What is Authentic Christianity? Dave Detwiler

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Much has changed in the world as a result of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, including a change in our awareness of the religion of Islam. Prior to that tragic day, I knew very little about that faith, and so it has been with great interest that I've read the articles about Islam in Newsweek and Christianity Today, and read a couple of books about it over the past few months.

And yet, if someone were to ask me to clarify for them what authentic Islam is, I would have to confess that I'm not entirely sure. What's more, as it turns out, many experts aren't sure either. For example, the cover story of a recent news magazine asks the relevant question, "Is Islam a Religion of Peace?" A solid answer is not provided.

But this got me thinking . . . I wonder how many people are clear on what authentic Christianity is? How would I explain genuine Christianity to someone who asked me about it? How would you explain it?

Well, this is precisely how I want to be of help—I want to equip you to be able to give a clear, biblical answer to the question, "What Is Authentic Christianity?" And keep in mind that this is far more than an intellectual exercise to satisfy someone's mild religious curiosity. It really is a matter of life and death.

So the question "What Is Authentic Christianity?" is indeed a very vital question for us to consider—vital for those of us who call ourselves Christians, but perhaps even more vital for those of you who do not yet consider yourselves Christians. For whether you choose to reject or embrace Christianity in the future, I want to make sure that you are rejecting or embracing the real thing and not a caricature or distortion of it.

And so, before we develop a positive answer to our question, I think it would be helpful to examine and de-bunk a few of the widespread myths that surround the Christian faith. Let's look at just 5 of them very briefly.


Authentic Christianity is NOT:

1. Authentic Christianity is not mindless

The myth here is, "Christianity is all about faith—not reason." But for the Christian, faith is built upon reason. In other words, faith according to authentic Christianity is not a matter of "just believing" while you check your brains at the door! Rather, notice the words of Jesus and the example of the apostle Paul:

So authentic Christianity is not mindless; rather, it is a reasonable faith—and, I would argue, a faith that is more reasonable than any other belief system. Christian philosopher J. P. Moreland, in his helpful book, Love Your God with All Your Mind, offers this illustration:

2. Authentic Christianity is not contradictory

The myth here is often expressed like this: "Christianity is in conflict with science." A classic example would be creation vs. evolution; Christianity teaches the first; science teaches the second, and there's a conflict, right? But this fails to recognize that evolution is not a scientific fact, but a scientific theory (and one, I might add, that is regularly being revised).

However, if we deal with a matter of scientific fact—say, for example, the earth being round as opposed to flat—there is no conflict or contradiction. In fact, did you know that the Bible affirms that the earth is round, and it does so hundreds of years before scientists reached this conclusion?

This is but one example showing that the Bible is not only compatible with true scientific findings, but it actually anticipated many of them.

3. Authentic Christianity is not intolerant

The myth here says, "Christianity is arrogant and judgmental." Now, I think it's important for us to admit that, at times, Christians come across in an arrogant and/or judgmental manner, and this is not right. For example, one well-known Christian leader had this to say about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001:

In contrast, the Bible actually says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:5-6).

And yet, Christians are not merely accused of being intolerant in the manner in which their beliefs are expressed, but in the very beliefs themselves. Here's a classic example: Many people hold that it is grossly arrogant and intolerant to claim that Jesus is the one and only way to God (even though the Bible is very clear on this point). But what about the possibility that it's actually true? Is it automatically arrogant to state something that is believed to be true? Think through this with me:

Notice that in each of these cases, we are actually being helped—even if we don't like what we hear, or if we have a different opinion on the matter. And the same holds true for the Christian who lovingly shares with others that Jesus is the only way to God. It's not a question of being arrogant or intolerant; it's a question of truth. Is it possible that they are telling the truth?

4. Authentic Christianity is not coercive or obnoxious

The myth here says, "Christianity imposes its faith on others." In fact, as with the student in the story earlier, many people today hold to an idea that goes something like this: "If your religious beliefs work for you, that's great, but don't impose them on others." But this also raises the question of truth, and so much of what we just said under the previous point would apply.

Here, however, I want to focus on the connotations of the word "impose." Authentic Christianity is not about forcing people to believe—it's not about cramming it down people's throats or hitting them over the head with a Bible! Nor is it about tricking people into believing. Look at what the apostle Paul said about this:

I love that phrase, "setting forth the truth plainly." You see, authentic Christians are not trying to force or manipulate others into believing; they are simply seeking to persuade others to consider the possibility that Christianity is true. And this is a good thing, because it expresses concern for people interested in pursuing truth and it respects them as thinking beings.

5. Authentic Christianity is not irrelevant

The final myth that we will consider goes something like this: "Christianity is just a relic from the past." But is Christianity horribly out-dated and irrelevant to the modern or postmodern person? There are about a billion people in the world today who would argue that it is not—people who have found forgiveness, peace, hope, restored relationships, a sense of purpose, and much more in the Christian faith.

So if authentic Christianity is not mindless, contradictory, intolerant, coercive, obnoxious, or irrelevant, what is it? What is at the heart of our faith? What would be a clear, concise, and biblical presentation of real Christianity?

I'm going to formulate my answer from the little New Testament letter known as 1 Peter. Considering how short that document is (not quite 4 pages), I'm impressed with how clear and concise a presentation of Christianity can be found in it. According to Peter (and the Bible as a whole), authentic Christianity has three basic aspects or components, all of which are vital for a complete picture of our faith. Think of it like a three-legged stool: If even one leg is missing, it's something less than a stool. In the same way, if even one of these three aspects of authentic Christianity is missing, it presents something less than the real thing.

Authentic Christianity IS:

1. A relationship to God through Jesus Christ

Our most important relationship is our relationship to God, and Christianity provides for this in a way that is both surprising and humbling.

Think for just a moment what these brief verses reveal about us: We are guilty of sin; we are unrighteous; we are alienated from God; we are unable to live as we should; and we are in need of healing for our most significant broken relationship—our relationship to God.

Now consider what these verses reveal about Jesus Christ: He bore our sins, as one who is completely righteous, paying the penalty for them by his own death on our behalf, which enables us to be reconciled to God, to live a life that pleases him, and to be healed and made whole!

This is the heart of authentic Christianity: A relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And let me remind you that this relationship is not automatic; it's there to be enjoyed, but only if we admit and believe the very things revealed in these verses. And if we do admit and believe these things, what sort of relationship to God do we enter into? In what specific ways are authentic Christians related to God?

First, authentic Christians live as children of God. Peter begins his letter by saying,

This speaks, first of all, of privilege, of security, of love (see also 1 John 3:1). But it also speaks of responsibility, of living in such a way that we show ourselves to be God's children, honoring the family name, so to speak:

Second, authentic Christians live as servants of God. Note what Peter says about this:

The word "redeemed" uses the image of the slave market of the first century, and it speaks of God purchasing us from our former master, described as an "empty way of life," to be owned now by Him—and the cost was incredible: the very blood of Christ! And so through Christ, we are now servants of God; we belong to him, we are to go about his business and no longer pursue our own selfish ways. Peter makes this clear: We are to "live as servants of God" (2:16).

So, authentic Christianity is, first of all, a relationship to God where we live as his children and his servants. But there's more to authentic Christianity. The second leg of the stool is:

2. A relationship to others in Jesus Christ

Christians these days often talk about a "personal relationship to God" when telling people about their faith, but we must remember that authentic Christianity is more than personal—it's a family affair! Look at what Peter writes . . .

You'll notice that Peter didn't say, "you are a chosen person, a royal priest, a holy citizen, an individual belonging to God." No, he emphasized our corporate identity, what we commonly refer to as the Church, and this is also at the heart of authentic Christianity.

At times, I meet people who are convinced that they can live out their faith entirely on their own. For example, when I lived in Southern California, I knew a young couple where the wife was active in church, but the husband seldom came. When I asked him about why he didn't come, he said that his "church" time was out on the waves as he surfed all Sunday morning, and that was all he needed!

True Christianity, however, cannot be lived out in isolation from others—nor is it meant to be. Christians are not only to experience a deep and satisfying relationship with God, but also deep and satisfying relationships with their sisters and brothers in Christ. Peter makes this quite clear:

Clearly, authentic Christians love each other deeply. The only way that you can truly love someone deeply, from the heart, is to be close enough to them that you have an intimate knowledge of who they are and what their needs are, and can respond to those needs in love. This is what the local church is all about! Peter puts it another way:

In other words, authentic Christians serve each other faithfully (see also 5:1-5). Here, once again, we pick up that image of being servants of God—in this case by serving one another in Christ with the gifts God has given us. And think about it: when Christians are committed to loving each other deeply and serving each other faithfully, this becomes a powerful testimony to those outside the faith, and this leads us to the final leg of our stool, concerning what is authentic Christianity:

3. A relationship to the world with Jesus Christ

Authentic Christianity cannot be contained! The good news of a restored relationship to God through Jesus Christ is such good news that it must be shared with others so that they too can experience it.

And to whom do Christians declare these praises? Certainly to God, as an act of worship and gratitude, but also, by implication, to those who are still in darkness—who are still alienated from God. And Peter identifies two basic ways that this message of reconciliation is to be communicated to others:

First, authentic Christians show Christ to others. For example, Peter says,

In other words, we are to let our changed lives do the talking! After all, people can argue with a particular belief, but it's pretty hard to argue with a changed life, and authentic Christians are to exhibit incredibly changed lives! (Note Peter's example of wives with unbelieving husbands, 3:1-2.) But there is a time and a place for words, as Peter shows us:

And so, secondly, authentic Christians share Christ with others (see also 1 Pet 1:12, 23-25). As Peter goes on to say, this sharing is to be done "with gentleness and respect" (3:15), but it is clear that we are to be prepared to respond to people's questions about our faith in Christ, and to look for opportunities to tell them the good news about the hope and love that Jesus offers all people.

And so, to sum up, authentic Christianity is a relationship to God through Jesus Christ; a relationship to others in Jesus Christ; and a relationship to the world with Jesus Christ.

How Should We Respond To This?

First of all, if you're a Christian reading this, ask yourself this question: To what extent am I a reflection of authentic Christianity? Is there a leg of the stool missing in your life? Or perhaps worse, are you upholding one of the myths about Christianity in the way you live? (Mindless, intolerant, arrogant, judgmental.) You may need to confess some things to God and seek his help to better reflect authentic Christianity in your life.

And remember: no one can live the Christian life in their own strength. Are you relying on the power of God in your life on a daily basis? There's no other way to be an authentic Christian!

And if you're reading this but do not consider yourself a Christian at this point, ask yourself this: Is it authentic Christianity that I'm holding out on, or something less? What if what you've just read is true? What if you are meant to have deep and satisfying relationships with God and with other people, but your self-centered, self-sufficient, self-empowered life is keeping you from experiencing this?

Saint Augustine, way back in the fourth century, wrestled precisely with such questions. He pursued a life of sexual pleasure and intellectual pursuits, but was never able to find true contentment for his soul until he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, becoming one of his followers. He then went on to serve God as one of the greatest Christian leaders of all time. What we can learn from him is expressed in one of his most famous prayers:

Is your heart restless? Do you long to know your Creator, experiencing the freedom of his gracious presence and the power of his purifying love? What's holding you back? Jesus is eager for you to come to him and experience the life that is truly life. Here's what he is saying to you: