by Jeremy Holcombe

Created on: May 19, 2008

What does being a "Christian" mean? This seems to be an age old question asked by too many people to count, over too many years to count. This question also brings terrible confusion with it, in a sense that the definition of being a "Christian" depends on who you are asking.

So many variables go into a persons answer including but not limited to how they were brought up, what church denomination they belong to, and what their personal feelings on certain topics are. For many people a answering this question can be a two edged sword. On one hand they can give the answer that has been ingrained in them from their family, pastor, other friends, or even by what they hear from the televangelist and make everyone happy. On the other hand they can just admit that they don't really know what defines a "Christian" because there are so many differences of opinion out there.

Does following the Ten Commandments make you a "Christian"? Does giving money to televangelists and tithing to your church make you a "Christian"? Is it being at church every Sunday rain or shine? Is it where you sit when your at church? I have often heard a term growing up in church that has become quite popular over the years. The term is "backseat Christian". In other words one day some person had nothing better to do then decide that the farther back you sit in church the less of a "Christian" you are, as if by being in the back of the church you loved God less then those who were square in the front of the church. While this term is catchy and sometimes funny, I am one hundred percent sure that there is nothing in the Bible about church seating charts!

While the Bible does say your should tithe and that church is a blessing, it does not say that being at church every Sunday will gain you entry into Heaven, nor does it say that giving a certain amount each week to someone on television will gain you favor either. You go to church to receive blessings from God and to worship him, not to gain "Christian points". You tithe because the Bible says that some of your money belongs to God and in turn you will blessed by your giving. There is no certain amount you are able to give that automatically qualifies you to be a "Christian".

While we can argue about what makes a "Christian" until God comes back, I don't think that we will ever come to a definitive answer because there are just way too many variables involved. It really comes down to whether or not you love God and trust him or not. If you put your faith in him and turn your life over to his will, does it really matter if someone does not agree with your definition of being a "Christian"?

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