What is Christianity? It should be a simple answer, as we have the Bible to refer to. You can accept or reject what it says as you wish, but as we have the manual it’s surprising people have a difficult time discovering how the Bible defines Christianity itself.
Strange understandings of clear text rarely pop up in other areas. If you’re reading the owner’s manual for your car and it says use unleaded gasoline of 87 octane or better, would you try and run it on Jell-O? We would hope not — the meaning of the manual is clear and obvious and tragic results from ignoring what the manual says.
A reasonable definition of Christianity involves sin and salvation, heaven and hell, and so on. It might surprise you not everyone understands fundamental tenets of Christianity (perhaps they’ve never read the manual, in this case, the Bible), and as we will quickly note, atheists can express a better grasp of Christianity than “Christians.”
Bill McKibben
The idea that personal salvation — as opposed to concern for others — was at the heart of Christianity always bordered on the heretical, but over the decades it has morphed into the absurd farce we see now…
McKibben says personal salvation “borders” on heresy (which doesn’t make sense, it either is … or is not … heresy, much like a woman can’t “border” on being pregnant; it’s a binary state). Instead of salvation and sin, McKibben claims Christianity’s foundation lays with “concern for others” — a nebulous concept begging the question, what makes Christianity differ from the United Way? Or a soup kitchen?
Nothing is wrong with helping others, but Christ-less expressions fail to differentiate atheists (or other religions) — who may perform similar actions — from Christianity; why be a Christian if joining the United Way serves the same purpose?
What defines heresy? Heresy stems from ideas conflicting with accepted foundational doctrine. In the case of Christianity, that means the Bible. If an idea contradicts the Bible (in religious terms), it’s heresy. Those promoting false ideas are heretics.
Thus personal salvation must contradict the Bible to be considered heresy. Let’s get a review from the booth, and define the objective of Christianity according to the Bible, not what someone thinks (or wishes) the Bible says.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand… For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15)
Sure sounds like a definition of personal salvation, which Paul taught, the church received, and they stand in (establish, make firm, uphold, sustain according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). That must be heeded in light of Paul’s warning about phony “alternative” gospels to the Galatians (“gospel” in 1 Corinthians is Strongs G2098, same Greek word as Galatians according to BlueLetterBible.org)
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1)
Since Paul defined the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15 and warned against alternatives, Christianity must use Paul’s definition; anything else is something besides Christian and calling yourself a Christian while denying Paul’s words and substituting something else is misinformation at best.
Defining Christianity is not a Fluff issue; well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens says:
Atheist Defines Christianity
I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.
Atheist Mr. Hitchens understands the essence of Christianity and how the apostle Paul defined the Gospel — the foundation of Christianity. Christianity isn’t social justice, good works, or “concern for others” (i.e. a chapter of the United Way) as McKibben claims — it’s about sin and salvation — personal salvation (i.e you can choose God or not).
That does not mean charity and helping others is wrong (see the Good Samaritan Luke 10:30–37) but following Christ-less “Christianity” wanders far off the path defined by the Apostle Paul.
How do people drift so far from the obvious and clear meaning of a text? A problem also involving claims of “unconstitutional”, “the constitution says…”, court rulings, pseudo-quotes of what a person thinks someone else said, and more.
The solution to all these maladies remains simple — read the source for yourself. Read the Bible, Constitution, and if someone says “so-and-so said this” reference the speech or quote yourself to see if it’s relayed accurately.
In this case Paul unambiguously defines the Gospel.
Among the reasons exist three possibilities for drifting far from the source until the result 100% contradicts facts.
First, failure to read the source text. This occurs with the first and second amendments to the Constitution, as people claim something is there that isn’t (i.e. separation of church and state).
Second, attempting to cram pre-conceived beliefs into a text, as often occurs in political discussion. The conclusion is pre-decided, and then worked backwards to make the text fit an already made up idea.
Third, as public education continues to produce students who can’t read, failure to use logic and critical thinking skills abounds. Thus even if someone reads the text, they have little to no ability to understand the text, and less likely to debate issues raised.
McKibben contradicts the Bible as he disputes the apostle Paul’s words (the guy writing a good chunk of the New Testament) so you face a choice: was they guy who literally wrote the book correct, or Bill McKibben and his opinion on what he thought Paul said?
They can’t both be correct in light of Paul’s warning concerning alternative gospels pretending to be the Gospel, but used by those perverting the truth.
McKibben or Paul — your choice, but you can’t accept both.