A friend told me about something he heard that really got to me: “Forget about putting Christ back into Christmas, try putting Christ back into Christians!”. Good point. But what does it mean? People and groups have used the word “Christian” in so many ways over centuries to justify wars, persecutions, hatred and intolerance. Is that what it means? How can you tell what is “Christian”? Or does it just mean whatever you want it to, to suit your own cause?
Those who are responsible for verifying works of art, or identifying counterfeit currency have a similar problem. There are so many different versions of counterfeit bank notes, for example, that it is impossible to be acquainted with them all. So, the best way in which to spot a counterfeit is not to study counterfeits, it’s to study the real thing. The more you become familiar with the genuine, the easier it is to spot the fake.
What is the real thing, and how can you know it? That, in fact, is the easiest question to answer: the only authoritative source for defining Christian is Christ. If someone teaches or believes anything that contradicts what Jesus taught, either about himself or life, then they cannot claim the term “Christian”. A Christian preaching hatred, intolerance, or trying to impose their beliefs on others forcibly through legislation, for example, is going against the teaching of Jesus. They are what I call Meat-eating Vegetarians, a complete contradiction in terms.
Throughout the centuries, any time people have tried to “bring the Kingdom of God to earth”, by legislating “Christian” practice and belief, it has been a disaster. There has never been a “Christian” country in all of history, only attempts to artificially create one. Now, it is fine to legislate a moral society, but that is not the same thing. Jesus made it very clear: “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18.36). In fact, Jesus said that this world is under the control of Satan. When he was asked about paying taxes, he laid down the principle: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12.17). For now, Christians are the Resistance in an occupied territory, winning it back one person at a time, not by political coups.
In the country next door, we hear about “Christian Nationalism”, which has nothing to do with Christianity, and everything to do with making the nation (though not everyone within the nation) the focus of your religion and loyalty.
I can hear the objection being raised: “who are you to decide who is a Christian or not?”. Surely it is obvious that those using the word Christian, but who are acting or speaking in ways that contradict Christ, cannot be justified in claiming Jesus as their example and Lord? What is the authority for defining “Christian”, other than the New Testament? It is the main source for knowing who Jesus was, what he taught, and how he defined his followers. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8.31-32).
There is one thing that needs to emphasised: this is a fallen world, and Christians are, by definition again, broken people saved by grace. They may not always live up to what they believe, but they know it when they fail to do so. Paul said that: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3.28), so any form of racism, misogyny, or discrimination of any kind, is not in keeping with genuine Christianity.
But there is a Gospel to be preached, things to be said that the rest of the world will find disagreeable because they don’t like to hear it – like the idea that we’re all broken and fallen, in need of forgiveness and a Saviour. Is this judging? Yes, the New Testament says we aren’t to judge, meaning condemn, look down on, discriminate. But there is another word, a different judging which means weighing up, choosing truth over falsehood, recognising genuine from counterfeit. That is what we have to do, instead of just accepting everything as equally true or valid. If you get arrested for trying to use counterfeit currency, it’s no use telling the judge that, in your opinion, it was a genuine bank note. There is an objective reality involved.
So with the term “Christian”: anyone can use or abuse it for any reason they like, but it doesn’t make it a valid use. Become familiar with the genuine, and the counterfeits won’t be able to fool you.