What is a Christian organisation?
In the CARE prayer diary for January to April 2025 the following sentence was included:
“Please . . . encourage those involved in Christian charities like Trussell Trust . . .”
This raised the question ‘What is Christian?’
The Oswestry and Borders Foodbank tells us:
“The Trussell Trust is based on, shaped by, and guided by Christian principles. These values have strong roots in the Christian teaching and practice, whilst also being accessible and meaningful for people, whatever their background. These values provide a strong shared foundation for collaboration towards our goal of ending the need for food banks in the UK.”
Many churches actively support or run food banks within the Trussell Trust network, providing venues, volunteers, leadership, and donations. The organisation offers resources to help churches engage with issues of poverty and reflect on how Christian faith can shape responses to these challenges. Does this, however, make this well-meaning social organisation Christian?
The Trussell Trust does not explicitly promote religious beliefs, including those about Jesus Christ, in its public-facing materials or services. Its primary focus is on addressing food insecurity and poverty, working inclusively with people of all faiths and none. This approach ensures that support is accessible to everyone in need, without religious prerequisites.
The same question may be asked of other charities. Christian Aid has Jesus Christ in its name and is supported by many churches but is it now a Christian organisation?
The Bible’s definition of Christian
The New Testament emphasises the foundational Christian message that Jesus Christ is Lord and that no one else holds this supreme authority. This theme is central to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles and is affirmed repeatedly in various contexts. Here are key passages that stress this message:
1. They accept Jesus Christ is Lord
The apostle Paul had no doubt as to who Jesus is:
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
This passage declares Jesus’ universal lordship, recognized by all creation, and distinguishes Him as the one true Lord. Peter declared in his first Pentecost sermon that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, appointed by God.
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36
2. They accept the exclusivity of Jesus’ Lordship
Jesus claimed that he was the only way to enter into a relationship with God:
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6
Peter and John had the courage to say to the Jewish Sanhedrin when they were on trial
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
This emphasises that Jesus alone is the source of salvation, rejecting any rival claim. This is the essential Christian message. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is called ‘Lord’ over 250 times.
3. They accept Christ’s supremacy over all earthly powers
The apostles had no doubt that Jesus is Lord over all authorities and surely this includes governments and even charities
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:15-18
Today many governments, businesses and charities do not want to cause offence so they so water down Christian teaching as to nullify it all together. Christians affirm that Jesus Christ alone is Lord.
“For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” 1 Corinthians 8:5-6
4. They openly confession of Jesus Christ is Lord
The Bible goes even further. Our eternal salvation depends on us openly confessing Jesus to be our Lord:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment he had no doubt what came first, he replied:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Man’s greatest need is to enter into a relationship with God, and to suggest that other needs are primary is not Christian thinking. Caring for others physical, social and psychological problems has always been a mark of Christians and must remain so, but it must never, never take precedence over the central message that Jesus alone is our Lord and Saviour. This is why Jesus entered this world to die and rise again for us. This is why the Great Commission Jesus gave to his disciples was and remains,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . .” Matthew 28:19
All Christians are called to do a variety of ‘good works’ but Jesus was clear what the end aim should be:
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
People can only give glory to god if they are told why the good deeds have been done!
The evidence that a person or an organisation is Christian is that they unashamedly say ‘Jesus is my Lord’:
“Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3
This highlights that acknowledging Jesus as Lord is a work of the Holy Spirit.
“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9
The New Testament repeatedly stresses that Jesus Christ is Lord and he alone. This is not only as a title of authority but a declaration of His divine nature and exclusive role in salvation. This message stresses that no earthly or spiritual power can rival Jesus’ supreme lordship, and therefore it is essential that those who acknowledge him openly say so, otherwise they are not Christian.
While talking about Christ on the streets of a city in California, evangelist H.A. Ironside and his friends were often interrupted by questions from the crowd. One common question was this:
“There are hundreds of religions in this country, and the followers of each sect think they're right. How can poor plain people like us find out what really is the truth?”
Ironside answered:
“Did you say there are hundreds of religions? That's strange; I know of only two. True, there are many shades of difference in the opinions of those comprising the two great schools. But after all, there are only two types of religion. The one covers those who hope for salvation by what they do; the other, consists of those who have been saved by what Jesus has done for us.’
How true this is. People are eith trying to please God by their actions or they have realised that what they do can never be enough to satisfy the Almighty Holy God and that their only hope is to throw themselves on the mercy of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus who has already paid the price for their sin. This is the message of the whole Bible. A sacrifice has to be offered to pay for our sin and there is only one person who can do that, the Son of God himself.
Let the last word on this crucial subject be that of the Lord Jesus who had gone without food for forty days and Satan came to entice Him to turn stones into loaves of bread. Jesus answered the devil with these famous words:
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” Matthew 4:4
We naturally tend to focus on physical, social; and psychological needs, but Jesus tells us that there is an even more basic need that all must address, a spiritual need.
BVP
