The "Nominal Christian"
Here is part of a post from a seminary professor of mine:
"I have become more and more suspicious of the concept of the nominal Christian. Our parish churches are supposed to be full of nominal Christians who are just going through the motions, of half-believers who are relying on their good works and who have not really surrendered to Christ and accepted the Gospel. In any parish church there are a few real apostates, and a few real scoffers and perhaps a few who genuinely hate God. Their numbers are routinely exaggerated. Most of the people who come to the church Sunday by Sunday know they are dying and are placing their hope in Christ. It may be an inarticulate hope, it may be a confused hope. Often there are huge brambles of misunderstanding that must be cleared away before the whole power of the good news can come in upon them. Often there is real darkness into which the light of Christ has not yet come and which cries out for a light-bearer. Yet, they come. When Jesus saw such as these gathered in their multitudes on the hill side, the sight provoked in him not contempt for the nominal but compassion, “for they were like sheep without a shepherd.”.
- Leander Harding (read the whole thing here)
Here is a follow-up comment from a friend of mine:
"This quote directly addresses something I recently heard at a diocesan clergy meeting where a rector of a large church talked about how most of the people in our church were not true "disciples" but just "consumer Christians" looking to have their needs met. Now, I am not lauding narcissism or praising the "me-first" sort of Christianity. But I found this pastor's comments so contemptuous, so lacking in compassion. Shouldn't we praise God that there are actually people coming to church on Sunday, instead of lamenting their level of so-called discipleship? Anyways, I love Leander."
"I have become more and more suspicious of the concept of the nominal Christian. Our parish churches are supposed to be full of nominal Christians who are just going through the motions, of half-believers who are relying on their good works and who have not really surrendered to Christ and accepted the Gospel. In any parish church there are a few real apostates, and a few real scoffers and perhaps a few who genuinely hate God. Their numbers are routinely exaggerated. Most of the people who come to the church Sunday by Sunday know they are dying and are placing their hope in Christ. It may be an inarticulate hope, it may be a confused hope. Often there are huge brambles of misunderstanding that must be cleared away before the whole power of the good news can come in upon them. Often there is real darkness into which the light of Christ has not yet come and which cries out for a light-bearer. Yet, they come. When Jesus saw such as these gathered in their multitudes on the hill side, the sight provoked in him not contempt for the nominal but compassion, “for they were like sheep without a shepherd.”.
- Leander Harding (read the whole thing here)
Here is a follow-up comment from a friend of mine:
"This quote directly addresses something I recently heard at a diocesan clergy meeting where a rector of a large church talked about how most of the people in our church were not true "disciples" but just "consumer Christians" looking to have their needs met. Now, I am not lauding narcissism or praising the "me-first" sort of Christianity. But I found this pastor's comments so contemptuous, so lacking in compassion. Shouldn't we praise God that there are actually people coming to church on Sunday, instead of lamenting their level of so-called discipleship? Anyways, I love Leander."
posted by David Browder at 2/26/2009 09:29:00 AM
4 Comments:
thank you for drawing attention to this post...
I too have unfortunately heard the same "consumer Christian" polemic in favor of "true discipleship." It seems to be the theme of the diocese of Pittsburgh right now.
As if God has nothing to do with our needs!
I have been thinking a lot about this criticism of "consumer Xians" and I think that we should adopt the title, ala the "impressionists", who were so named by those seeking to discredit them.
What I mean is this: what else does it mean to be a Xian but to be a consumer? God gives, we take, end of story. I am a consumer Xian, as are all Xians. That is the Gospel.
Couldn't agree more.
This is a great post... and certainly compassionately dealing with the 'nominal Christian' is the only way to deal.
At the same time be careful in over reacting and being satisfied by the simple fact that people show up and say 'Lord Lord.'
Recall on that mountain side when Jesus spoke the great sermon on the mount that He concluded by speaking about small gates, narrow ways, bearing fruit and giving warning to those who only said 'Lord Lord.'
I agree with the post and your comments... but there is a certainly a place for compassionately calling people out of complacency.
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