Three little letters make a world
of difference. Together i, s, and h distinguish Christian from
Christianish and mark the difference between right and wrong, life and
death, heaven and hell. There is nothing better for your spiritual
wellbeing than to be in a Christian church. There is nothing worse for
your spiritual wellbeing than to be in a Christianish church. Here are a
few marks of each.
A
Christian church teaches the Bible. It is committed to the
inerrancy, sufficiency, clarity, and authority of the Word of God and
therefore preaches it week by week with confidence and consistency. A
Christianish
church teaches about the Bible. It is committed to imparting life
lessons and uses the scriptures as a starting point to teach people how
to live lives of success and fulfillment.
A
Christian church admits the deep depravity of human
beings. It acknowledges that we are all deeply disordered so that not
one of us has even the least righteousness to plead before God. A
Christianish
church proclaims the inherent goodness of humanity. It acknowledges
that we aren’t what we could and should be, but encourages us to believe
that with enough effort we can get there.
A
Christian church makes its core declaration the finished
work of Christ. The good news of grace frees us from the impossible task
of earning our own salvation and instead simply receives what Christ
has already accomplished. A
Christianish church has its core
declaration the unfinished work of humanity. The bad news of works
becomes the brutal and impossible path to impressing God with deeds that
will catch his eye and win his favor.
A
Christian church proclaims the substitutionary death of
Jesus Christ. Believing that our sin has provoked the just wrath of God,
it declares in awe that the Son of God willingly took our sin upon
himself and absorbed the full fury of the Father’s wrath. A
Christianish
church proclaims the wrathless love of God and the exemplary life of
Jesus Christ, upholding Christ as the ultimate example of what a human
being can and should be.
A
Christian church preaches the gospel of justification by
grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It calls people to
repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. A
Christianish
church preaches a gospel of social justice or personal prosperity. It
calls people to right social wrongs or to claim financial enrichment, to
repent only of insufficient action or insufficient faith.
A
Christian church gathers each week to worship the God of
the Bible according to the Bible. Knowing their desperate need for
divine wisdom, they read the Bible, preach the Bible, pray the Bible,
sing the Bible, and fellowship around the Bible. A
Christianish
church gathers each week for empowerment or entertainment. Their
services are shaped more by pop culture or personal preference than by
holy Scripture.
A
Christian church preaches the exclusivity of Jesus Christ.
It echoes scripture in saying Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life
and that there is no other way to be reconciled to the Father but
through him. A Christianish church insists Jesus Christ may be
a way but not
the way, and proclaims instead that all roads lead ultimately to the same destination.
A
Christian church proclaims the existence of heaven and
hell. It takes hold of the authority of the Bible to plead with people
to turn to Christ and be saved from destruction. A
Christianish
church affirms an afterlife but denies the possibility of eternal
punishment for those who have chosen to reject the free offer of the
gospel.
There is nothing in all the world as precious as a truly Christian
church. There is nothing in all the world as dangerous as one that is
merely Christianish. Choose your church well.
