I don’t pretend to have all the answers, especially on such a touchy topic of defining what it means to be a Christian.
I think there are a range of answers to this question.
But I also think there are some basic tenants that go into defining what it means to be a Christian.
Like this: Being a Christian means that one has identified themself as a follower of Jesus Christ. Even that might be a bit tricky since we need to define what it means to be a follower. In this sense, a follower is someone who is committed to a way of life and teachings of someone else. They aren’t just a fan or have an interest in something, but have actually committed time, energy, and other resources towards the person or cause they are claiming to follow.
So, if this is true (And that’s debatable), then what would it mean to be a Christian?
I would say that it would be someone who does their best to follow the teachings and commands of Jesus. Like the Sermon on the Mount. Like the end of Matthew 28 which calls on Christians to go and make disciples and baptize. Like John 6 which calls on Christians to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Like Matthew 25 which implores us to take care of those less fortunate like the hungry. And many more examples throughout the bible. Like Luke 9 in which Jesus calls on us to pick up our cross and follow him.
I don’t see how Christianity means to dedicate oneself to the path of domination and acquisition of power. I don’t see how Christianity means advancing a partisan political party, leader, or cause. I don’t see how Christianity is about lining up your faith beliefs with that of your political convictions and finding they match up perfectly. But I could certainly be wrong. I welcome people showing me how Christianity is actually about this – show me where Jesus talks about this. Show me how Jesus wanted to advance the Empire in order to advance God’s kingdom. I welcome those references. I’m not going to hold my breath waiting though for those references.
Laced up Lutheran 
Roger and I feel blessed to have known and been advised by a lawyer turned politician, Steve Bloom, Rep for 199th District. He is embodied by the Holy Spirit which guides him daily in his work in the House…… very unusual, I admit, which is why we feel blessed to know and support him. He is going to run for U S House of Reps…. very lucky for all of us.
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“I don’t see how Christianity means to dedicate oneself to the path of domination and acquisition of power. I don’t see how Christianity means advancing a partisan political party, leader, or cause. I don’t see how Christianity is about lining up your faith beliefs with that of your political convictions and finding they match up perfectly. But I could certainly be wrong.”
Matthew, I certainly don’t think you are wrong. The trend you describe makes no sense as a form of following Jesus. In fact, the good news of the kingdom Jesus shared with us shows that the kingdom of God can never be totally comfortable with secular government as their objectives are always in conflict to some extent. The kingdom of God is always a subversive force to governments. ‘Jesus is Lord, and Caesar is not.’
However, our current blending of Christianity and politics does have a source–dominionism. I am sure you are familiar with Rushdooney who promoted dominionism in the 1970s. He was successful; it is working. And Jesus is being ignored as a result.
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I am not familiar with Rushdooney, but I am familiar with the history of the 1970’s. He may have been successful in dominionism, but success in that realm isn’t success in the kingdom of God, as you know. Thanks for pointing me to this info. Blessings.
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I misspelled his name; it is Rushdoony. And his views are more properly called Christian Reconstructionism. His influence on current conservative evangelicals is vast.
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No worries. I’ll look him up. I’m sure it will be quite interesting.
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I just read a bit about him. He’s full of contradictions. And I’m not talking in a saint and sinner Martin Luther kind of way either. How can he claim to be a Christian libertarian and yet want to impose Old Testament law through state sanction? That’s completely opposite in thought?
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The unimaginable, crazy thing is how he (and his followers) were able to infect the Evangelical movement to such a large extent with his extreme ideas.
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That’s typically my reaction when I read things about the Rapture theology.
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I enjoyed the read and I appreciated your thoughts on Christianity and politics. I think it’s ok for Christians to be in politics but primarily for the sake of advancing Christ’s Kingdom and agenda, and part of that is blessing the earthly nation you are a part of, but many people take out of context the Sermon on the Mount for example and use it to forward their political agenda but Christ was preaching to his disciples in that sermon, not to Rome (the political powerhouse of that time). Christians are primarily called to demonstrate and bring to life the new world that is here in part but not wholly (the Kingdom of God; the new heavens and the new earth). Romans 13 is a great passage to read to discover how a Christian should view government.
Secondly, in the kindest way I have to disagree with the answer you gave to the initial question “What it means to be a Christian”, and I would love to dialog on this. I believe your answer more closely answers the question, “What is a Christian like?” But the essence of becoming a Christian is entirely different. Scripture teaches that someone does not become a Christian by doing good works as Christ did, someone becomes a Christian by acknowledging that they cannot earn salvation and places all their trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sin (Phil. 3:9, Eph. 2:8-9). Ephesians 2:8-9 is very helpful on this point, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Now, when someone believes in Christ, and trusts in him, the result will be a changed life filled with good works, not perfectly, but progressively (sanctification). For example, the next verse in Ephesians (2:10) says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” So a Christian is someone who does good works, but not to be saved, but because they already have been saved by faith alone in Christ alone. I’d love to talk more about it! All the best to you!
I just did a post on this titled “The Heart of Christianity” Let me know your thoughts if you’d like to read.
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Thanks Robbie. You probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear me say that of course, the way you describe it, I agree with you. It probably would have been better to have altered the question a bit. I appreciate your response. Yes, God gives us faith, and we respond in trust. It’s always God’s action first, with the Spirit empowering us to respond. Thanks and blessings.
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Not at all surprised, I did figure you’d agree. Great last sentence “God’s action first, with the Spirit empowering us to respond.” Amen and cheers, it’s almost reformation day 🍻
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Hey there ,I have a small wordpress website, we want another administrator …. how to do this dude? vielen dank
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I just make it a point to write every weekday. It’s a commitment I have. Thanks for coming by. Blessings to you.
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It means everything to me! Thank you and Merry Christmas..Author Windows From Heaven!
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Good post.
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Thanks Jahn. Thanks also for reading my blog. Blessings.
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