Church member verses Christian

The two are not synonymous.  But I feel like I keep seeing and hearing that people believe they are.  A Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Church of Christ member, Lutheran, Bible Church member, all can be Christian.  But church attendance and/or membership is neither a requirement nor does it automatically make you or I a Christian.

It is two different things altogether.

A Christian by definition, is a person who sees themselves as a sinner in need of God's forgiveness, AND accepts God's forgiveness given freely through Jesus Christ, knowing that they themselves can do nothing to remedy their sin.

One could attend a church for years, and not be a Christian.  People have different reasons.  It could be that going to church, maybe a particular church, is the social norm, and it is expected that they are there.  A person could think that their participation in the rituals somehow makes them better or more worthy before God and/or other people.  This makes them a church member and a good church participant even, but it does not make them a Christian (see the definition above).

Let me also say, that a person who reads the Bible also does not automatically make a person a Christian.  An atheist can read his Bible, and still be an atheist, so that does not make one a Christian also.  The same goes for service work.  A Muslim, Jewish person, Buddhist, Christian, and Atheist (sounds like I am going to start a joke) could all be at a soup kitchen lovingly serving folks.

To quote a paraphrased version of John 1:12-13 (Jesus Storybook Bible)

"For anyone who says yes to Jesus
For anyone who believes what Jesus said
For anyone who will just reach out to take it
Then God will give them this wonderful gift:
To be born into a whole new Life
To be who they really are
Who God always made them to be -
Their own true selves -
God's dear Child. "

I know this blog post may upset some people, and many may disagree with me.  But honestly, I just had to post it, it's been on my heart and on my mind for a while. And I write it with love in my heart, and with the intent of just clarifying and not hurting anyone's feelings. If you disagree with me, and think what I said is wrong, that's fine.  I just encourage you to pray about it, seek His answers.  Ask God to reveal His truth to you.