What does it mean to be Christian?

In the Book of Acts when Paul and Silas are asked by their jailor what he must do to be saved the answer is simple. They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 Though the translation consistently reads “believe” trust seems to be a better fit.

In the letter to the Romans, Paul seems to clarify this sentiment. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 To reference the Greek text, “confess” is more akin to declaring allegiance. Think of the term “Confession of Faith.”

In Romans, he goes on to clarify even further. “For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation.” Romans 10:10 To trust with the heart, is to have faith as described in the letter to the Hebrews. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Our pluralistic society which stresses rationality above all else has relegated faith to simple being a set of ideas. In our efforts to reduce life to that which can be quantified and measured, spirituality is simply a matter of neuro pathways. One can believe, but one needs to attend to the realities of life.

Spiritual principles are good to live one’s life by as long as one doesn’t go to extremes. These principles serve an evolutionary need. Society simply works better if altruistic values as espoused.

Trust is deeper than faith. Trust is taking that step onto a bridge that you have faith that it will hold your weight. This is the idea behind James writing, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17) If what we believe does not change how we live do we really believe it?

To be Christian is a personal matter. Yes, our expression of faith should make a visible difference in our lives. It is still a personal matter as to how our faith gets worked out in our lives. A good friend of mine seeks personal purity. He seeks to be in the world and not of the world. He eschews much of modern media and entertainment, so that he might contemplate “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.”

A friend of a friend has seen the call of faith to meet Christ in those who we consider the least. He has dedicated himself to feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless. He cares passionately about the marginalized and disenfranchised. He swears like a trucker and smokes like a chimney. (Why is it that swearing is always associated with truckers?)

Meanwhile, I live out the Lutheran sentiment of “sin boldly.” I also swear like a trucker, or perhaps fisherman. My mission in life is to lead people into relationship with God. There are some who have told me that I have opened the door to faith for them. This blog is part of that mission.

I have done my time providing service and advocacy for various people. These days I am content to study biblical languages; so far only Greek, next year I start Hebrew. While I might have retired, I am not yet done living in service.

We all have our mission, our “mission dei.” Each of us were created to bring the presence of God into our lives and the lives of people around us. How you live out your faith, your trust, is through the leading of the Holy Spirit. And, we are not meant to live identical lives. For some I would be an irritant, for others I am an inspiration. This is the idea behind Paul writing. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Cor 12:27) And,  ^“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (1 Cor 12:14)

So be bold and be confident in who you are to the world. For you can be salt and light to those I cannot.