Are there different types of Christianity?

At a Bible study group looking at the book of Philippians one of those present was struck at how different the Christian life described in the New Testament is to what most people think of a being Christian today.  He asked,

“Is every Christian meant to be like the apostles or is there another less intense form of discipleship?”

The leader replied,

“Your word ‘intense’ has associations with being over the top and a bit neurotic.  Perhaps it would be better to ask ‘Are all Christians meant to be as devoted to serving Jesus as the apostles clearly were”

The book of Philippians does suggest that the apostles expect all Christians to be devoted to Christ.  The Christian life is not a matter of keeping to regulations.

Loving the Lord is Essential

The Jews in Jesus’ time made the mistake that trying to keep rules is the way to satisfy the Living God.  God’s people have always been meant to have a close loving relationship with the Lord.  It is because we are profoundly grateful at being chosen by God to be his people, at being forgiven, that we love him and want to live in a way that pleases him.

Our poor attempts to keeping his rules can never give us a relationship with God, it is our loving devotion that God is looking for.

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6

When Joshua summonsed all the Jews together shortly before he died, he reminded them of this truth,

“ So be very careful to love the Lord your God.” Joshua 23:11

Paul certainly loved the Lord Jesus.  This was obvious by the way he lived.  He could honestly say,

“ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Paul wrote to a church that thought that experiences were the mark of Christianity and corrects this view:

“If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord!” 1 Corinthians 16:22

This is a strong apostolic warning that love for Jesus is not optional — it’s central.

Jesus himself equates love with a heart-felt obedience

“If you love me, keep my commands.”John 14:15

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23

Just as out love for our wife or husband is seen by the way we talk about them and are seen to do things that please them so love for Christ is shown by a desire to obey what he wants.

Peter was asked three times. After he had denied knowing him three times:

“Do you love Me?”  John 21:15–17

This shows that love for Jesus is foundational in the Christian life and is the door to Christian service,   Jesus went on to say to a repentant Peter,

“Feed my sheep”

Real faith always expresses itself as a love for Jesus and his people

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6

So love for Christ is the sign of true discipleship

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” Ephesians 6:24

How then should Christians live?

One thing is clear, if we are followers of Jesus we must aim to become like him and adopt his aims and manner of living.  How this works out will differ between individuals.  A Christian housewife with children will follow Christ in a different way to a Christian business executive or a professional sportsman, but the basic desire to live for Jesus will be the same.  Jesus is our model and the apostles strikingly said that we can see how Jesus lived in the way they lived.  Thus Paul could write:

“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Philippians 3:17-18

“ I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.  Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.  Therefore I urge you to imitate me.  For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians 4:14-17

“Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:32-11:1

Members of Galatian church were returning to the rituals and rules of Judaism so Paul says,

“I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you.” Galatians 4:11-12

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

All Christians should be apostolic, following the teaching and priorities of Christ and his apostles. The importance of role models who imitate christ are always important:

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians1:6

Both these examples emphasise the need for sacrificial living so that Christ’s gospel, shared with us by the apostles, may be widely known.

Church leaders today

All church leaders today need to embody the life of Jesus as seen in his apostles.  All must obviously share their deep desire to persuade as many people as possible about the gospel so that they can be saved.  They need to share this love for others and have a desire to build up the churches by faithfully teaching what the Bible says.

In medieval Germany there was a picture depicting many souls trying to swim to heaven, striving for salvation.  Alongside them, in the picture, is a boat filled with bishops, monks, nuns, and clergy, instead of pulling them into the boat and simply telling them to keep going . It suggests that the ‘religious’ are assured of salvation and have an easy ride to heaven. Martin Luther’s severely criticised the clergy of his day who failed to teach how salvation is available to all through a personal commitment to Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

Our status and religious devotion in this world may count for nothing when we meet the Lord Jesus in judgment. Jesus was clear:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23

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