What is the minimum I have to believe to be a Christian ? Tough Questions

What is the What is the minimumminimum I have to I have to believebelieve

to be a to be a ChristianChristian? ?

Tough Tough QuestionsQuestions

What is the What is the minimumminimum I have to I have to believe to be a Christianbelieve to be a Christian? ?


Why askWhy ask??



Why askWhy ask??

Sometimes, Sometimes, well-meaning well-meaning ChristiansChristians include in the include in the “package” “package” everythingeverything that that theythey believe.believe.

This can cause This can cause problemsproblems for for some people sincerely seeking some people sincerely seeking Jesus!Jesus!



Why askWhy ask??

On the other hand, On the other hand, Church Church historyhistory shows us that not shows us that not everyone who declares that everyone who declares that they “follow Jesus” is they “follow Jesus” is helpfulhelpful to the to the KingdomKingdom..

Some Some essentialsessentials are are valuable!valuable!



Why askWhy ask??

Stating the Stating the basicsbasics clearly helps clearly helps guard against those who make guard against those who make optionaloptional ideas a ideas a requirement of requirement of faithfaith – – e.g. “speaking in tongues”, no e.g. “speaking in tongues”, no alcoholalcohol



Why askWhy ask??

While “While “creedscreeds” are ” are important in defining faith, important in defining faith, they often include far they often include far more than the more than the earliest earliest church church required for belief!required for belief!



Why askWhy ask??

Sorting out the Sorting out the ““essentialsessentials” in our own ” in our own minds helps Christians minds helps Christians explainexplain their faith to their faith to others.others.



Why askWhy ask??

For many people today, For many people today, the the languagelanguage we use to we use to talk about talk about following Jesus following Jesus needs to be made more needs to be made more accessibleaccessible..


“… “… come, come, follow me follow me …”…”Mark 1 Mark 1 1717


Change of purposeChange of purpose

Jesus focussedJesus focussed


“… “… The time has come: the The time has come: the kingdom of God kingdom of God has come near. has come near. RepentRepent and and believebelieve the the Good NewsGood News””Mark 1 Mark 1 1515

God’s God’s authoritative authoritative

ruleruleChange Change

the the direction direction of your of your

lifelife

Put your trust Put your trust ininTough Tough

QuestionsQuestions


“ … “ … you will be you will be savedsaved, if you , if you honestly say, "honestly say, "Jesus is LordJesus is Lord," and ," and if you if you believebelieve with all your heart with all your heart that God that God raised him raised him from death.”from death.”Romans 10 Romans 10 99

Public Public affirmationaffirmation

Put your trust Put your trust inin


Acknowledged Acknowledged authority;authority;

GodGod

Resurrection Resurrection of Jesus of Jesus acceptedaccepted


God’s God’s promisespromises have been fulfilled … have been fulfilled …… … in in Jesus’Jesus’ birth’ life, ministry, death birth’ life, ministry, death and resurrection …and resurrection …… … after which Jesus after which Jesus returnedreturned to the to the Father …Father …… … His work is now evidenced by the His work is now evidenced by the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit..Jesus will return Jesus will return at the end of the age.at the end of the age.

The “kerygma”The “kerygma” (The Good News (The Good News preached to Jews)preached to Jews)


The “kerygma”The “kerygma” (The (The Good News preached to Good News preached to non-Jews)non-Jews)You are You are seekingseeking … …

God is not an God is not an idol idol ……

Change direction Change direction ……

There will be There will be judgement judgement ……

… … by the one by the one raisedraised from from the the deaddead..


(Implied) accept the (Implied) accept the messagemessage

““Repent” (= Repent” (= change directionchange direction))

Be Be baptisedbaptised

You will receive the You will receive the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

What should we doWhat should we do?? Acts 2Acts 2



(Implied) accept the (Implied) accept the messagemessage

““Repent” (= Repent” (= change directionchange direction))

Be Be baptisedbaptised

You will receive the You will receive the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

What should we doWhat should we do?? Acts 2Acts 2



#1 There is a #1 There is a GodGod, who , who carescares about me about me

oneone God … God … … … as in the as in the BibleBible loving usloving us, as described by Jesus, as described by Jesus Jesus Jesus isis God God



#1 There is a #1 There is a GodGod, who , who carescares about me about me you don’t have to believe that you don’t have to believe that everythingeverything the Bible says the Bible says

about God is about God is literally trueliterally true you don’t have to believe that you don’t have to believe that sciencescience is is wrongwrong about the about the

big bangbig bang & & evolutionevolution you don’t have to believe in the you don’t have to believe in the virgin birthvirgin birth of Jesus, or of Jesus, or

understand the understand the TrinityTrinity you don’t have to have a you don’t have to have a perfect answerperfect answer to the to the problemproblem

of of sufferingsuffering



#1 There is a #1 There is a GodGod, who , who carescares about me about me


Fundamentalist Fundamentalist FredFred

Conservative Conservative CharlieCharlie

Evangelical Evangelical EveEve

Liberal Liberal LarryLarry

Post-Post-modern modern PippaPippa


#2 I have been #2 I have been off course off course – – my direction, my direction,

not God’snot God’s my choices have not been my choices have not been God’s best God’s best for mefor me I have not I have not beenbeen what I feel I what I feel I should should bebe I cannot get my life I cannot get my life straightstraight on my own on my own




not God’snot God’s you don’t have to believe that you are a you don’t have to believe that you are a wholly badwholly bad personperson

you don’t have to you don’t have to denydeny the the goodgood in you, or the in you, or the good good you have you have achievedachieved




not God’snot God’s


Dear Lord Jesus, I know that Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, I am a sinner, and I ask for and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins You died for my sins and rose and rose from the dead. I turn from the dead. I turn from my sins and from my sins and invite You to come into my invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and and follow You as my Lord and

Saviour. In Your Name. AmenSaviour. In Your Name. Amen..

What about the What about the ““sinner’s prayersinner’s prayer””??



not God’snot God’s


Dear Lord Jesus, I know that Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a I am a sinnersinner, , and I ask for and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my You died for my sinssins and rose and rose from the dead. I turn from the dead. I turn from my from my sinssins and and invite You to come into my invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and and follow You as my Lord and

Saviour. In Your Name. AmenSaviour. In Your Name. Amen..

What about the What about the ““sinner’s prayersinner’s prayer””??

JesusJesus didn’t ask for didn’t ask for this! We need to this! We need to understand that we understand that we have have fallen shortfallen short – but – but the word “sinner” may the word “sinner” may carry carry unhelpful ideasunhelpful ideas..


#3 God took the #3 God took the initiativeinitiative - in the - in the deathdeath and and resurrectionresurrection of of JesusJesus - to - to rescuerescue me me I am I am welcomed back welcomed back into God’s family through the into God’s family through the

deathdeath and and resurrectionresurrection of Jesus of Jesus



you don’t have to believe that your you don’t have to believe that your wrong-doingwrong-doing deserves the deserves the death penaltydeath penalty

you don’t have to believe that God’s greatest you don’t have to believe that God’s greatest characteristic characteristic is is punishmentpunishment

you don’t have to believe that God you don’t have to believe that God had had to to punishpunish someone for your wrong-doingsomeone for your wrong-doing

you don’t have to be “you don’t have to be “good enoughgood enough” to ” to qualifyqualify


#3 God took the #3 God took the initiativeinitiative - in the - in the deathdeath and and resurrectionresurrection of of JesusJesus - to - to rescuerescue me me


a a sacrificesacrifice for the forgiveness of sins for the forgiveness of sins the the punishmentpunishment taken by Jesus taken by Jesus victoryvictory over sin and death over sin and death repaying the repaying the honourhonour denied to God denied to God a necessary fulfilling of the demands of a necessary fulfilling of the demands of

justicejustice the way God the way God draws us draws us to ask to ask

forgivenessforgiveness reconciliationreconciliation of broken relationship of broken relationshipTough Tough

QuestionsQuestions



#4 I must #4 I must change course change course – – God’s direction, God’s direction,

not minenot mine a decision to a decision to trusttrust you don’t have to promise to be you don’t have to promise to be perfectperfect from now on. from now on.

That won’t happen. But you must be willing to That won’t happen. But you must be willing to changechange, and to , and to be changedbe changed..

you don’t have to have deep you don’t have to have deep feelingsfeelings of regret – of regret – simply to recognise where you are.simply to recognise where you are.



#1 #1 There is a There is a GodGod, who , who carescares about me about me

#2 I have been I have been off course off course – – my direction, not my direction, not God’sGod’s


#4 I must #4 I must change course change course – – God’s direction, God’s direction, not minenot mine





AfterAfter you become a Christian … you become a Christian …you find out you find out moremore!!God gives you His God gives you His Holy Spirit Holy Spirit - who will - who will oversee oversee your process of growth and your process of growth and changechangeyou are invited to be you are invited to be baptisedbaptisedyou embark on you embark on life-long learninglife-long learning


What is the What is the minimumminimum I have to I have to believe to become a Christianbelieve to become a Christian? ?

#1 #1 There is a There is a GodGod, who , who carescares about me about me#2 I have been I have been off course off course – – my direction, not my direction, not God’sGod’s


#4 I must #4 I must change course change course – – God’s direction, God’s direction, not minenot mine


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What is the minimum I have to believe to be a Christian ? Tough Questions