How do we know if we are Christians?
By Robin Sam
ONE of the hot searches on Google in USA today is about Judge Judy.
Judith Sheindlin who is famously known as Judge Judy, is an American lawyer, judge, television personality and author. After clearing the New York Bar examination in 1965, she became a prosecutor in the family court. Eleven years later, she was elevated as a judge in a criminal court. In 1980, she took charge as Manhattan’s supervising family court judge.
After retirement in 1996, Judith started a syndicated courtroom reality show called Judge Judy. It went on to become a hugely successful show. Her no-nonsense approach and quick wit have made sure the show still garners top ratings even 15 years after the show was first aired.
One of the things that people want to know about her is if she is a Christian. Well, in the absence of any real evidence pointing to her faith, one can only conjecture. However, conjecturing is dangerous business especially when it comes to somebody’s faith.
What makes one a Christian? Is it one’s membership in a church? Is it the name one is given at the baptismal service? Is it one’s birth into a Christian family? In other words, how do you know if you are a follower of Jesus Christ?
We find the word ‘Christian’ three times in the New Testament. In Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16. The word was first used in Antioch to refer to the followers of Jesus Christ. Those people were called thus because their words, thought patterns and activity were like that of Christ. The word ‘Christian’ literally means ‘follower of Christ’ or ‘belonging to Christ’.
However in due course of time, the word has lost much of its significance. Today, anyone who has a membership in a church or someone with a Christian-sounding name would be called a ‘Christian.’ But we must bear in mind that attending church, being a good person or helping those around us alone does not make anyone a Christian. There’s a famous line to illustrate this better: Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to a garage makes you an automobile.
So, if we know what does not make us Christian shouldn’t we know what will make us true followers of Christ? Indeed.
The Bible tells us that the good works alone cannot make us acceptable to God. Titus 3:5 says thus: He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
A good definition of a Christian would be someone who has been born again by God (John 3:3; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23) and has placed his/her faith and trust in Jesus. We are saved not because it is our birthright to be saved. We are saved not because of our intelligence or morality. We are saved not because our parents are good people or we come from ‘good families.’ The Bible says we are saved only by grace. Whose grace? God’s grace! We are saved through faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8 says our salvation is the gift of God.
Let’s ask that question again. Who is a Christian? A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection.
Once we confess our sins to God (Psalm 41:4; 130:4; Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9), He is ‘faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ When we truly repent and confess our sins, ‘as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us’ (Psalm 103:12).
When our sins are forgiven, we are accepted into His fold as His children (John 1:12). A true Christian can be identified by his devotion to the Word of God, his submission to God’s will and his love for others (1 John 2:4, 10).
We do not need to know if Judge Judy is a Christian. That will not get us anywhere. What we need to know is if we are true followers of Christ. Are you a Christian?
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From the archives: All columns by the editor |
Robin Sam is the founding editor of The Christian Messenger newspaper. A journalist with 16 years of experience, he has worked with The Indian Express, Sify.com and Yahoo! besides several other publications. He quit his job in 2008 to get into full-time media ministry. You can contact him at editor [at] christianmessenger [dot] in
