So what exactly is a Christian? Webster’s defines it as “pertaining to or derived from Jesus Christ or his teachings”. That does not provide much help because there are many conflicting ideas of what Jesus taught. As we noted in the last blog, there are scores of different Christian organizations each with differing doctrinal statements all of which claim to be based on Jesus’ teachings.
Could we define Christianity with only three doctrinal statements?
- Love God with all your soul and mind.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Acceptance that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
I choose the first two because Jesus says all the Law and Prophets are based on them.
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV).
Additionally, Christianity is more than a belief system it requires action and love is an action not a feeling or emotion (1 Corinthians 13).
I choose the third because the apostle Paul says it is of first importance.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV)
What do you think?
