Will the "Real Christian" please stand up
(Yes, that's probably you)
I saw something on social media the other day that made me sad and angry at the same time. The item itself was fantastic – an interview with a person who had returned to their Christian roots, talking about how attending traditional churches like the ones in her childhood helped her in her renewed faith-walk. I'm delighted any time someone decides to follow Jesus, and I firmly believe that different people worship different ways. So I have no issues with the interviewee.
What made me sad/angry (sangry?) was the caption that had been added to the interview. The organization that posted the interview had added the following:
Real Christians don't want the world. They want God!
We want the hymns of old!
We want Sunday Clothes!
We want the Word!
We want the sacraments!
Reading their caption threw me back into my childhood and early adulthood, including my early life as a Jesus-follower.
I've shared previously about using the Bible as a club to beat myself up. When faith organizations draw lines in the sand based on opinions and personal preferences, it looks and feels like just another club to me. Or a way of controlling people, or even a way of helping someone feel superior to others. None of those things match what Jesus taught, but I can easily imagine the Pharisees sharing similar sentiments when talking about that radical carpenter and the rabble who followed him.
I know that part of the reason I reacted the way I did is because I choose to attend a non-traditional mega-church, and the things I quoted above are often used as criticisms of non-traditional churches, especially if they use contemporary Christian music during their worship services. But these "real Christian" battering rams were being used long before the non-traditional mega-churches existed.
Over the last fifty years, I've heard many variations of the words I quoted above.
Real Christian men don't have long hair (anyone else remember that one from the 60/70s?)
Real Christian women wear dresses.
Real Christians only read the King James Version of the Bible.
Real Christians don't speak in tongues.
Real Christians speak in tongues.
Real Christians don't listen to rock music/go to rock concerts.
Real Christians don't get divorced.
Real Christians don't have tattoos.
Real Christians are Republicans.
Real Christians are Democrats.
Real Christians don't smoke.
Real Christians don't cuss.
Real Christians don't drink.
Real Christians don't dance.
Real Christians don't go to bars.
Real Christians aren't friends with "sinners" (for this one, you can replace "sinner" with "exotic dancer," "gay person," "drug addict," "alcoholic," or whatever else you want. The idea is that "real Christians" have to stay pure, and this can only be done by staying away from those who might taint us with their "sins," as if we weren't sinners ourselves).
Most times, the organizations or people espousing any of these variations claimed they were Biblically-based – these statements came from God, and the organization or person was just being obedient.
In my opinion, all of these statements are really just obstacles thrown in the path of other believers, and even non-believers (how many times have the do/don't "rules" kept someone from choosing to follow Jesus?).
I identify as a "real Christian." I happily proclaim that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and has been for fifty years now. But there's only one part of that original quote that is true for me. I want God. I can't get through my days without Him. Jesus is my best friend, and my big brother. The rest of it doesn't describe me at all, even though I really am a "real Christian."
Reality is - it doesn't matter what various organizations consider a "real Christian" looks like, or does/doesn't do. By definition, a Christian is a person who follows Jesus the Christ, so the only thing that matters is what did Jesus tell us to do?
That answer is found in the first four books of the New Testament. More specifically, in the red-letter words of those first four books. The red letters identify the words attributed to Jesus by those who recorded their memories or research of his time on Earth.
During his three years of ministry, Jesus talked to a lot of people, and he said a lot of things. But it pretty much all boils down to one major thing: LOVE.
When the religious leaders asked him what was the most important commandment, he gave them two: Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul & mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself. He said every other commandment stemmed from these two.
Later, after he washed the disciples' feet, he told them he was giving them a new commandment: Love one another.
So if you ever find yourself wondering about all the many definitions of a "real Christian," and maybe worrying that you're not really there yet, ask yourself two questions.
(1) Are you a Jesus-follower?
(2) Do you love the Lord, yourself and your neighbor?
If you answer yes to both, you're a real Christian, no matter what size church you go to, what kind of worship music you prefer, or how you dress on Sundays.
Thank you, Mary.
That’s a great discussion. A real Christian is always a sinner, because we all are, like you said, the main question to answer is do we love God and seek to improve for his glory.