I do think that there are two types of Christians though.. cultural and spiritual ones.. this applies to other religions too. Sometimes people feel that simply going to church makes you a Christian.. reminds me of the saying that says that sitting in church makes you no more of a Christian than sitting in a garage makes you a car."Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. -Mark 9:38-40
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. -Matthew 12:30
Two Ditches
Commenting on Sue's post about people calling folks who don't believe in Jesus as "Christians" I said: Seems like there are two ditches in this area. The first is too narrow and the second is too broad. Some want to define Christianity exclusively to their own group or denomination while others want to include everyone who believes in God. These two verses describe this tension:
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I went to Sue's post to see what this was about. As I commented to her, I definitely fall on the side of if you believe in Christ you are a Christian, if you do not, you are not. Even if you go to a "Christian Church" and you personally do not believe in Christ and his finished work on the cross you are NOT a Christian. It has nothing to do with church attendance.
ReplyDeleteSusan
Hi Bob - I agree with you absolutely - your ditch analogy is "spot on".
ReplyDeleteI don't find it surprising when non-Christians aren't clear on what we believe, but I find it distressing when Christians are so fuzzy in their thinking that they believe that one is Christian if one believes in peace and love and one (non-triune) God.
Thanks Susan and Sue for the comments. I do agree that many believe they are Christian even if they go to church but do not hold the tenets of the church.
ReplyDeleteAlways helpful for me to remember that I will never be a Maserati.. no matter how long I sit in the garage :)
...or sitting in MacDonald's makes you a hamburger lol
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy Bob. No-one will ever be a christian by sitting in a church just as we won't be a car by sitting in a garage. We must have the Holy Spirit living in us to be a christian. And the Holy Spirit brings the truth of Gods Word alive to us.
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