“You’re not a Christian if…” (Part 1)

So you’re chatting with a friend, and she says, “Well, I’m a Christian, and I’m Baptist.”

Or, “I’m Catholic.”

Or, “I’m Episcopalian.”

Or, “I’m Emergent.”

Or, “I’m…”

Forget all that for a moment (perhaps forever). What does “Christian” mean? Step back and start off with the basics:

“Do you believe that Jesus died then came back to life?”

In Christianity, we often take that one for granted. I’m consistently amazed at how many people call themselves Christians but deny these basic beliefs.

So here’s the (not James) blunt version: you’re not a Christian if you don’t believe that…

• Jesus died.
• Then Jesus came back to life.

Nice and simple, and I wish it were more obvious. That’s why I’m trying to keep this ridiculously straight forward here.

If you don’t believe those two things, in order, you are not a Christian. Don’t be offended if I say that. And don’t be offended if I hold onto those like crazy.

I don’t think believing these alone make you a Christian – there’s more to it. But if you do, you’re way, way ahead of everyone else. And certainly not far off from joining the ranks of the Jesus Freaks.

So as a bondChristian, your job is to make those two points inescapably clear. Those who say they’re Christian can’t back down when you (or anyone else) start pressing those two criteria. A lot of other stuff is debatable – in Christianity, these aren’t.

It’s a crazy radical belief – I don’t deny that. But it’s the foundation for all things Christian. The rest of Christianity makes no sense without Jesus dying and coming back to life. That’s why it’s important to stay very clear on it.

“[I]f Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” -1 Corinthians 15:14

Yes, I’m confident God could somehow reveal Himself to islanders off the coast of Africa without talking specifically about Jesus dying and coming back to life. Also, I’m sure many of the Old Testament believers didn’t know the specifics of how Jesus would save the world. But…

But this is the New Testament. We know. And we have the Bible. Or at least we’ve had the opportunity. You and I actively denying that Jesus died and came back to life is much different from the naive islanders or believers before Jesus.

Believing that Jesus died then came back to life is crucial for you and me and everyone we share with.

If you haven’t believed this in the past, you’re not hopelessly lost – you can still choose to believe right now. That’s the beauty of it all.

Also, if you or someone you’re sharing with doesn’t believe this, telling them probably isn’t going to change anything, especially if they’re just taking my word for it. That’s not necessarily the point of this article.

This article is here to get the conversation going, just like the question at the beginning. Because whether you believe or not, it’s a good idea to at least acknowledge your position.

“Do you believe Jesus died then came back to life?”

Serving Suggestions:

(1) Do you believe that? I’ve drawn a line (but didn’t make it up). Now choose which side you’re on.

(2) Are you emphasizing this as the starting point for Christianity? It doesn’t have to be a judgmental thing. It’s just a matter of finding where everyone stands. It’s the beginning of serving others on a whole new level.