¹April 5th, 2017 the PEW Research center released data pertaining to the percentage of the world that proclaims christianity. The result, 32% of the planet professed christianity. Muslim profession worldwide was 21% and Hindus profession was 15.1%. Statistically, the chances are very high that you consider yourself a christian as you read this. To you I want to give you the single most important aspect of your world view. The reason I believe this is necessary is due to the rise of Christians that do not demonstrate this, and therefore are considered the scum of the earth.
If you are a christian, this article is going to end with really good news for you. If you have been calling yourself a Christian but have never actually had a relationship with it's founder, Christ, I encourage you to answer every question I ask honestly to yourself before reading the rest of the blog. I have good news for you as well, but like rubbing alcohol, it may hurt a little while it helps. The longer this wound has been untreated, the more it will probably hurt. If you are in neither camp, thanks for reading! I imagine you are curious.
Consider this quote by apostle Paul straight out of the scriptures. It is seven whole verses so bear with me,
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 New International Version (NIV)
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (emphasis mine)
Did you get that?
As I run into people who profess christianity, do you know what I have observed is missing in many cases?? Christ. Any way you go through life, your lens and beliefs will govern how you carry yourself. I encourage you to read a previous blog on "red lights" where we lightly discuss beliefs versus reality. When observed from a logical framework, most worldviews are inaccurate and incomplete at best and maliciously destructive at worst. You are no different than the billions of people who live now and who have passed on in this way, your worldview and thinking determines your life. Additionally, Christian claims are not just a robust worldview, but as ²Dr Ravi Zacharias teaches they touch on all five major areas of reality which are ethics, metaphysics, anthropology, epistemology and theology.
Let me ask you this, what is the defining mark of christianity? Do you possess it?
Time would fail me to talk of people who claim christianity. Did you know that is not how the word originated? It was not a self-identification slogan created by a group of people. I challenge you to log into meetup.com and search two things. How many creative groups are near you and how many creative names they have. To simply call oneself a christian and not honor what that word means, is to be confused. If I told you that the word "dog" means blue house to me, what would you say? You would tell me that the word already has a meaning.
Christianity was the attribute, reflection of a spiritual reality, that the secular neighbors of the original church in Acts saw. It means "Christ like". The secular world identified people who had been with Jesus and gave them the name. Keep in mind that during this time in human history, Christians suffered great persecution as the new religion began to spread. You like being a christian? Try being one in a nation where Christianity is illegal.
I challenge you to slow down and really consider this. Name another religion, outside of a theistic worldview, that it's followers are being slaughtered by the millions in many nations of the world simply for their faith? What about christianity would allow people to choose to follow a worldview declared illegal in many nations and be tortured, raped and imprisoned?
Let's revisit Paul's verses,
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 New International Version (NIV)
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (emphasis mine)
Do you think the international community of Christians in developing countries is called names such as closed minded, intolerant bigots? Why not?
They believe that they possess Christ. They witness and participate in supernatural, logic melting events regularly. I once met a woman who told me of how she engaged in spiritual warfare in Africa. As Christ began to work through her to banish demonic manifestations, even the vegetation began to attack her! I personally have prayed all night for people alongside believers and have 2-3 doctors confirm that cancer and autoimmune diseases can no longer be traced in their body!
I will say this simply. If you proclaim christianity and do not have an active relationship with the being that created all reality, you are a liar. You misrepresent a worldview that has provided solid evidence to actually bring hope in this broken world.
To all those lying about their faith, do you know the name of the God you really are serving? God has a name for you, lukewarm. Many people cheer for John 3:16, in 16+ years I have never heard cheering around Revelation 3:16.
Ready for the good news?
Christianity teaches that heaven is not something you earn, Ephesians 2: 8-9. It teaches that the justice of Christ demands your condemnation, Exodus 34:7. Yet, due to how much God loves you, God sent it's only son Jesus to die for your sin, Isaiah 53:6. Believing this with your heart and confessing this with your mouth opens the door for Christ to genuinely enter your life. Dr. Peter Kreeft in his handbook of christian apologetics, proposes 4 levels of faith; emotional, intellectual, volitional and finally a mysterious, deep faith. ³Rev. Richard Wurmbrand was tortured for over 14 years, largely under Joseph Stalin, for his faith. His initial arrest was in 1948, Stalin was deceased by the 1953, yet Wurmbrand did not find freedom until 1966. One year prior to ⁴Nicolae Ceausescu coming to power in Romania.
Relentless in his determination to honor his God, he pressed on after release to found Voice of the Martyrs, which supports tortured christians in over 30 countries. Would mere emotionalism, intellectualism or will power maintain someone through 14 years of torture? I propose that like apostle Paul who himself was whipped more than 100 times, it would take an active relationship with God. This would produce a mysterious faith so deep that is lines up with Acts 16:31.
If you not only proclaim Christianity, but Christ actually has an active relationship with you, historical evidence proves that you can change the world and bring real goodness and hope in the brokeness.
¹ = Hackett, Conrad, and David McClendon. “Christians Remain World's Largest Religious Group, but They Are Declining in Europe.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 5 Apr. 2017, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religious-group-but-they-are-declining-in-europe/.
²= “Ravi Zacharias on Eastern Thought Invading the Church.” P2ALM, 24 Feb. 2014, p2alm.com/2014/02/24/ravi-zacharias-on-eastern-thought-invading-the-church/.
³= “Our Founders.” The Voice of the Martyrs, www.persecution.com/founders/.
⁴=“Romania's History.” BUCHAREST, Romania - Travel and Tourism Information, romaniatourism.com/history.html.
