We can all see the statistics. If the world were broken down into a religion pie chart, the biggest wedge would be Christian. The problem with the available statistics is that they are an estimate, and they are based on self-identification. These are not statistics downloaded from God.
I wish the statistics from God would show an even larger piece of the pie belongs to Jesus, but the reality is most certainly that the wedge actually is smaller. The term “Christian”, like any word, means whatever the user means. It can refer to self-identification, to culture, to world-view, to those baptized, or it can describe those who actually are connected to Christ and have a trajectory toward eternal life. Unfortunately, without having God’s direct tally, there is no way to know how many of the currently living are a part of the actual kingdom of God.
What makes the question so complex? First, there is such a thing as a merely cultural Christian. Such a person knows Jesus’ story. They probably embrace the story as something beloved. They may belong to a congregation and even attend. They may be decently moral people. They may “Talk the talk” of a Christian. Christian music. Christian t-shirts. Christian books. They may have been baptized, which would include them in Christ for at least a time. But for some reason, they don’t have a connection to Jesus and do not have the Holy Spirit within them. Everything is superficial. Because of a lack of connection, they don’t believe in Jesus risen from the dead or the reality of eternal life.
How do I know such a person exists? Here is Jesus’ description:
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
Luke 13:24-27 (ESV)
Clearly the people described in this passage felt that some connection existed between Jesus and them. But it appears that the connection was merely imagined or just cultural.
Many “religious” people of all sorts claim their religious affiliation and vigorously defend their association on cultural terms. Religion provides their sense of identity, community, religious practices and holidays. But that is the end of it. When we are speaking about a supernatural bond with the Living God, a relationship that is like family with God, that doesn’t exist.
People can let culture get in the way of their having eternal life. Culture is nice. Having eternal life with God rather than His judgment is absolutely crucial.
Another factor that whittles down the list of who is Christian is the fact that people fall away. Jesus makes it clear that no outside force can snatch you once God has reached you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
John 10:27-29 (ESV)
While studying the whole of the Bible, one finds out that this passage, however definitive, does not preclude that a person throws away the grace that has been extended to them. People leave the “Father’s hand” by denying that salvation is a gift, or that Jesus is the Son of God, by no longer repenting of what God calls sin, or by spiritually withering away because of neglect.
The list gets smaller. Those who finish their lives connected to Christ and inheriting eternal life are the remnant of humanity who:
- Are foreknown by God as people He can reach. The are elect.
- Are made alive by the Holy Spirit despite being born sinful and resistant to God.
- Are connected to Jesus and what He accomplished by baptism or by God accomplishing the same function as baptism another way.
- Who “overcome”(NIV and KJV) or “conquer” (ESV), which means they continue connected to Christ by using God’s means of maintaining our spiritual strength (i.e. Holy Spirit working through God’s Word, and the Lord’s Supper)
Being a person on this list produces evidence. Evidence like a love for God, a desire to grow as a disciple of Jesus, a love for people, a growing list of God’s personal qualities, and more. While these should be observable, because we do retain a sinful nature, true Christians are never perfect. That is why we should be hesitant to judge others and careful when judging ourselves.
Asking questions like, “Do I believe enough?”, “Am I good enough?”, are asking the wrong questions. Is Christ enough? If you can say “yes”. That is a good sign.
Giving Christ 