One of the biggest struggles found within American Christianity today is that, on average, 70% of Americans claim to be Christian. The key word here is “claim.” If I claim to be a tremendous athlete you would probably think of a couple ways to describe me: either, this guy is completely full of himself (self-righteous) or he looks the part, but could be deceiving me (an imposter). Ultimately, you wouldn’t want to hang out with me or you would be skeptical towards the validity of my claim. Sadly, this relates to the reaction that many non-believers have towards the self-righteous imposters of the Christian faith.
Do you truly believe that every three out of four people you encounter are in fact following Jesus’ great commission? The answer is a definite NO. Let me remind you of what the great commission says. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus says, “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” If only one non-believer existed for every three believers, God’s work would be done swiftly throughout America entirely. Every conversation held between two people would be so entirely intentional that no one would be able to deny God’s love and grace.
A culture shock needs to happen; a realization of what this claim entails has to be made. To be a true Christian we are called to die to ourselves. Paul Washer says, “The greatest heresy in American evangelical and protestant church is that if you pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart He will definitely come in.” It takes action beyond the request. To turn away from your old ways and make a serious attempt to change. The link provided is a summary video of some main points made in Paul Washer’s amazing youth message. I encourage everyone to watch the full message at some point, but if nothing else please watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYsClDclvf0.
Thanks for Reading,
-Colten
Yeah, as I was writing my comments I kept thinking that I would much rather be doing this in person. It is hard to convey the exact meaning over text or understand completely where someone is coming from. So, in other words, I would love to sit down and chat. Thank you for the encouragement in your words towards the passion God has given me and I am glad that I have successfully conveyed it over the blog world! I am excited to get together and discuss this, iron sharpens iron! Have a good long weekend and let me know when is good to meet, Peace!
I guess what it really comes down to for me is that I flat out don’t agree with Washer’s soteriology or his interpretation of the Gospel. That is where all of my problems with Washer stem from. Not this notion or possibility of there being a bunch of people claiming to be Christian who probably really aren’t. So I really haven’t picked out one single flaw, I don’t have a problem with the Britney Spears thing, well frankly I don’t really care about Britney Spears. Also, the phrase “for the sake of argument” doesn’t mean I am arguing just for the sake of arguing. It was in reference to the statistic, basically saying, for the sake of argument, assuming that statistic is correct…comment ensues.
I really respect and honor your passion and ferver in standing up for the Gospel and the mission of Jesus Christ, it really shows through your posts. But I really don’t want to start a nit picky argument on Rob’s blog. I’d love to grab some coffee or get a scone or bagel and discuss why we might disagree about Washer’s theology, but I don’t think over the inter-web is the appropriate place or time to do so.
– jessemac
You have picked out a single flaw in a message and allowed it to be your focus of attack…was it the Britney Spears thing? He was not meaning to pass judgment specifically on her, but on her actions (using her as an example), which you have to agree are/were not glorifying God. Reading the beginning of 1 Corinth 5, Paul says, “A man has…” speaking of a specific sin and passing judgment, that was God inspired (It is in the Bible), to ultimately save this man on his day of judgment. Washer said he is troubled by the fact that many may “possibly go to hell.” He never damned anyone to hell. In 1 Corinth. the words are: “Hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.” There are many other avenues and ways to go about getting the truth across, and I understand that, but Washer had every right to point out these flaws, to make people aware of what they are doing and claiming, and allowing God to change their hearts. God makes the decision to either allow them into the Kingdom, or deny their entry on their day of judgment. Those who are claiming to be Christians, but not living it out are living a lie, such as this man and the people of the church at Corinth were, and handing this man over to Satan was the only way to cleanse the community and save this man. This is so beyond me it isn’t even funny, but this was God’s will for that step to be taken. Paul Washer was speaking truth, he was God inspired.
Look beyond your own comfort and try to see a man that is boldly living out his call to mission. Please continue with any concerns you still have and thank you for your input, I have put a lot of thought into this and I hope that you respect that and do the same.
“For the sake of argument” Why would you begin with this statement? Sounds to me like you are picking a fight just for the sake of doing so. Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” This is talking about Herod and Pilate’s acts that followed God’s will for what Jesus was to accomplish and their threats that they presented through these actions toward Jesus’ ministry. If this was the prayer of the original church, then I would say Washer is directly in step with “re-thinking the way we are the Church,” as you put it. I say that because we have broken away from the early way of the church and if Washer is in step with the early church he might just be on the right path to becoming more missional, as the early church was. He is being bold in the effort to bring truth to a depraved nation.
Regardless if this statistic is accurate or not – for the sake of argument, if we assume that it is accurate and 70 percent of Americans actually do call themselves Christian, I do not think singling folks out and judging them is ever the right thing to do – nor would it be an effective missional tool. Even if (more like when) we sin ourselves – assuming that we are pious enough claiming to actually be earnestly trying to follow Christ – is that grounds for Washer to single me, or others in our class out, damning us to hell? Does he really think he can judge us?
With that being said, I think that A) that statistic should alarm and shock those of us re-thinking the way we are the Church because B) the seemingly “irreproachable” or “damnable” way that these “heathens” are living (who apparently claim to be Christian disciples) should reflect on how poor of a job the American church has done on living missionally and creating disciples. What’s the phrase – don’t point out the twig in someone’s eye when you’ve got a huge friggin tree stuck in yours? – something like that.
I definitely do not believe that 75% of Americans are Christian, it makes me wonder what percent actually are.
Amen sisters, we are all “fakers” at some point, but ultimately that is due to our lives as sinners. The thing is though, we are actually not faking, we are trying to live the life and we will fall short at points in time, but what separates us from the others is that we are convicted and we repent, we recognize it like you said. Breanne, I couldn’t have said it better, it is our model that should be what attracts and the only way that is possible is through truly having a personal relationship with Christ and letting him work through us! As for the catechism question, I am listening to a message he is doing…I just looked up Paul Washer catechism on youtube and this is what I got:
It’s really compelling reading this blog and all the comments thus far. When I heard that 70% of Americans claimed to be Christians, my first thought was “no freaking way.” I agree… if that were true, the world would know. Our culture would be radically different. I think the term “Christian” has become a fallback without people truly understanding it. And I think they’re scared to. It means completely giving up control. But instead of arguing about whether or not we need to beat someone over the head with the reality of their hypocrisy (and mine — I claim no exclusion from this), our focus should be on modeling what living in Christ truly means, starting personally.
Sorry for the misread, Colten. Clearly, I need to be a more careful reader. I see what you are saying and agree that the video would definitely not be a beneficial “evangelistic tool.” I’m still not quite sure if I agree on that God meant for non-believers to see it (I think it would have to be a case by case sort of thing), but I have no argument to back that up, it’s just a gut feeling, so I will leave it there.
Your original blog was very true (at least in my mind and experience). I am sure that sometimes I am a “faker,” but I am disheartened by those who are not able to recognize themselves as such. I feel like Christianity has become too easy. It’s easy to say words, but it’s difficult to change your entire life. That’s why I am a supporter of a catechism. Do you know if Paul Washer says anything about catechism?
Thanks for the good conversation.
Can you PLEASE read my comment again. I said that we “CAN’T be reckless.” In the way that this video is presented (in a Christian blog forum), if a non-believer was to come across it God did mean for them to see it and the given fact that these words are true God does want everyone to hear them. This is not at all anything that I would just present directly to a non-believer or share any of these thoughts with a non-believer right away because I am not that bold. Any harm that comes from this would be a strong conviction or hatred for the truth because you have even said that these words are true. Maybe because it is so uncomfortable, that is exactly what we need to do? We cannot patronize non-believers and allow them think that they can continue their lives the way they have before they decide to commit to God, but there does seem to be a need for a mediation and the fear is to scare them away. I never said that this needed to be shared directly to non-believers, I said if a non-believer came across it by chance, God meant for them to see it. I said, “but everyone needs to hear this to know where they stand at any point in their walk with Christ.” That implied, or so I thought, those that are already claiming to be in the faith. My original blog was talking purely about those who claim and the only words I said about non-believers is that they are repulsed by these fakers.
I agree with Jeremy about the video posting. I appreciate Paul Washer’s words, but I do not appreciate the video editor.
In your response to Jeremy, Colten, you said that we have to be reckless in our sharing of the gospel and that God means for non-believers to see that video. I disagree with both of those statements. I think in our presentation of the gospel we have to be prayerful and loving. It is too easy to be reckless and start yelling at people that they need to repent and what they are doing is evil. Once we do that we have messed up. We have hurt someone. Though it wasn’t our intention, that’s what happened. Christians aren’t supposed to be going around causing emotional harm to people. That’s Satan. Same with the video. I think that specific video could cause more harm than good. And in these situations we have to be repent and pray that God will instead use these hurtful means for good.
Paul Washer’s words however are beneficial to the Christian community, so I do agree with that.
Colten, thank you for posting this; I feel like you’ve found the main source of the problem that the church is facing today. Christianity is kind of just an accepted part of our culture, and too many people say they are Christians without realizing what it really means to follow Jesus and live out his mission in the world.
If you read on in Mt. 7 it goes on to talk about the “narrow path” (vs. 13-14) and not everyone entering the Kingdom (vs. 21-23). God’s Kingdom is open to everyone, but not everyone will enter. The emphasis of using “Lord, Lord” (vs. 21) in its initial intent was to say that these people emphatically proclaimed Jesus as their Lord, doing miraculous things in his name, yet missed the mark somewhere along the line and had fallen away into their own motives. This is sadly where most of these claimers will end up if God does not put it on their heart to change. I hope that I am not coming off as attacking towards your concerns, I am sure your heart is in the right place and I appreciate your criticism, but I hope that I was able to clear up some of your concerns and help you better understand where I am coming from. Please ask if something still doesn’t seem right.
Did you read where I said that we have to die to ourselves prior to quoting Paul? My Bible notes the ask…seek…knock interpretation from Greek is that those terms are used as a present imperative which means that a constant asking, seeking, and knocking is required. It says specifically, “Persistent prayer is being emphasized.” Paul Washer’s and my own refute is not towards the fact that God’s Kingdom is accessible to everyone and that it is ultimately God’s work in one to turn to him, but to the fact that many people believe that because you prayed and ask Jesus into your heart one time he is there to stay, no matter what you do or how you feel. People who falsely claim to be a part of the faith are those who pray this prayer with wrongful intent, it wasn’t God telling them to pray that prayer, or maybe it was and that person misinterpreted the reason for why and fell away due to their own motives. If someone is struggling with where they are at in their faith then there is a reason for that. That reason is that God is telling them something they need to change or do in order to not fall away.
Colton, I understand what you’re getting at and I believe these are defiantly questions we need to be asking ourselves. But we also need to remember that our faith is not our own. We are saved by faith not works and we are helpless to save ourselves from sin. Only through Christ’s action (not our own) and through the transforming of our minds do we turn from sin.
“The greatest heresy in American evangelical and protestant church is that if you pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart He will definitely come in.” And then he goes on to say the Bible never says that.. It does say. ““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Mt 7:7).” And, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me (Rev 3:20).”
Works are a result of Christ’s work in us but do not determine our salvation.
I think you might be right but should maybe go at it at a different angle?
I agree with this blog post i feel that there are people saying they are Christians and not living that out.
In a nut shell, what I am trying to say is that if any non-Christian were to come across this information, God meant for them to hear it. We can’t be afraid to share the truth. We can’t be reckless in our attempt to share it, but everyone needs to hear this to know where they stand at any point in their walk with Christ. If it rubs them wrong then they are not where they need to be in Christ and need to re-check what they believe. Was what they believe or thought they believed based on just a feeling they had once, or was it a concrete and undeniable truth such as this that sent them on their mission to follow Christ?
Ultimately Jeremy, your struggle somewhat concerns me. What we have been talking about in our class is the problems that result from conveying a comfortable environment. The you’re not ok, I’m not ok, but thats ok sort of mentality is not what should be found within the Christian community. If non-Christians were to spend time seeking after answers (whether that be through going to a church or searching over a blog site such as this) and they did not come across these truths about our culture and the sin they have learned to accept in their lives, then those who were suppose to be influencing them missed the mark Jesus set for spreading his message. Why should these truths be hidden from non-believers?
Your post is very compelling, I completely agree that we need to take a hard look in the mirror. On the other hand I have a tough time with the video you posted. I think the fundamental message of revival and change is vital for the Christian community to hear, but I think if someone who is not a Christian they would be very turned off by this video because of its implicit condemnation of culture.
Wow compelling blog Colten…I think you’ve hit on one of the MOST important points in modern Christianity. Are we really Christians? I think it’s a good question to ask. Maybe that seems offense to some, and maybe it seems stupid to others, but I think we all as Christians need to take a look in the mirror and decide…am I really following Christ and living according to the mission of God?