What Is A Christian

What is a Christian?

Acts 26:28-31

INTRODUCTION:

A) Meeting with some fellas from the church for our monthly fellowship & prayer breakfast

1) This was early on a Saturday morning and we all genuinely like and enjoy being with each other

We were having so much fun, laughing so hard & a little loud a lot of people began staring at us.

At that point I looked at the guys and said something like, Maybe we ought to tone it down a little. I don’t think Christians are supposed to have this much fun.

2) When I made that statement there was a little bit of discussion, because you know as well as we do – most people do not envision Christians being able to really enjoy themselves.

B) It seems as though the world really has a difficult time defining what a Christian is?

1) Think about that for a moment.

If someone were to ask you – point blank – without any chance to prepare your thoughts – just all of a sudden out of the clear blue – “What is a Christian?” – what would you say?

2) Trying to answer that question may not be as easy as you might think!

I mean , it’s not like asking, “What is a teacher?” – “What is a farmer?” – “What is an athlete?” – “What is a musician?” – “What is a preacher?”

When asked to define the concept of being a Christian, you may find out it’s not as easy as you first thought.

Part of the problem stems from the world’s view of commitment, i.e., commitment to Christ and commitment to church do not run parallel

Part of the problem stems from all the denominations – confusing the issue with a bunch of man made creeds and doctrines – instead of just looking at the Bible as the authority.

Part of it is our fault. We often stress one point over another – instead of looking at the complete picture.

C) Think about it!

1) What are some of the answers that are frequently given in trying to describe a Christian?

2) Let me give you what I think are the 4 most common answers.

Let’s look at each one briefly and see why these answers in themselves do not describe God’s idea of a Christians as seen in the early church!

#1 – we often hear – A Christian is someone who believes in God.

Yet, that’s not always true.

See Mark 1:21-24; Mark 5:1-13; Acts 19:15; James 2:19

#2 – a 2nd common answer – A Christian is someone who has been baptized.

Often I run across people who think that being baptized is all that is needed to make someone a

Christian! Once you’re baptized everything else is secondary.

But there is so much more to being a Christian than the simple act of baptism!

Hitler – Mussolini – Stalin – David Koresh – Son of Sam – were all baptized at one point in their life!

But baptism alone does not make a Christian1!

#3 – A Christian is someone who is member of a church.

Being a member of a church does not automatically qualify a person as a Christian!

So often people cling to the idea of Church membership, as if that is all that is needed.

Having your name on a role book somewhere does not necessarily qualify you as a Christian!

#4 – The other answer I hear a lot is – A Christian is someone who goes to church.

Going to Church does not make you a Christian – anymore than going to school make you a teacher or a student; or going to the hospital makes you a doctor; or sleeping in a garage makes you a car!

It’s sad, but for some folk, going to Church is just something that they have always done on

Sundays.

D) With those ideas out of the way, we still have the question, What is a Christian? – before us!

1) Someone: “A Christian is anyone in who Christ lives!”

2) Billy Graham is credited with making the statement, “A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip!”

3) Few of us could speak with as much confidence as Paul did with King Agrippa, when he said what he did here in Acts 26,

In verse 28 – Agrippa asks, 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

And Paul’s answer is classic – 29… I pray God that not only you – Agrippa – but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.

4) Few of us could say, use my life as an example or watch how I live to catch an illustration as a