To illustrate this simple but far-reaching principle, let us borrow an argument from philosopher Gordon Clark and suppose that the word "mountain" means literally everything. It means "dog"; it also means "cat". It also means "flagpole". "Mountain mountain mountain," could be the next sentence! Unfortunately, such a sentence might mean, "It is raining," or it might mean, "Thursday is Thanksgiving." Thus, it would, in fact, mean nothing.
This is perhaps an extreme example, but the point should be clear. For a word to mean anything, for it to carry any content, there must be some things that the word does not mean.
Let us apply this principle, then, to the word "Christianity". The mere mention of the word is often sufficient to conjure up in the hearer's mind images of stained-glass windows, a pale pathetic "Jesus" hanging lifeless on a cross, an enormous dust-covered "family Bible", or a towering "church steeple". But is this Christianity? As some people would define the term, it may be; but if by the word Christianity we mean that Way of faith and practice that is taught in the Bible, then it certainly is not.
Our burden in this article is just to let you, who read this little paper from time to time, know that when we use the term "Christianity", we may not be speaking about what you think! We use the term in reference to that new life of Truth and Spirit that was taught by the Founder of Christianity; and the teachings of Jesus are often exactly the opposite of what is called Christian today.
Granted that we are using the word in this sense, what then is Christianity? We can learn some things just by examining what it is not.
Worship"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." (Acts 17:24)
When a woman asked Jesus whether it was Jerusalem or Mt. Gerizim to which men should go to worship God, He told her that it was neither. "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father... God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:21-24) The early Christians knew that God didn't live in special buildings. In fact, they even met in private homes to worship God. (I Corinthians 6:19, Colossions 4:15) So, right away we should know that stained-glass windows, steeples, "sanctuaries", "alters", and "choir lofts" should not come into our minds when we hear the word "Christian". Neither should plastic crucifixes or "pictures of Jesus". The early church had a living and invisible Christ within their hearts, not a dead and visible and imaginary one hanging on their walls. "We ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man," said Paul in a somewhat different context, but not without at least some application to the point in hand. Even Bob Dylan could see that "flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark" go to show that "not much is really sacred." In contrast to these externals, Jesus taught that the worship of God was internal —"in spirit", and "in truth".
Prayer"When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:7)
These words of Jesus have been contradicted countless times by those who profess His name. The rhyming "prayers" that parents teach their children to rattle off mechanically before bedtime and the memorized or semi-memorized "table graces" used by adults themselves drive the number into the millions! How different and wonderful is the prayer that Jesus taught, the prayer of truly personal communion with a truly personal God.
Hypocrisy"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matthew 23:27-28)
Jesus came down very hard on hypocrisy of every kind, especially when it appeared in religious leaders. His words to those who "devoured widows' houses, even while for pretense they made long prayers" still apply to the Elmer Gantrys of today who exhort ladies to "trust God and give their last dollar to Jesus" while they themselves drive Lincoln Continentals. Likewise, His words against hypocrisy would surely still apply to those who say that the rapture is "certain to occur within the next year" and at the same time have paid-up life insurance policies! (And, to digress a little, his words against teachers should make us at least a little skeptical of those "Bible scholars" who have confidently and wrongly identified everyone from Mussolini to Kissinger as the antichrist!)
"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make Him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." (Matthew 23:15) These words of Jesus should serve to warn us that even zealous "missionary activities" ("travel about on sea") and "bus ministries" ("travel about on land") under the banner of His name may not necessarily have anything to do with Christianity. The same is true of zealous "soul-winning" (to make one proselyte"). Under the section on "how to press for the decision," one manual on soul winning "made easy" instructs us: "Lay your hand firmly on the subject's shoulder (or arm), and with a semi-commanding tone of voice, say to him: 'Bow your head with me.'... Bowing your head first, causes terrific psychological pressure." No matter how much sincerity and good intent lie behind such tactics, the practice of psychologically badgering, buttonholing, and bullying people into "making a decision for Christ" bears no resemblance to the inexpressibly precious workings of the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers have long maintained that Christian conversion is nothing more than Pavlov's dogs revisited, and pressure-packed emotional appeals to "come forward" in mass meetings often lend credence to such accusations. Far too many of these "conversions" are indeed no more than applied psychology, worlds apart from the wondrous miracle with which the living God touches man and makes him entirely new.
Jesus' words against hypocrisy were not directed only to the religious leaders, however. Often He warned the multitudes against self-deception. "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" "Not every one who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father." "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven," He told His hearers, and went on to explain that their righteousness must extend even to the inner motives of the heart. Only the "pure in heart" would see God, according to Jesus. (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 5:20f; Matthew 5:8)
No understanding of the Bible that allows men to live as rottenly as they please, as long as they have "accepted Jesus", deserves the name Christian. Even those of you who claim not to believe in God know that His character can't be as mushy as that! We don't blame you for turning away from those who practice morality only on Sunday, use religious jargon to get votes, or smoke one nervous cigarette after another despite their professed "peace in Christ".
Wealth"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth." (Matthew 6:19)
Jesus often warned His would-be followers that they must choose between God and money, between selfish hoarding and joyful sharing. "No one can serve two masters," He told them, in a context that caused the words to have eternal implications for each of His hearers. (Luke 16:1-15)
"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed... And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek, but your Father knows that you need these things... Sell your possessions and give to charity." (Luke 12:13-34) Such words were spoken, not to a select few, but to all His followers.
Many ingenious methods have been devised over the centuries by professing Christendom to explain why Jesus did not mean what He said so plainly and so often, but the first Christians took His words seriously. We are told that no sooner had the early church begun to grow, than they "began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need." (Acts 2:45) "And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them... There was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles' feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need." (Acts 4:32-35) Oh, the joy that must have been present in such an assembly, that had learned by experience the truth of their Master's words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive!" (Acts 20:35)
A man or organization that knowingly hoards wealth in the face of a world full of pressing needs cannot seek shelter under the name of Christ. "Whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (I John 3:17) Yet, we are told today by professing ministers of Christ that God actually wants His children to be wealthy! "Faith" becomes a magic wand to fatten purses. This is indeed pseudo-Christianity.
We have been dealing here, it is true, primarily with what Christianity isn't. But we tear down only with a view to building up; we root out only in order to plant. The accumulated rubble of two thousand years of man-made tradition must be a least partially cleared away before the one true foundation for all meaning and fulfillment can be securely laid down.
And, after all, perhaps more has been said about the positive nature of Christianity than we realize. It has been found to involve the worship of the true God, not via externals but in spirit and truth, not by meaningless repetition but in living fellowship. Christians are those who are characterized by sincerity and purity; their righteousness is not external only. They share their money with those in need and delight to do the will of God. Though they are far from perfect, and their sins and shortcomings are many and grievous, yet their innermost longing is to be what they should be, and their lives in general are moving closer and closer to God.
It may come as a revelation to some that the Christianity they have been rejecting is not the real thing anyway. At the same time, they may find it to be a little unsettling that their favorite "too-many-hypocrites-in-the-church" arguments are beginning to crumble, and that they are responsible to face the knowledge of the true Christ which is as near to them as the pages of the nearest New Testament.
Those of us who know Him echo His words of invitation, "Let him who is thirsty come!" "O taste and see that the Lord is good!"
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