One Way to Understand What it Means to Be a Christian

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Given the current religious climate, in both the United States and the rest of the world, it is obvious that the term “Christian” is a descriptor that, in the minds of many, is stripped of all clear and distinct meaning. To restore a true conception of what it means to be a Christian in the hearts of people, we must 1) establish that the Bible is the sole Authority and Standard for identifying a genuine Christian and 2) proclaim how the Bible, as God’s Word, clearly and specifically defines and identifies a true Christian.

To that end, I want to propose a way we can use to understand what it means to be a Christian. That way is this: comparing Christianity to other eponymous movements. To those of you who are unaware, an eponymous movement is a movement named after its founder. We see this in all kinds of belief-systems: Marxism, Leninism, Marxism-Leninism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Darwinism, etc. We even see it in doctrinal perspectives under the “Christian” umbrella, like Lutheranism, Calvinism, Arminianism, Wesleyanism, etc. Let’s use just one example from the eponymous belief-systems listed here: Lutheranism. Who is Lutheranism named after? Martin Luther. What is the content of Lutheranism’s ideology? The totality of Martin Luther’s doctrinal works. How do you know a professing Lutheran is a true Lutheran? If he confesses and habitually[1] lives according to Luther’s teaching. How do you know if a professing teacher of Lutheranism is teaching true Lutheranism? If his teaching fully accords with Luther’s doctrinal works. How do you know a professing Lutheran is a false Lutheran? If he does not confess, live according to, and/or teach Luther’s doctrine. If we switch “Martin Luther” or “Luther” with “Jesus Christ” or “Christ,” “Luther’s doctrinal works” with “the Bible,” “Lutheranism” with “Christianity,” etc., we will see that, just as we know how to identify teachings and people who are authentic adherents of human doctrinal systems, so, with God’s Word, we can identify truly Christian teaching, individuals, and groups.

May God use this article as one of His means to distinguish between the true and false in professing Christendom!

[1] By “habitually live according to Luther’s teaching,” I mean always obeying Luther’s teaching, confessing and repenting of their failures to keep his teaching. It’s the same dynamic by which one can identify a habitual obeyer of Christ and, conversely, a habitual sinner.