What It REALLY Means To Be A Christian

Speaker: Dennis Gruening
Date: August 29th, 2004, Sunday Evening Worship Service
Main Scripture References: John 14:15, 21; John 15:10; Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21

CHRISTIAN. To many of us, it’s a glorious word. But that word, “Christian,” may be one of the most misused words in the world, and it’s, perhaps, true because most people who call themselves “Christians” do so based on the fact that the word’s primary meaning is, “One who is a follower of Christ.” But those three…little…letters at the end of that word, i…a…n, can provide us with a number of thoughts, which could help us guide the lost to an understanding of what it REALLY means to be a Christian.

Sometimes, it’s helpful to view religious concepts in the light of, perhaps…“secular examples,” we might call them, which are familiar to us. Jesus used this technique many times through His teaching of godly concepts by the use of parables.

In the case of this word, “Christian,” there are countless ways which we see those three letters, i…a…n, used in a secular way: physician; electrician; beautician; technician. These, and many others, identify a person with a chosen career, a certain type of job.

Well it’s always amazed me [that] the concepts which are easily grasped, when used this way in a worldly context, are not so easily understood when used in a religious context. It should be pretty obvious to each of us, for example, that an electrician does not become an electrician by simply saying, “I’m an electrician!” In the case of almost every kind of career imaginable, there are standards, requirements and qualifications, which must be met before one can be identified with a certain category of job. Yet, this easily understood concept is completely ignored, in most cases, when you talk about being a “Christian.”

Well, let’s imagine this scenario for a moment:

You’ve applied for a job, say…well, we’ll use a “technician” as an example. You’ve gone through the interview stage, and after having been offered a position, you have this conversation in the office with your perspective new boss:

“Sir, I thank you for your offer of this job, as I realize I am in dire need of employment. I accept this job, and I will make it a part of my very being. I thank you for not requiring me to do anything else to become a technician, other than just accepting your offer.”

What a guy!

Well, just as one cannot become a doctor, a lawyer, a mechanic, a homemaker, teacher, cook, janitor, college student, or thousands of other professions, without meeting certain prerequisites and qualifications, so it should be easy to see that one cannot become a Christian without also meeting certain qualifications.

I’m reminded of stories of certain individuals who have “passed themselves off,” so to speak, as members of professions, for which they had no education, and for which they were not qualified. And it seems to me that the same is sadly true for the vast majority of people who “pass themselves off” as Christians. Simply calling yourself a “Christian” just does not make it so. Now, others might believe that you’re a Christian, because you say so, and your life may exhibit some of those qualities. But, God is not fooled.

Why is it so hard for self-proclaimed “Christians” to love Jesus in the way in which HE requires? “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” John 14, verse 15. “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him” John 14, verse 21. “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love” John 15:10. “And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the Will of My Father Which is in heaven,” Matthew 7:21.

Well, this is such an easily understood concept in the business world. Yet, if you teach this same principle, as it applies to becoming a Christian, you may very well be met with shock and disbelief. [You might hear,] “How can you say that there are requirements and qualifications that I must meet in order to become a Christian?!?!” Indeed, one may as well ask, “How can you say that there are requirements and qualifications I must meet in order to become a doctor…a nurse…a schoolteacher…truck driver…or any other job title you might care to name?!?!”

Many also view being a Christian as a “one-time event.” “I’m a Christian! Now, let me get on with my life.” In the broadest sense, however, being a Christ is a career. In fact, being a Christian should be our PRIMARY career.

But again, let’s be clear on this. Even though you may do everything that, say, O, a doctor might do; even though you might be the world’s greatest surgeon, if you have never met the qualifications to become a doctor in the first place, all of the achievements in the world won’t…make…you…a real doctor.