"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.