What I Mean...
On this website, you'll read or hear me use seven (7) phrases:
- Non-Believers
- Curious Seekers
- New Believers
- Church-Centered Believers
- Christ-Centered Believers
- Wayward Believers
- Mature Believers
Allow me to share with you what I mean when I use them.
Non-Believer
This is an individual who has not yet chosen to believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior, Lord, and God. There are different reasons for this. Some choose to say, "There is no god." Others say, "There may or may not be a god in this universe, and for right now, I'm not interested in finding out either way." And then there are others who choose to say there is a god, call him by a different name, but also say that Christ was just a moral teacher. Either way, these people don't trust or believe in Christ to remove sin from their lives and make them ready to stand before God - PERFECT!
Curious Seeker
This is an individual with a sincere desire to know (A) if God exists, (B) if He cares for them, (C) if Christianity is true, and (D) has probably read a lot, talked with a number of people, and maybe even attended a few churches. They have felt the call of His Spirit and are seeking meaningful answers!
New Believer
This is an individual who has given their heart and life to Christ by (A) believing in God, (B) asking for forgiveness, and (C) trusting in Christ's work on the Cross of Calvary - because God requires PERFECTION (i.e., no lies, cheats, deception, theft, lustful glances, angry/verbal episodes, etc..) for entrance into Heaven.
Now, this person may have done these things last week or thirty years ago. What makes them a New Believer is because (A) they're don't know their Bible very well, (B) they don't have much of a consistent prayer life, (C) they don't yet know the basics of their faith [which has very little to do with living a good like or being a good person], and (D) they're not involved in any ministry that either shares the Gospel or ministers to the needs of others for the sake of His Kingdom.
Church-Centered Believer
This is an individual who has given their heart and life to Christ and is primarily focused on church activities. While this can be a good start for many, unfortunately, some believe that church attendance, involvement in its activities, and being a good person are what make them "a good Christian."
Unfortunately, some Christ-Followers think this way because of the messages that come across the pulpit from their pastor or priest. Again, this can be a good start, but it lacks depth in so many ways.
Christ-Centered Believer
This is an individual who has given their heart and life to Christ, AND has matured enough to know that Christ is supposed to be at the center of their life. This person has developed the all-important habits of praying and reading God's Word every day, studying their Bible and fellowshipping with other believers every week (whether at church, in someone's home, on the court, on the field, or at a coffee shop), as well as submitting to Christ and His Word on a weekly basis. How does this look? Well, here are a few things that are brought to the Lord in prayer, waited, and finally acted upon when He gives direction:
- Where to spend new money.
- A new romantic relationship.
- A new job.
- A new car or truck.
- A new home.
- Sex.
- Considering which words and actions honor and please their Lord.
Long story short, the Christ-Centered Believer has learned the most important lesson in life - and that is to put THE LORD Jesus Christ and His Word at the center of their mind, heart, thoughts, words, and actions!
Wayward Believer
This is an individual who once followed the Lord but has recently strayed and gone their own way. They no longer pray, read, or study their Bible. They may or may not attend church services or have fellowship with other Believers. Christ is no longer at the center of their lives. Instead, comfort, convenience, personal happiness, a better life, and pleasure are at the forefront of most of what they do. And, thoughts of Christ and His Kingdom rarely come up - like they used to!
Now, sometimes, a wayward believer renounces their faith in Christ. Others still believe in Christ, but because they've been hurt by someone within the church, they no longer practice what they know in their heart. And finally, some live hypocritically. They attend church services and go through all of the motions, but their hearts are far from Him!
Mature Believer
This is an individual who has a "firm grasp" on the basics of their faith - through the following consistent actions:
1. Daily prayer. This is where an individual worships and praises God, confesses sin and wrongdoing, asks for forgiveness, gives thanks, prays for the needs of others, prays for their own needs, and chooses to take time to listen for God to speak.
2. He or she makes a concerted effort to read, study, and obey God's Word. This is important because our Lord told so many people - as He has told us - to pick up our cross and FOLLOW Him. Remember, the word "Christian" means "One who follows Christ." And the only way to follow Christ is to know (A) where He is and (B) what He requires of His Followers. (NOTE: This is important because all true Believers know about - and have studied - The Bema Seat of Christ [The Judgment Seat of Christ]. This is where the life of every Believer is examined for obedience - to see how it has aligned with God's Word (His instructions for all Believers). So, if a Christian does not read or study God's Word, they won't know what's on the final exam - and will stand before their Lord and Savior unprepared and ashamed, as the Scriptures tell us that some will be!)
3. He or she gives generously to others for the sake of His Kingdom - because the Scriptures teach us that God is pleased when we give generously (whether it's money, time, talents, or anything else of value).
4. He or she allows himself or herself to be led by His Spirit (through humility and submission). This happens through years of discipline and humility (i.e., instances in which God leads a person to do something sacrificially).
5. He or she has a few of the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in Ephesians, chapter five.
6. He or she knows their calling and gifting and is involved in some kind of ministry (to either bring some people to Christ, to help others draw closer to Christ, or just to help others in general - for the sake of God's Kingdom).
7. He or she is not perfect and acknowledges how far they are from perfection. They know they are a work in progress and are strengthening their strengths while working on a few of their weaknesses!
How do I know all of this (i.e., the meanings all of these definitions)? Simple! Because I've thought very long and hard about each definition, and because I've been each one of them. Also, I've observed many Believers become and unfortunately stay in some of these positions in Christ over the past four decades. How so, you ask? Consider this:
If a person says, "I've been a lawyer for ten years", you expect this person to know a lot about - and have a lot of experience in - the area of law they've practiced. Yes? The same would be true for a person who said they've been a mechanic, plumber, or surgeon, yes?
However, there are, unfortunately, many people who say they've been a "Christian" for ten years or more, but don't know their Bible very well. They don't know how to pray for more than a minute, and can't tell you about a recent prayer that was answered in their life or the lives of people they've prayed for. And, they aren't involved in any earthly ministry!
So now that you understand what I mean when I use the phrases above, I want to encourage you to read or listen to my articles with these points in mind.
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me by emailing me here!
In His Name,
Roy
