We just finished the Christian Atheist study by Craig Groeschel in my Sunday School class on Sunday mornings! I must say, it's a really good study if you get a chance, and I think it helps explains a term I know more as "Cultural Christianity." In the book, the term Christian Atheist is defined as "believing in Christ but living as if He doesn't exist." This blog post is mainly a way to explore the last six weeks and maybe even start a conversation about what this means to us as Christians.
Six things make up a Christian Atheist in the book are 1.) When you believe in God but don't really know Him, 2.) When you believe in God but don't think He's fair, 3.) When you believe in God but aren't sure He loves you, 4.) When you believe in God but trust more in money, 5.) When you believe in God but pursue happiness at any cost, and 6.) When you believe in God but don't want to go overboard. Do any of these sound familiar to you either having observed or perhaps even experienced yourself? It has always been something that has frustrated me about some churches and people I have met over the past few years. Hearing phrases like, "I've always been a Christian, and my parents are Christians," "I go to church on Sundays so that makes me a Christian," or "I said a prayer when I was like five, so that counts right?" What does it say when everybody goes to church but no one reaches out? If the church is the body of Christ, why aren't we caring for each other or for the community? Or if we are, are we just doing it to compete with others or to look good in front of others? All this to say, are we truly living for Christ or for ourselves?
We talked about lukewarm Christians today, which God has to say to, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16) In the original language, spit actually means vomit. Basically, a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron. Are we truly following Christ if our hearts are caught up in the material and our own self-reliance? (Revelation 3:15-19) Here is a list of things that a lukewarm Christian faces.
1. They crave acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
2. Rarely share their faith in Christ.
3. Do whatever it takes to alleviate their guilt. (But don't change their behavior)
4. Think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven.
5. Gauge their morality by comparing themselves to others.
6. Want to be saved from the penalty of sin without changing their lives.
7. Only turn to God when they're in a bind or when they're in trouble.
8. Give when it doesn't impinge on their standard of living.
9. Are not much different from the rest of this world.
10. Want benefits of what Christ did without conforming to who he is.
We all deal with all these aspects at one point or another, but if we are dealing with many of these at the same time, I think we need to stop and ask ourselves, "Do we really know Him?" The Bible encourages us to do a self-inventory, and I need to do them just as much as everyone else does. Are you only a Christian in name, or do you really follow Jesus? Are you relying on yourself or on God?
I'm really hoping to encourage discussion about this, especially since in my experience, the South really struggles with Cultural Christianity. (As do other parts of our country.) We are so blessed materially, we find it hard to trust in something we cannot see. In comparison to the rest of the world, we are very rich (even if it doesn't seem like it). We have "self-made" people and a lot of knowledge and education to go around. In a way, the persecution we are starting to feel as a Christian community in a growing non-Christian country is a good thing. I think it will force us to look outside of ourselves and understand who we are truly serving. If you are only following Christ to see what you can get out of it, persecution (in minor ways) will force you to either accept God's truth or reject it. We don't have persecution nearly as bad as other countries, but that could only be a matter of time. The question is, will you follow Jesus whatever it takes? Or will you pursue happiness instead at any cost?
Peace to you all,
Keri Lynn
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