Christian

What is a Christian?  What would would you say makes someone a Christian?  Why?

God doesn't want the meaningless rituals.  He wants our hearts.

Colossians 1:15-23 (The Message version)

A Christian is someone who...

• Recognises Jesus (v15-20).  Christianity is not about religion - it's about a person - it's about Christ.  How is Jesus described here?  How true do you think the description is and how can you be sure?
• Trusts and follows Jesus and is friends with God (v21-23).  What do these verses tell us about what a Christian really is?  Could this describe YOU?  How would you feel if your relationship with God could be described in this way?

I heard a conversation today where someone was asked if they were a Christian and they hesitated and said, 'Um, well I was christened and I used to go to church.'  They were trying their best to answer the question but they clearly weren't sure what a Christian actually is and the best they could come up with was about religious traditions.

I was recently involved in surveying about 180 people about Jesus and only 1% thought that Jesus was all about religion.  Why is it that so many people think being a Christian is about being religious when nearly everyone recognises that Jesus wasn't?

Someone once said, 'Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger!'  They're right.  Going to church, reading the Bible, praying, singing worship songs - all of these can be great but none of them make you a Christian. 

Christianity is not about religion or about traditions.  It's about a personal relationship with God through Jesus.  It's about believing that Jesus is who he says he is (God!) and trusting him for forgiveness, friendship with God, life to the full and life forever.  Rob Bell (the guy from the video) is right.  God wants our hearts!

Why not take some time to check out 2 ways to live - the choice we all face and respond?

Lecrae music video - Don't waste your life