Have you heard the statement "going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger?" What, then, makes one a Christian?

Some would define a Christian as one who is not Jewish or a Muslim. Many say they are Christian because they were baptized into a Christian church. Some say they are Christian because they do believe something about Jesus Christ. Still others say they are Christian for reasons only they understand. However, what is a Christian according to the Bible?

Let's start by understanding that to a Christian, the Bible is everything. It is the Word of God. God the author, sent us a love letter revealing to us all we needed to know about Him, His love for us, His plan for us and all we needed to know about life. To pick and choose what we want to believe about Him or His Word is to set ourselves above Him. Many who call themselves Christian know very little about what the Bible says. They know some of the concepts, but end up having very shallow beliefs that won't stand up under scrutiny.

The biblical meaning of the word Christian is simply one who follows Christ. Not just believes in Christ. The Bible itself states that even the demons believe and tremble. Why do they tremble? Because they know and yet for reasons of pride and arrogance still choose to do the exact opposite of God's will. Followers of Christ will not just repeat some of what He taught but live it. The Bible says that we will be known by our fruit or by the way we live. Christ should be seen in our living!

Jesus set the religious community of His day on its ear by His teaching (John 2:13-25). I often wonder what He would turn over in our churches (or in our hearts). Believe me, it is quite an adventure to set aside our "religion" and to open up the Bible and our lives to the God who created us. If we who call ourselves Christian would truly become followers of Christ, there is no limit to what we could accomplish together in this day of uncertainty. Our communities are filled with hurting, confused and depressed souls. Jesus is truly the answer. We who know Him must make Him known!

Christians themselves have done a great job of misrepresenting God and His Word. However, it cannot be stressed loudly enough that in the end we are responsible for our own lives and beliefs. We, as ministers, bear a great responsibility to "rightly divide the Word of truth." We will answer to the Lord for everything we taught and represented in His name. Just the same, each and every person has the opportunity to know Him by talking to our Father in prayer, reading and searching the Scriptures (you may want to start in the gospel of John) and finding a Bible believing and teaching church to fellowship. Be a Christian.