What Is A Christian?
This is a very simple question, isn't it? Unfortunately the answer is not so simple. Oh, don't mistake what I'm saying — the answer would have been simple enough had man left the answering to God! But man didn't. And, as a result, there are many human definitions of the word "Christian."
For example, some say that an American is a Christian. Everything an American does is attributed to Christianity. Now we all know that there are citizens in every nation who are Christians, but certainly not all Americans are Christians. What about the killers and kidnapers — they admit being Americans, but I very seriously doubt them claiming to be Christians. Therefore, an American is not necessarily a Christian.
Others assert that a good, moral person is a Christian. I would be the first to admit that in order to be a Christian, one must be a good, moral person. This, however, is not saying that merely a good, moral person is a Christian. In fact, the Bible teaches that morality in and of itself is not enough to please God. In Acts 10 we read of a man called Cornelius: "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway." (vv. 1-2) Now, look at the moral qualities of this man:
(1) Devout
(2) God-fearing
(3) Benevolent
(4) Prayerful
My friend, any man you may venture to ask (I care not who it is) would admit that a person with the four qualities listed above would be a good, moral person. But Cornelius, even though he was a good, moral person, was not yet pleasing to God. Notice Acts 11:14: "Who (i.e., Peter) shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." Cornelius had to hear and obey the words which Peter spake unto him (the gospel) before he could be saved. Therefore, a good moral life is not enough to make one a Christian.
Still others believe that if a person belongs to a religious denomination, then he is a Christian. These people believe that attending some denomination is sufficient evidence that one is devoted to and following Christ — hence, a Christian. However, it is not obedience unto Christ or unto anything that God ever said that makes one a member of a denomination. Read that again! To illustrate, say to a denominationalist: "If you will point out in the Bible a passage obedience to which will make me a member of your denomination, I will do it and join your denomination today." I guarantee you that he cannot answer. There is not a single denomination today that you can become a member of and obey the Bible and the Bible only. Try to become a Methodist and you will end up holding the Bible in one hand — and the Methodist Discipline in the other. Try to become a Baptist and you will end up holding the Bible in one hand — and the Baptist Manual in the other. And on and on and on. Division in the religious world is sinful, and that which promotes division (i.e., these human creeds) is sinful. Paul said, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (I Cor. 1:10) Denominationalism thwarts the purpose and growth of Christianity. Jesus said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." (Matt. 15:13) Therefore, a Christian is not a member of any denomination.
Yes, man has many ideas about what a Christian is — and all of them are wrong. There is one Person, however, to whom we can go and get the correct definition of a Christian. This person was the One who formulated the name "Christian": "Even unto them will I give a name better than of sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off." (Isa. 56:5) We are speaking, of course, of God.
God has defined the name "Christian" in Acts 11. Notice with me what a Christian really is:
(1) One that hears "preaching" concerning "the Lord Jesus." (v. 20) Before a person can be Christian, he must hear with an open mind the gospel. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." (Rom. 1:16) If we close our minds and reject the gospel, then we have spurned God's only power to save us. Let it not be said of anyone today what was said of the Jews by Jesus: "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matt. 13:15)
(2) One that "believes." (v.21) The inspired writer said in Heb. 11: 6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him." If we don't love God enough to believe in Him and to believe what He has revealed to us, then we don't deserve to wear the name "Christian." It is impossible to be a "Christian Atheist" (as Thomas Altizer has claimed to be). The term is paradoxical and makes no sense whatever. Jesus said, "For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins," (Jn. 8:24).
(3) One that "turns unto the Lord." (v. 21) It is impossible to please God and be a Christian without being converted. Peter said in Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." In conversion, a man's allegiance is changed through confession (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:10); and a man's relationship is changed through baptism (Col. 1:12-14; 2:12).
Until all of these phases of a man are changed by these means, a man has not been converted, is not pleasing to God, and cannot wear the name "Christian."
(4) One that "cleaves unto the Lord." (v. 23) A person is not a true Christian unless he remains faithful to Christ as a member of His body, the church. Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you;" (Matt. 28:18-19) Many so-called "Christians" want to forget about observing all things. They want to forget about attending every service of the church (Heb. 10:25; Tit. 3:1); they want to forget about visiting the lost (Jas. 5:20); they want to forget about working in the church (II Tim. 2:21); they want to forget about living godly lives (Tit. 2:11-12). But God will have no part of such a person: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:16-17) A person who does not have enough love for Christ to cleave unto Him is not worthy to wear the name "Christian." These people in Antioch (of whom the inspired writer is speaking in Acts II) had fulfilled these four qualifications and were therefore recognized by God as Christians: "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (v. 26)
God has answered our question, and His answer is infallible. Let the ideas of man perish, and let God's will prevail!
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