How Do You See Christianity?

Getting back to the truth

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash

Sometime in 2018, after a discussion about Christianity, a colleague asked me if I was a Christian. I replied, “yes, I’m a Christian, but a ‘woke’ one.”

At the time, I had a progressive view of Christianity as I questioned many things about the Christian faith. These questions, unfortunately, were not the primary reasons I chose to add the “woke” adjective to tag.

If I had simply said I was a Christian, I knew my lifestyle wouldn’t have agreed with my statement. I partied hard like everybody else and participated well in womanizing conversations.

The only way I could use the tag and continue my lifestyle was to make it something different. This is woke Christianity. This is progressive Christianity. It is the desire to be a Christian by name but not by actions.

To be or not to be a Christian

Christianity doesn’t come in different flavours. You are either a Christian, bearing the full weight and responsibilities that come with being saved by Jesus, or you are not.

From the meaning of the word itself, a Christian is a follower of Christ. This is evident in Peter’s use of the word in one of his letters:

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf,’’ — (1 Pet 4:16 KJV).

To be a Christian means you’ve been saved, accepted Jesus as your Lord and saviour, and no matter the denomination or the part of the world you live in, your lifestyle reflects this and the world can see it.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,’’ — (Matt 5:16, KJV).

Any lifestyle that doesn’t reflect this truth is anything but Christ-like and so it’s not a Christian lifestyle.

Why we spice up Christianity

We spice up Christianity when we pick and choose what part we want to believe in and which parts are too difficult to follow.

When we accept the blessings that come with doing the right things (Deut. 28:1–14) but refuse to accept the consequences of sin (Deut. 28:15–68), when we believe God is good and merciful (Ps. 86:5) but refuse to believe He will punish sinners (Ezek. 18:20), then this is picking and choosing which parts of the truth we want.

We should remember the warning in Rev. 3:15&16, KJV:

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.’’

A lukewarm Christian is not considered righteous in God’s eyes. Also remember, according to the Bible, if you are guilty of one sin, you’re considered guilty of all:

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all,’’ — (James 2:10, KJV).

There are two major reasons why we spice up Christianity. One is highlighted in 2 Tim 4:3 (KJV):

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.’’

For this reason, we know the truth but because we can’t stand the truth so we look for reasons to believe something else. Unfortunately, I was in this category.

The second reason is out of ignorance. Some are new in the faith and don’t fully understand the teachings of the whole truth.

Regardless of our reason for spicing up Christianity, there’s a solution that can bring us back to the truth.

Finding our way back to the truth

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me ,’’— (John 5:39, KJV).

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,’’ — (2 Tim 2:15, KJV).

As Christians, we have one primary source of truth. That is the Bible. We need to spend time reading it regularly to understand the truth. The perfect example, Jesus, is perfectly described in the Bible.

There is much false information out there and if we’re not careful, we can get carried away by a charismatic pastor with false teachings. We can only validate what anyone says, even if it’s a pastor when we have the Bible to prove it.

The Bible might sometimes be cryptic and difficult to understand, especially for new people in the faith. Don’t let this discourage you from searching for the truth. Remember what Jesus promised:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you,’’ — (John 14:26, KJV).

Read the Bible, pray for understanding, and find out the truth about God’s words. That way, no one will be able to deceive you with false teachings.

Conclusion

When I considered myself a woke Christian, the truth is I wanted to justify my lifestyle and actions while retaining only the knowledge of the truth. At the time, I had read my whole Bible but because living the Christian lifestyle meant dropping all the pleasures of this world, I had to turn it into something else.

I am glad that I have found my way back to the truth and I’m no more trying to justify a sinful lifestyle. I am no more a woke Christian. I am simply a Christian. Others should see Jesus in me, and if you’re a Christian, the world should see Jesus in you too.

P.S. Here’s a website that I’ve found to be extremely helpful in my understanding of the bible: https://bibleproject.com/