What does it mean to be Christian?

Looking around the Christian landscape reveals countless voices offering sometimes radically different answers to what it means to be Christian. But does that mean “being Christian” is purely subjective? Or, does it perhaps mean that the Church is confused about her own identity because she has turned her ear away from Jesus and has been listening to other voices? I feel like “being Christian” has become a meaningless statement in the West, but I also feel that people are genuinely searching for some solid ground to stand on for what it means to be Christ. So, to regain some clarity on this question, I propose we turn our ears to God’s word.

Let’s listen:

Luke 9:23 (CSB) — 23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Perhaps the simplest description of what it means to be Christian comes from Jesus’ own call to discipleship. Simply put, Christians are those who follow Jesus’ way of life. But following Jesus requires that we deny our own self-interests and embrace the difficulty that comes along with his way of life. For this reason, Jesus warned us about the kind of disciples who are like “seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy. But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away” (Mark 4:16–17, CSB). This means we cannot wither away or turn back when following Jesus gets difficult. Instead, we must “pick up the cross” (i.e. embrace the suffering) and follow Jesus along the way, regardless of whatever trials that way takes us through. So, a Christian is someone who perseveres in following Jesus.

Matthew 7:21–24 (CSB) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’ 24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Jesus was clear that being Christian is not about one’s verbal profession. The author of Hebrews writes about Jesus that “as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, ‘See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, God.’ After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.” (Hebrews 10:5–10, CSB) Jesus has come to establish God’s will on earth, just as it is done in heaven. Therefore, the one who follows him will do the will of God!

I feel I must deal with those Christian voices, particularly among the reformed and prosperity churches, which argue that any talking of “doing” is necessarily legalistic, and, in some cases, even outright damning. To such Christians I can only refer them back to Jesus’ own words, which warn them that if their sanctification does not result in the realization of God’s will in their life, Jesus himself will denounce them! So, don’t be deceived by empty arguments that being Christian has nothing to do with “doing” the will of God, because this is precisely why Jesus came, to establish God’s will in his people, not through the law, but through grace. But God’s will must really be established in us!

1 Peter 1:13–19 (CSB) — 13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

The apostle Peter walked and talked with Jesus. He learned firsthand what Jesus’ purpose was on earth. And Peter tells us that Christians must be holy, just as the One who calls us is holy. We are set apart from this world to God’s purposes. Peter further elaborates upon this holy purpose of God for his chosen people, saying “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, CSB). Therefore, we must live as God’s chosen people – strangers in this world – with our hope firmly set upon the coming revelation of Jesus’ return.

So let me distill these points down into one simple description: a Christians is someone who perseveres by faith in following Jesus in the will of God as his holy people regardless of the cost. Of course, there are many other Biblical descriptions that could build on and modify this definition, but, I think simple definitions are often most useful.

So now, if this is the baseline for what it means to be Christian, then how do we know if we ourselves are actually Christian?

1 John 2:4–6 (CSB) — 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

The answer is extremely simple: you will know that you are a Christian when you live as Jesus lived by keeping his word. So, read the teachings of Jesus, and study how his apostles applied those teachings, and live those things out in your life. Then, if your life bears the fruit of the Spirit that is produced by those who keep Jesus’ word, you will know that you are, indeed, a Christian.

I realize some might, after honestly testing themselves in this regard, believe that they have failed this test. Some might be forced to conclude, just as I did in 2009, that they themselves are not Christian. What should they do?

Fortunately, the answer here is also simple: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17, CSB) and be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Turn to the Lord. “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7, CSB). Be like the tax collector, who, “standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:13–14, CSB). Indeed, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Matthew 6:33, CSB). For “blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:3–7, CSB). Put simply, recognize that in hearing this good news that Jesus has come to establish God’s will through grace, God’s Kingdom has come upon you, and you must, therefore, repent by turning to Jesus and following him according to the way of his word! But, if you are tempted to turn back to the false gospels that would offer you salvation apart from this, remember Jesus’ word, which says “everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24–27, CSB).