there is nothing to be consoled for. I don't think, if given the choice, that I would ever want to trade places with them.

Entry 1 -- Reflections of a beloved friend

As a Christian, do you have a "beloved friend"? By that I mean, do you have someone that you can turn to in times of dire need and, in that person, find a receptive ear and caring heart? I feel that the Church of today is full of acquaintances but very few friends. We have an abundance of names written on "membership rolls" but too few that are written on our hearts. We see familiar faces each Sunday morning but a very small minority of the people behind those faces are, or ever will become, beloved friends. I have such a friend. His name is Mark and we have been meeting together once a week for about two months. How do I know that he is a beloved friend? Well let me share some observations. First, he is not reluctant to make time for me nor do I have any reservations in making time for him. We meet at a time close to the stroke of midnight when most folks are in bed. I know he is tired but still time is set aside for two fellow pilgrims to get together and share. You see a beloved friend is not afraid to put the desires of "self" behind the needs of a friend. Furthermore, I know he is a dear friend because he openly shares what is most pressing and painful in his life with me and I with him. There is no hiding behind a sterile facade. Failures, sins, weaknesses and vulnerabilities are shared in complete confidence. We both know that the confession of such personal issues will not invoke judgement and scorn but heartfelt counsel and care. It is just good to be able to unload on one who is a true and beloved friend. And I suppose another reason why we have such a relationship is because time just seems to whisk by when we are enjoying fellowship together. Midnight quickly becomes three in the morning and it is time to say good night. I am afraid that the Church is full of people who have numerous acquaintances but few if any friends. Do you have such a friend? I think that you will find that he, like your Saviour, will both now and forever stick closer to you than a brother.

It is my intent to begin a series of short, practical musings that I hope will be of benefit to my readership, whether that be large or insignificant. The purpose is not to be controversial or plunge the depths of deep theological quandaries. Instead, I desire to bring Christianity home with topics that touch our every day living. At times my entries will read like excerpts from a personal journal which, I suppose, will be purposeful. The Christian lifestyle is not easily unfolded in a sinful world and the execution of living that life is seldom easy. I hope some of these posts will shine like candles along the way to give light and direction to some weary pilgrims. Stay tuned.

Are you concerned about eternity? You should be. Eternity, after all, lasts forever. Do you know where you will spend eternity? You should. There are only two possibilities; heaven or hell. I assume, considering that you are of a sane mind, that you would prefer to be a citizen of heaven. Hell is not a very comfortable place to spend "forever". If so, do you know how to get there? If not, let me show you. Would you take your Bible and turn to the Gospel of John (in the New Testament) and read John 14:6. Here is your assignment. What does that verse teach. Please let me know by posting back to me. The importance of this cannot be under estimated. Your very soul depends on it.