"Christian"

Certain events in the media have once again reminded us of an important lesson within the church.  A nationally known singer and actress dies and the world adamantly insists she is a Christian because she grew up in the church, singing gospel songs.  The fact that most of her adult life was a  wasteland of addiction that in no way pointed to Christ seems to be irrelevant.  A national leader claims to be a Christian and is affirmed in this by others who are more devout than he.  This, in spite of the fact that the leader has moral/ethical positions that are absolutely incompatible with many clear, Biblical truths.  This man was in his pre-political private life ridiculously tight fisted with money for charity and belonged to a church that could in no way be identified with an orthodox, Christ-honoring fellowship. Another man-- a presidential candidate who belongs to a religion that openly denies the doctrine of the Trinity and the deity of Christ is also regularly referred to as a “Christian.”  I have no personal axe to grind with any of these people.  In many ways they are all admirable in their talent and or/achievements.  However, we in Christ’s church must not be sucked in to this world’s understanding of a “Christian.”  Mark it down.  In the vast majority of cases where the popular media refers to someone as a “Christian,” what is really being communicated is that the individual is not a Muslim or Hindu or any other faith and has spent some time in church.  We must not forget there is a very big difference between what this world calls a “Christian” and a Biblical understanding of what it is to be a blood-bought child of God.

Your comfort over ministry

What is the difference between a clique and a set of healthy Christian friendships in a church?  Cliques are a bane to the gathered church—whether on Sunday mornings, Wednesdays or whenever the church comes together.  They shatter unity because in their desire to feel safe and understood, they ignore brothers and sisters in Christ who are part of the same body.  In other words, cliques don’t gather for ministry, but because they want a zone of comfort around them that makes them feel like they belong.  There is nothing wrong with feeling like you belong, but when you place that agenda next to the agenda ministering to others in need within the body, the Biblical priority is clear.  A church made up of many cliques is not really a church in one sense—it’s a set of independent groups rather than a gathered body.