Let’s be honest, there is no such thing as a “true” Christian.
It’s common to observe Christians advertising the virtues of their faith and how they live their lives to honor and praise their God. Many Christians are fond of saying that “true” Christians are role models for the rest of the world which is hopelessly lost and wallowing in sin.
But what exactly is a “true” Christian? The standard Christian claim is that to be a Christian you must turn over your life to God and live according to his will.
I argue that beneath the shiny veneer of all this pious sermonizing lies a hypocritical theology that does not live up to it’s own advertising. I believe Nietzsche said is best: “In truth, there was only one christian and he died on the cross.”
Let’s start with God’s laws, which Jesus stated were to be followed “until heaven and earth passed away”.
“Matt 5:18-19: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.“
The “Law” is the statutes and regulations God gave his people in the Old Testament. You may be familiar with some of these:
Kill people for working on weekends (Exodus 31:14, Exodus 35:2), kill adulterers (Leviticus 20:10), non-believers (2 Chronicles 15:12-13), homosexuals ((Leviticus 20:13), false prophets (Zechariah 13:3), followers of other religions (Exodus 22:19), blasphemers (Leviticus 24:10)…etc, etc.
[For more information, please see Quenching God’s Thirst for Blood and A Repulsive God]
To put the icing on the cake, God later declares His laws as perfect (Psa 19:7-9), last forever (Psa 119:151-152), and eternal (Psa 119:160 and Isaiah 40:8).
Ask yourself, do Christians follow these laws? Of course not! In fact, in order for a moral society to function at all, it is crucial that we ignore God’s commandments in general.
Interestingly enough, if Christians like a particular law they will quote it as God’s word. However, if they don’t care to observe a law, they’ll claim that they are not under the law because Jesus did away with the cumbersome and inconvenient laws of the Old Testament. It’s a win-win!
Sadly, Christians are not aware that Jesus said in Matt 5:18-19 that all the laws were to be followed until heaven and earth passed away.
Why do Christians ignore what Jesus said? Where do they get this idea from in the first place? The answer is that Christians mostly follow the teachings of Paul, not Jesus. It was Paul who canceled God’s laws with his pen. Paul declared that God’s Law was canceled by a human sacrifice called Jesus.
“Col 2:13-14: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he (God) quickened together with him (Jesus), having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (God’s Law) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; “
[see also Ga 3:10-13, 5:1, 5:18]
Paul’s declaration is based on his need to win converts from non-Jewish populations. Greeks for example, had little use for the Hebrew God’s complicated laws. The Law was Paul’s competition as it hindered his efforts to gain converts to his new religion. Of course, a rational person can see that Paul directly contradicted what Jesus stated in Matt 5:18-19 but that matters little to Christians. One also has to wonder how laws which are declared perfect and eternal in the Old Testament become “opposed to the people” and “canceled” in the New Testament.
Paul also put an end to God’s laws with this statement:
“Rom 10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.“
The problem with this statement is that it once again contradicts both Jesus and the Old Testament. Do perfect and eternal laws end because a writer who is trying to sell a new religion to people says so? On the contrary, there is nothing in the Old Testament which states that the coming of a Messiah would be the end of the Law:
“Ezek 37:24 (God speaking): And David my servant [the Christ/Messiah] shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.“
In other words, when the messianic age comes, the Law will still be fully observed.
Paul’s new invented theology contradicts God’s earlier holy word and Christians who follow Paul’s teaching (or apostasy?) and ignore Jesus and God’s instructions do not serve the Lord their God. They are raising Paul’s word above the word of Jesus and God.
Here are just a few of the examples which show the hypocrisy of Christians: If Christians really wanted to do God’s will as they so often claim, they would worship on Saturday which is the Sabbath (Exo 31:15) they would observe all God’s dietary laws (Lev 11), they would not wear mixed fabrics (Lev 19:19), they would not eat meat with any blood in it (Lev 17:10), they would kill homosexuals and persons who work on weekends!
So we see that Christians ignore many of God’s Old Testament laws because a writer named Paul said observing the Law was no longer necessary. Such is the shallow nature of the faith Christians have in the Old Testament and the words of Jesus regarding the status of the Law.
But the problem gets worse. The New Testament also gives some instructions on how Christians should behave:
“1 Tim 2:11-12: Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.“
According to Paul, who Christians follow, women are to be silent regarding religious issues. This means that ordaining women as pastors or teachers is not permitted. How many Christians observe this regulation? How many women teach Bible classes against the instructions of the “holy inspired” Paul?
Another often rejected Christian principle is Jesus’s instructions to sell your belonging and give the money to the poor if you wish to follow him:
“Luke 12:33: Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.“
Of course, Christians today will claim that Jesus only meant that to apply to his followers who lived at that time. The actual instruction from Jesus has no such qualifiers attached to it but since so few Christians want to obey this instruction, it’s little wonder they’ll try to wiggle out of it’s implications.
Jesus stated, as most cult leaders do, that those who left their families to serve him would receive a great reward.
“Matt 19:21,29: Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”
How many Christians who claim that they want to “serve the Lord” have given their hearts to Jesus and left their families to devote their full energy to the Lord Jesus? Don’t these pious mouthpieces for God really want to “turn their lives over to God” as they say they must to be a real Christian?
How many self righteous Christians live in nice homes, have wives and children, and possessions while all the time preaching that they live to serve Jesus? The depth of Christian hypocrisy speaks for itself as these people will ignore any teachings which are too inconvenient to follow.
Jesus stated that anyone who divorces and marries another women commits adultery.
“Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.“
Please note the penalty for adultery according to God’s word.
“Deut 22:22: If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.“
How many Christians have violated the clear instructions from Jesus regarding divorce? How many persons are being put to death for their adulterous behavior?
Jesus gave his followers very clear instructions on how to pray. This is called the Lord’s prayer and can be found in the book of Matthew and Luke. There is no other way to pray in the New Testament. However, right before the prayer language was given, Jesus instructed his followers that this should be only done in complete privacy!
Matthew 6:5-8: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Oddly enough, Christians tend to skip this part of the instructions. Either they are unaware or they willfully ignore Jesus’s instructions. No matter the reason, it’s not defensible.
The New Testament itself shows how a “true” Christian can be recognized.
“1 John 2:3-6: And hereby we (Christians) do know that we know him (Jesus), if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.“
There is absolutely no wiggle room in 1 John 2:3-6 for hypocritical, self proclaimed Christians who don’t want to follow the clear instructions of Jesus regarding the selling of worldly possessions, divorce, keeping all the laws, or putting one’s family ahead of serving Jesus and following him. If a person claims to be “in Christ” but does not obey the word of Jesus, they are liars!
How many Christians have ignored these Biblical commands and the direct commands of their Savior Jesus Remember that God’s law is perfect (Psa 19:7) and eternal (Psa 119:152,160). If Christians really want to do God’s will, as they constantly advertise, why do so many of them divorce and fail to punish wrongdoers as God instructed?
Are God’s laws outdated now? Does this God’s moral standard change with the times? Why should skeptics be impressed with a God whose moral code changes and follows the evolving customs of human society? Why should skeptics be impressed with believers who ignore the very word of God they claim to believe?
Jesus made the following promise:
“Mark 16:15-18: And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.“
Does this ring true about Christians? Do Christians really do all these things as Jesus promised they would? Faced with the obvious dilemma that this failed promise entails, Christians will once again claim that this promise of Jesus only applied to first century believers. Of course, there is no such qualifier in the actual text which says this promise would only apply to first century believers. This particular Christian apologetic tap dance is done out of sheer desperation.
Jesus also promised:
“John 14:12-14: Verily, verily, I (Jesus) say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.“
If only life was the easy for a Christian. Obviously, either this promise made by Jesus is false or there are no true Christians. And once again, modern Christians will claim that this promise by Jesus only applied to first century believers. Isn’t it amazing how much of the New Testament is outdated and only applied to the people of that time?
Paul gets into the act again as he strongly advises that Christians not marry but stay single and celibate for Jesus.
“1 Cor 7:8-9: I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.“
While Paul also states that it is not a sin to marry, he makes it quite clear that it is a lack of spiritual strength which underlies the need to marry.
“1 Cor 7:29: But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;“
Paul also made it clear that the unmarried are fully concerned about serving the Lord and not distracted and preoccupied by the “affairs of this world” and childish lusts.
“1 Cor 7:32-35: But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.“
As Paul points out, the unmarried live in a right way, which is in undivided devotion to the Lord. It is these unmarried and celibate believers who demonstrate that they want to please the Lord and do his will fully. How many “true” Christians have followed the recommendation of Paul in this matter?
How many Christians give in to their lusts, marry, and divert their devotion and attention away from fully serving God’s will and affairs? How many Christians have decided to ignore these strong recommendations of Paul despite having the extra moral strength that being “filled with Jesus” is supposed to give them?
And let’s not forget about Christmas, the pagan celebration of the winter solstice which was adopted by Christians and used to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. They are celebrating the birthday of their LORD and SAVIOR on a pagan holiday. Jesus never instructed that his birthday be celebrated, nor is there any birth date given in the New Testament. Bringing customs of pagan gods into God’s congregation is a violation of huge proportions. The Bible God gives clear instructions not to adopt customs of other nations.
“Lev 20:23,26: And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nations, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.“
Apparently Christians want an excuse to celebrate without authority do to so. They set up trees, decorate them with silver tinsel, gold balls and religious ornaments, gather around it, put up lights, put on pageants, and engage in exactly the things God told them not to do.
“Jer 10:2-5: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.“
These actions by Christians laugh in the face of the instructions God gave in the Old Testament.
God instructs his people not to learn or practice the ways of the nations around them. It’s astounding how Christians will ignore what the Bible tells them when it conflicts with what they want to do.
These same religious chameleons then proclaim and advertise to the world that they want to “serve God.”
Remember what the zealous, pious sounding Christian stated: “To be a Christian you must turn over your life to God and live according to his will.”
These Christians want all of the benefits and rewards of being God’s “chosen” people and his “elect”. However, when it comes to actually obeying the instructions their God gives, they’ll offer up nothing but hundreds of mealy mouthed excuses as to why they are excused from following the mandates of their Savior.
In reality, Christians engage in just as much self gratification and self exaltation as they say unbelievers practice. Christians (and other religionists) create two objects, themselves and the object of their worship. But this is both vanity and idolatry.
When a Christian praises the object of his worship, his “God”, he is really praising his ideas and views about the object of his worship.
The Christian exalts himself using a surrogate ego which he calls “God”. Whenever a pious Christian preaches to a skeptic about how Christians serve God, expose them for the charlatans they are. There is no such thing today as a “true” Christian.
Thanks for reading,