What is a Christian?, asks Peter Sara.
On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain declared that the United Kingdom was a Christian country and that the Bible had helped to give Britain "a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today".
Gwynne Dyer (ODT 21.12.2011) took great offence at that statement and its implication that his own children (and presumably himself too) who had no religion were morally inferior to those who did. It was "insulting and untrue", he said.
Fair enough. But he also said this of David Cameron, who described himself as a "vaguely practising" Christian: "You'd think if he really believed in a God who scrutinises his every thought and deed, and will condemn him to eternal torture in Hell if he doesn't meet the standard of behaviour required, he might be a little less vague."
This begs the question: "What is a 'practising Christian' and does God really do that to those who don't practise very well?"
The folk view is that a Christian is a good person (or should be), who has high moral standards and adheres to them.
Hence the expression "a good Christian". The Christian is a moral exemplar and outwardly exhibits those traits associated with Christian character. A Christian is expected to be perfect. When they are shown not to be, one hears the expression, "What kind of Christian are they?"etc.
Upon a high and lofty pedestal is placed the believer and very high standards are expected.
The misunderstanding about "What is a Christian?" is such that those unreal expectations of perfection have the effect of presenting Christianity as an unscalable pinnacle, a mountain too high and too hard to climb.
Some take some solace in the position that Christians have proved to be hypocrites over the ages and the usual villainies are trotted out in support of this.
According to Mr Dyer's theology, it would be better not to attempt the ascent lest God punish those whose feet might slip. Fair enough, if that were true. But it is not!The Christian enjoys the exclusive privilege of a right standing in the eyes of a holy God, not on account of what they do or don't, but on the singular accomplishments of their founder, whose name is given to them. The medium of exchange by which our misbehaviour and moral impurity is taken away and moral perfection is imputed to the believer is Christ, who stands in place of the condemned and bears our death penalty. He died in our place that we might live. A Christian is one who is "in Christ" and in whom is Christ, dwelling by the Holy Spirit. The Christian is made perfect by God, and is never made perfect by behaviour. Never.
The essence of Christianity is what God has done, not what we do. Therein lies Mr Dyer's false depiction of what a Christian is and what happens when the behaviour is less than perfect.
God does not condemn anyone to Hell on account of substandard behaviour - those who do not work hard enough at being good.
Conversely, eternal life is granted to those whose humility acknowledges that the mountain of moral excellence is indeed a peak too lofty to attain, or even if it were reached, to dwell there.
Eternal life is given freely to those who put their trust in the only One who eternally triumphs over the colossus of sin and failure, whose behaviour was and is perfect and one who can never fail - Jesus the Christ.
God bestows the status of moral perfection only on those who receive his Son by faith.
This truth is called the Gospel - the good news. Is that morally superior?
Yes, it is.
• Peter Sara is an elder of Elim Christian Centre.
