What Does it Mean to Be Christian?

“I’m the average Christian. I only pray to God when I need him.”

This was what the young man said as he stepped closer to the table. “I don’t really believe that the Bible is reliable, but I think some of the teachings of Jesus can better society.”

This kind of conversation seems to be happening increasingly as we share the gospel and answer the challenging questions of our day on college campuses.

We find a lot of students who identify as Christians; but after a brief conversation, it seems their hearts are contrary to the things of God and the fundamentals of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I hear often,

• “Oh, yes, I’m a Christian; but I don’t believe Jesus is God.”

• “I’m a believer, I just don’t think Christ is the only way to Heaven.”

• “I go to a Christian church down the road, I don’t really believe the Bible is totally reliable.”

Something is terribly off.

It seems that in a culture of good vibes and intellectual elitism, the qualifier for becoming a Christian is to simply give mental assent to whatever teachings of Jesus that better a person’s chance at success. Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus ask for others to agree with Him, but rather He beckons:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

This is why we work to share the gospel with every student at the table: no matter what religion or culture they come from! Only God can see the heart, so we must do our job to faithfully to “Go...into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

It’s been a tremendous blessing to partner with Zach Campbell and Collegians for Christ to reach the NC State campus with the gospel this semester! We have had the privilege of sharing the gospel and answering questions for over 350 students thus fall with one student trusting in Christ to be their Savior!

Plus, we have had some wonderful opportunities this past quarter to ignite local churches for the gospel’s sake through pulpit supply, missions’ emphasis days, and Bible conferences!

Would you help us pray that God would work in the hearts in lives of the next generation here in America?