Who is a Christian?

Who is a Christian? First, would it be judgmental or potentially exclusive to try to answer this question or define the boundaries quite tightly? I certainly would not want to eliminate a person on a steady journey toward faith. But the boundaries can be so frustratingly 'thin'! This is where people claim the label 'christian' on the basis of their country of origin or residence, or claim the notion of being part of a christian country. This has been called cultural christianity, and is often so frustratingly divorced from the teachings of Jesus.

Perhaps we shouldn't ask this question at all, given that the term "Christian" is only used three times in the new testament - and only once in the positive sense, while twice in a negative context. But the term is so prevalent, that it should be defined, and it really should be done so in respect of the name of Christ on which it is based.

Surely a "Christian" then, is one who follows Jesus, and not just the Jesus of one's own creation, or the Jesus that was underwhelmingly presented at Sunday School long ago, but rather Jesus of Nazareth Son of God. And this is also not the get-out-of-hell-free Jesus who brings no other claim or challenge. To follow Jesus is to know Jesus, his teaching, his priorities, the nature of his life, his suffering, his victory over sin, and to come into relationship with him.

A "Christian" or 'Jesus-follower' then must live under the discipline of knowing Jesus ... they must be a modern-day 'disciple'. Not perfect, not completely whole as yet, but certainly on the way. Now is it too judgmental to say that this brings to light many hypocrisies or shortcomings in today's understanding of the term "Christian"?!?

People speak of a return to "Christian values", but given the disconnection with Jesus (discussed above), what would these be? Would they just represent a conservative worldview? Would they more relate to, on one hand fear, or on the other hand comfort, than to the values Jesus actually demonstrated? Case in point: how can we largely tolerate what is happening to children in our nationally sanctioned offshore detention centres? This is generally ignored in the "Christian value" debate, as we worry more about attacks on our perceived way of living.

How can this be so? I think we can be mistaken about our history. A lot of what might have been seen as "devout" or "righteous" was not really consistent with Jesus, for example penal colonies and certain military campaigns. I would argue that Australia has never been a Christian country. While we look back to what are seen by some to be 'golden days', we ignore completely the skeletons that have been emerging from our cupboards. This is a land that has been colonised (sometimes brutally) without any thought to a treaty with its indigenous peoples. Over two centuries later we are still struggling with aboriginal health problems and the whole notion of reconciliation. We haven't even yet formally recognised prior occupation.

We would hope that the church ... the collective mind of Jesus-followers of successive generations ... would have been foremost in the call for "Christian values" in this, but often have been left in the wake of other-worldly issues of personal salvation. Complicity in the stolen generations, and then tragic, horrific and shameful instances of abuse and subsequent cover-ups, have left the church now almost voiceless in any real values debate.

There are some in government who claim "christian" faith, yet they seem immovable on the scandalous situations in Nauru and on Manus Island. We might say that "that's politics", but surely a Jesus-follower is a Jesus-follower first and foremost, or not one at all! Party first, or unity with colleagues first, or being re-elected first ... no, surely Jesus first!

Australia is clearly a secular democracy, and always has been from the time of the first locally elected parliament. Here there is a healthy separation between religion/church and state/government. Here there is equality of all people, and no impediment to the God-given freewill to choose for yourself. In this democracy it should be the case that the most vulnerable are the ones most cared for irrespective of background or religion. This should free up (rather than tie up) our elected representatives to express their faith and follow their conscience. What is the point of gaining office, if this can't properly connect with the very centre of what drives your humanity!?

So, with all this in mind, who is a "Christian"? A true Christian is a Jesus-follower who lives under the discipline of the One who has through God's grace provided forgiveness as crucified Saviour and new life as resurrected Lord. A disciple like this will live as Jesus lived, never shying away from the tough challenges that the 'narrow way' presents. A Jesus-follower doesn't claim (cultural) privilege, but rather thrives and grows under persecution. A Jesus-follower then doesn't need to recapture any notion of past glory, but rather simply embrace God's future. A Jesus-follower is prepared to make the tough calls, and not hide behind popularist complacency.

At the same time, a true Jesus-follower will engage with our Missional God and thus love our neighbours (inclusively of course) and seek to bring grace to all. This means that I will even need to love the muslim-hating zealot who is seeking to pervert our community and promote fear and distrust. So life is never easy or without challenge. The only way to avoid challenge is to disengage, and then, by definition, one couldn't be a Christian.