What is Christianity?
Hey there, welcome to the kitchen table. Why the kitchen table? What better place for friends to get together over coffee and talk about things that matter?
By the way, if you like these get-togethers and this way of talking things over, please like this video and subscribe to this channel. Thank you.
So what thing are we talking about this time? Well, I thought that since this channel is all about helping us enrich our faith, one of the first matters we should discuss is what exactly is that faith. I mean, if we say we are Christians, we ought to know what we are claiming to be. So, “What does it mean to be a Christian?”
I think that, at its most basic level, being a Christian is being a follower of Jesus. Now, before you say, “Well, thank you, Capt. Obvious.” Granted.
But if Christianity means that we are followers of Jesus, then perhaps the first thing we need to enrich is our understanding of what that means. And I think the first place we should look for this deeper understanding is… well, Jesus himself. I mean, if we want to follow him, it wouldn’t hurt to listen to what he says about it, right? And I found him saying more than I could possibly contain in this short time together. And, as we are simply friends talking over the kitchen table, as I share what I’ve found in the Bible, I may not always stop in mid-sentence to state the book, chapter, and verse I’m referencing, but I will list all of them in the description box so you can check them out for yourself. So here we go.
Well, I’ll tell you what. Let me start by offering the definition of Christianity I have arrived at based on all I found, and then we’ll spend a little time unpacking what got me there. So, Christianity is: first and foremost, a relationship with Jesus, one that leads to studentship under him that then leads to a life lived for him based on all that is learned from him. It is always all three of these together, the first leading to the second, leading to the third. Indeed, you cannot have any one of these without the others and be a true follower of Jesus.
This does mean that without studentship, you have no real relationship, and without a relationship, you have no true studentship. And, if you do not live out what you claim to have learned, not only have you not truly learned anything, but you are demonstrating that you do not have a relationship. Because this relationship is based on love, and love always leads to action taken for the one loved. If there is no action, there is no love, and with no love, we don’t even know God.1 How can we follow someone we don’t even know? Can’t, right?
Ok, so that’s the definition. So, how did I get there? As I said, I found tons of information. And as I considered it all, it seemed to all focus down to two basic things Jesus told us about what it takes to follow him. The basics… a good place to start anyway.
So, what are these two most basic things? The two greatest commands ever given to us. These are, first, to love God with our entire being and then, second, to love our neighbor as ourselves.2 Why do I call these the two most basic? It’s something Jesus says. Jesus says that keeping these two is what ensures we will have eternal life.3 And he says that all other commands and teachings in the whole Bible are based on these two.4 Since everything else is based on them, and keeping them ensures eternal life, they must be two of the most basic things, right? Oh, and interestingly, he tells us what this eternal life is: it is knowing God the Father and himself.5 To know them does mean being in a relationship with them. So yes, the loving relationship must come first.
Alright, where do I get that this relationship leads to learning from Jesus? This I base on Jesus telling us to take his yoke upon us and learn from him.6 That’s pretty straightforward, don’t you think? We are to learn; we are to be his students.
And I find this studentship well confirmed by Jesus when, while talking to his disciples, he called them his friends because they knew what he was doing, for he had made known to them all that he had heard from the Father (in other words, he had taught them, and they had learned).7 It seems that being his friends did involve his disciples being his students.
As for the third part of our definition, that this studentship leads to a life lived, I found where Jesus tells us that we are to bear much fruit.8 He intends that we do what we learn. He then says that if we abide in him and his love, we will keep his commands:9 in other words, we will do the things he teaches. Elsewhere, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”10 Sort of like: if you live, you will breathe; if you love, you will keep.
Anyway, abiding in him, which is residing in him, which is being in a relationship with him, leads to learning from him and then to doing what is learned.
So there you go: the definition of Christianity we will use in all our upcoming chats, along with the reasons and basis on which it was built. All of which does lead to one final thought I’d like to share before we finish our coffee and go on to other things.
Because Christianity is first and foremost a relationship, in which we learn and then live; the life we live cannot be divided into two parts: a daily life and a Sunday-go-to-meeting, churchy life. This means that our complete life is the full expression of what we have learned as we relate to him. And this means that our whole life (both inside and outside a church building) is our worship of God. Our whole life is religious expression.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute, I’m no monk. How is my whole life religious expression?”
Well, this is based on something James tells us when he shares what God considers to be pure religion. But, before I share that, let me ask, do you have any idea what God calls pure religion? Take a moment: what would make sense to you for a religion to be considered pure?
Here is what, according to James, God considers pure religion: looking after the vulnerable and the helpless, not being influenced by worldly or cultural considerations, and, while doing this, minding our tongue.11 Is that what you were thinking? And by the way, did you notice that all of these things are things normally done outside of a church service? How you live your life is your religious expression of following Jesus. Are you beginning to see the depths of what it means to be a Christian? Feeling enriched yet?
Now it’s time for your part of the conversation. Let me know your thoughts on this in this video’s comments section. Thank you for listening and for sharing.
Oh, I almost forgot: there is a free feature on our website called Thought of the Day. It is posted at 8 am each morning in the hope that these thoughts inspire you and help you contemplate God and your relationship with him throughout the day. The link is in the description box below. Also, check out our new audio podcast, also linked in the description box. This is hosted by Gerald Yerkes, who recently retired from the pastorate after serving 54 years in that capacity. Join him as he shares insights into God, God’s Word, and living the Christian life. His goal is to help you prepare yourself so that when the time finally comes to stand directly before God, you can present yourself to him unashamedly. This is based on Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15.
Well, until next time, then. May you continue to grow in your relationship, in your learning, and in your living, based on everything learned. May your relationship with Jesus grow, and may coffee, into your cup, always flow.
Scripture References:
For the Relationship:
1. 1 John 4:7-21 Those who do not love (love is always relational) do not even know God. (So the relationship must first be established before all else).
2. Matthew 22:34-40 The greatest commands are to love. (Relationship is a must.)
3. Luke 10:25-28 Keeping the two greatest commands, to love God and our neighbors, are what brings us eternal life.
4. Matthew 22:40 All other commands are based on love.
5. John 17:3 Eternal life is knowing God, the Father and Jesus.
Other examples of relationship:
Revelation 3:20 I stand at the door and knock; if anyone opens the door, I will come in. I will dine with him and he with me. (The relationship begins. Doesn’t say, learn from me or do these things for me, and I will dine [spend time] with you. Just open the door).
Ephesians 5:1 We are called beloved children.
For the Studentship (Discipleship):
6. Matthew 11:28-30 Take my yoke upon you and LEARN from me. (The relationship means to be learning.)
7. John 15:15 Jesus calls us friends because we know (have learned) what he has taught and made known to us.
Other examples of learning, studentship:
John 6:44, 45 Therefore everyone who hears from the Father and has learned, comes to me.
Matthew 28:19 Tells us to go make Disciples, not converts. We are to be teachers and trainers; this implies the studentship that is part of the relationship. Yes, this is a very brief look at the Great Commission, and I do not mean to remove any other aspect from it. But I am simply highlighting the studentship aspect that is integral to it.
For the doing of what is learned:
8. John 15:8 We are to bear much fruit.
9. John 15:8 – 17 The doing results from abiding in love (actively pursuing a relationship with God). If you abide, you keep the commands. Interesting that the command then given (v.12) is to love each other as he loves us.
10. John 14:15 If you love, you will keep; like if you live, you will breathe.
Other examples of doing:
Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves… that they may see your good deeds….
Colossians 1:10 walk in a manner worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Pure Religion:
11. James 1:26-27 What God calls pure religion. So our religion is our way of life, not mere church-time worship.
Other example of religion being whole life:
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
Can you love without doing?
James 2:14-25 No.
James 2:17 Faith without works is dead. It is not faith at all. A loving relationship that does nothing is not a loving relationship at all.
Examples of studentship and doing religion without a relationship:
John 5:39 Pharisees and Scribes pore over scriptures and miss out on Jesus.
Luke 11:42; Matthew 23:23 Doing religious things but neglecting what is really important.
1 Corinthians 13 This chapter shows the true value of trying to study and do things without love. Without a relationship to Jesus, they are worthless.