Are You a Christian
To be or not to be…that is the question
What does it mean to be a Christian?
What does the world think
-Many Muslims think that “Christian” and “American” mean the same thing. They assume Christians are into pornography, drug & alcohol abuse.
-More and more younger Americans have a negative impression of Christians. They think Christians are angry, judgmental & oppressive. They think that a Christian is someone with an ultra-conservative political agenda.
-Know these are based on some negative experiences or what they hear in the media, but these attitudes are out there, they are growing and the experiences they’ve had with negative and judgmental Christians are real.
-Maybe need to look at just what Christians say to really understand what it means to be a Christian.
What do Christians say
-Some say that what makes them Christian is they go to church each week…or at least at Christmas & Easter.
-Some call themselves Christians even if they don’t attend a church. Study last year showed 62% of Americans who do not attend church consider themselves to be Christian
-They are Christian because they believe in God and feel their faith is important in their lives. They will attend church if there is a crisis in their life or a close friend invites them.
-They’ve been confirmed, baptized, attended a youth group, grew up in a church-still consider themselves to be associated with that type for church.
-Some people-including those who do not attend any kind of worship service-feel that being a Christian means that at some point in their life they have made a personal commitment to Jesus and acknowledge Him as the Son of God who sacrificed himself for us.
-those who are actively involved in churches are also divided on what makes them a Christian. Some say it is their devotion to God and being a good person, some say it is baptism, others say it is faith in Jesus.
-In fact, there are all kinds of divisions among “Christians” because of these different ideas and because of different traditions.
-When people ask about True North, they want to know “are you Lutheran, or Catholic or Baptist…are you Evangelical or Charismatic, non-denominational. And you never know what they are really looking for. I always want to let people know we are not just some rouge church group out here with no authority and accountability, but beyond that, I want to say…we’re just Christian.
-Reminds me of the pre-marital counseling survey my wife and I had to fill out before we went and talked to the pastor. It asked about your religion. She was raised in a Baptist church, I was raised Catholic …we both knew we were raised in different traditions, but had the same faith, so I wrote in Christian.
In fact Willie and I were having this discussion earlier this week. We hope and trust that God will bring a lot of people who want to be a part of what we are doing here-to help us fulfill the mission God has given us.
-But no True Northians, Wildenbergians, or Grimmites. We want to help people become Christians. What did Martin Luther want? Back to the basics…back to the bible…not traditions and more divisions…
You can see there is a lot of confusion about what it really means to be a Christian. I am often tempted to even avoid using that word to describe myself anymore…what does it really mean. It’s the same reason you may notice that I sometimes avoid using the word “pastor” to describe myself. I am the leader of this church, and my job guide this church in what we are called to do, but “pastor” has taken on so many different meanings to different people, I don’t want to mislead or create confusion…so I find myself form time to time trying to use different words…what does it really mean…another time!! Many terms…
Like other reformers…want to get people back to the bible…
So what does it really mean to be a Christian. My goal is to give you a biblical answer to this question. I am not out to condemn or put down anything anyone else might think. In fact, I hope we have people who come here who don’t agree with everything we say-that they’ll undertand we’re not out to condemn their ideas…we’re saying what we believe and would love to talk more if you disagree.
I understand that there are all kinds of philosophies and idea out there-readily available to any of us-about God and Jesus..whether they exists. Whether we were planted here by aliens, or evolved from microbes. I am not here to argue these things. I know from experience I can’t just stand up here and say, “Hey this is the truth. You’d better believe it or else.” I can’t lay out all the logic behind what I believe and expect anyone to agree with it. What I will say, is when it comes to True North..and for me personally, I take my stand on the bible. The leaders and founders of this church have found that there is no greater blessing in life than to submit ourselves to what God reveals to us about Himself and our relationship to Him through the bible-His word.
-Felt called to share this perspective for whatever reason….
Back to the question…
Best way for me to visualize being a Christian is to say that it is a journey…
Who knows how it really begins…different for everyone (see a difference in a friend, crisis causes you to turn to God, …)
Something brings you to a point of discovering who Jesus said he was and accepting it on faith. Admitting your shortcomings and failures and accepting God’s forgiveness through Jesus.
Some will say this is the defining event that makes you a Christian. You are saved…you’re in, you’re on the team.
Certainly something important that happens then..
Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16, Galatians 2:20..new creation in Christ.
Jesus says there is more, though. A lot of what it written in the New Testament is for Christians. We need to model our lives after Jesus…be like Him. To be a Christian is to be a follower of Christ.
Jesus is the way…showed us how to do it.
Jesus fulfilled God’s law…showed us what life of complete faith should look like. We all fall short, but know what to shoot for.
Some people say WWJD-involves speculation/opinion. Ask self WDJD? Look at what the Bible says.
Whoever takes these words and does them…be hearers and doers of the word…why call me lord, lord and do not what I say.
You can look at some general principles that Jesus lived by to serve as guides for us.
-Knew God…studied the Word, prayed constantly…spent time with God-built a relationship
-Submitted to God..did only what Father told him to do. Need to continue to apply God’s word to our lives. Live in faith doing what we know God calls us to do. Submitting to what we know is right.
When we do these things… and continue to learn, deepen our relationship with God and other Followers of Christ, we discover freedom from things that have held us back in life. We discover God’s blessings all over our lives… You find yourself drawing nearer to what we here call True North…the life that Jesus lived. The life of complete faith and dependence upon God, the life filled with the power of God’s Holy Spirit, and the life filled to overflowing with Gods love…
Begins with accepting Christ 2 Cor 5:1-17old gone, new come.
There is more! Support this
Christ-follower…be like Jesus. What did Jesus do? Romans 8:29-making us Christ-like, Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:6
Did only what Father told Him to do…submitted to Scripture, submitted to Father’s plans for him…Gal 5:22-23-bear fruit
Jesus did it perfectly…showed us the way. We are not perfect, but should seek to follow Him being a Christian means you keep striving…win the race..
Seek True North…complete faith in God.
Why? Blessings of following God. John 10:10 abundant life; Psalm 1:2-3-flourssh when delight in God’s word.
Commitment….ask for commitment in closing….