Who gives you your name?
Here is a portion of a post by a church planter/pastor of a relevant church somewhere in Ohio:
DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN
if you don’t ever share your faith…..ever
DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN
if you are only concerned with judging people instead of first loving them
DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN
if you are not investing in the lives of those younger than you
DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN
if all you do is complain and cause dissension
DON’T CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN
Please understand….I’m not saying you aren’t a christian, I’m just asking you to call yourself something else. You are giving everyone a disgusting taste in their mouth and labeling it biblical. Christ’s church will survive, only through the strength of Jesus shown through an outward focused lifestyle that draws those who are far from “Him”, close to “Him”.
I understand the sentiment behind the post, and I have ran across quite similar statements/posts from other leaders within contemporary churches on how they do not like Christians who so not seem to act consistently with their profession. Some have even made lists on why they do not like ‘bad’ Christians. However, serious questions are raised by the above quote. First, is a Christian defined more by a state of doing rather than a state of being? Second, are there classes or a hierarchy of Christians? Are some Christians more Christian than others? Is there irony in this pastor telling someone not to call themselves a Christian if they are judgmental? Are some Christians more justified by grace, by faith in Christ, than others? By this pastors standards, just how good do I have to be, what must I do, before I can call myself a Christian? Do I have to be perfect?
I think of the Apostle Paul in his approach to the wayward, troubled church at Corinth, a church where people were getting drunk during Communion meals among other things. Paul:
1 Corinthians 1 (ESV)
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place e call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as i the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Interesting is Paul’s salutation to the Corinthians. He does not instruct those in the church to quit calling themselves Christians, little Christs. His salutation is warm, though he later gives stern instructions on church discipline so that those in rebellion may be brought to repentance.
I think that what may be found at times is a somewhat underdeveloped understanding of the nature of justification and a lack of understanding that Christians are in different stages of sanctification. It may be, too, that some, perhaps many, who are in self-deception and call themselves Christian my not actually be in Christ. What is not acceptable, I think, is that our status in Christ is based on our performance, our works. How can we instruct others to refrain from naming themselves in Christ unless the one in question denies fundamental doctrines required for salvation?
Though I may have my suspicions, I can’t discern with absolute confidence if a person who claims to be a Christian is really redeemed or not. Sadly, there are people who live seemingly exemplary lives, who are active in doing all the positive things in the quoted list, who perhaps depend on their righteousness to earn God’s favor who will find themselves being told by Christ that He never knew them. There are also immature Christians who struggle with sin, with their tongue, who perhaps doubt their own salvation and feel themselves unworthy to call themselves Christians who are truly redeemed and loved dearly by the Messiah. I cannot see into the heart of a person. I do not always know what baggage, what obstacles to growth in Christ, they bring to the table. I am painfully aware that I have been quite foolish in my life and speech and know there are some who will probably and justifiably be surprised to see me in among the redeemed.
That all being said, Christians are absolutely called into a life of holiness, of progressive sanctification, but it is the distinction that we cannot save ourselves by our works and efforts that separates us from every other religion. Note that I am absolutely not advocating any kind of ‘easy-believism.’ I also do not think we need to get wrapped tightly around the axle on this, but we are are told in the Word to check ourselves, to make sure of our election. Are we bearing fruit? While some branches may grow slowly, but eventually we will show signs of sanctification.
If my earthly father gave me my name, no one has the right to tell me not to be called by his name. If I am adopted into the family of the Triune God, if I am trusting in Christ alone for my salvation, can someone instruct me not to be called by my Redeemer’s name? Is that not the height of arrogance?
