RT @lensweet Being a “good Christian” (ie “good Methodist,” “good Catholic,” “good Baptist”) is not the same as being a follower of Jesus
So I come across this superb tweet by the incomparable Leonard Sweet. Being the good tweeter that I am I go on to retweet it. A beloved sister notes it and queries the dissolution of a link between ‘Christian’ and ‘follower of Jesus’.
As you may have gathered. I am not Leonard Sweet, but it is still worth me having a go at explaining the dissolution in the context of what he’s saying.
The day after I got baptised the church held a special service known as the Right Hand of Fellowship. This traditional service was done to officially recognise my membership of the denomination and the local branch of that denomination. The service consisted of outlining the requirements expected of me as a member of the church. That included regular contribution to the church (financially especially), adherence to the doctrines of the church, regular attendance to the sessions and behaviour in fitting with that of a believer.
This service did not come as a surprise t me. I was informed that this would take place before I got baptised. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. Indeed for years afterwards it caused no concern to me whatsoever. as I got involved in a church plant project, I understood that it was a necessary step to affiliate one to the immediate fellowship. It had great uses for administrative and bureaucratic purposes and after all if you’re a member, there has to be some way of noting that.
What is also useful as a result of these practices, is that it gives a benchmark – a standard by which one’s membership can be accounted and also something by which we can discern whether or not you’re being a good Christian.
So in terms of that standard, as perhaps could be the case in other denominations, being a good Christian is inextricably linked with adhered to denominational standards and required.
Well, what’s wrong with that? You might very well ask that. After all, these denominational bodies are still looking to do church work, do it for Jesus and everything, so as long as those are the intentions it’s all good, right?
What began to take place in my own understanding some years ago, was acknowledging what Scripture does and does not say. So the phrase right hand of fellowship is indeed right there in scripture (Galatians 2:9) and indeed being members one of another in the Body of Christ is also (like in Romans 12:4, 5 or 1 Corinthians 12:12). Good scriptures to prove it right?
Errr … right and wrong. The phrases are there, but they don’t back up what we’ve turned into fundamental parts of one’s Christian journey. For example the right hand of fellowship that Paul and Barnabas received was as much about commissioning them for the job they were about to do, rather than a formal welcome into the church.
Digging further a lot of the requirements that are outlined are more about safeguarding the institutional approach to church rather than actual church itself. Financial contributions, regular attendance, adherence to doctrinal standards – might be important for the sustenance of the organisational structure of the local membership or the denomination, but not strictly speaking biblical church requirements.
Taking all that into account and from some observations of church life both in the denomination I grew up and beyond I was led me to the following conclusions.
1) You can indeed be a good Christian as defined by your denominational affiliation. In fact it is not all that difficult to set up the behaviours and practices that fall in line with acceptable membership of the church.
2) Adhering to all that does not necessarily mean falling in line with Christ’s demands on discipleship.
3) Therefore you could very well tick the ‘good Christian’ boxes and completely miss it in terms of what it is to follow Christ.
In fact, this is not theory, this is reality.
I am not saying that membership routines and practices are ‘wrong’ or ‘ungodly’. I can appreciate that wanting to identify and engage yourself with a body of believers would be of such importance that you can go through the hoops necessary. That’s all fine and dandy.
I am suggesting, just how important it is to realise the Jesus calls us to follow Him. Others may have labelled that being ‘Christian’, others still may have redefined it along lines in fitting with their doctrines. Those labels, however, are not what Jesus calls us towards. As long as that remains the essential element of what we are all about, then everything else can be treated as the pretty paper wrapping around the gift.
(And speaking of what it is to follow Jesus, please read this awesome entry by Guy Muse on how one of the most quoted statements of Jesus is also one of the ones that is practiced the least. Brilliant stuff that again challenges us as to whether we follow Jesus, or are just comfortable going with the flow of religiosity.)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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