No “Christian Life” – Jim Fowler

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I am concluding that it is best to avoid any reference to “the Christian life” or “Christian behavior” in my conversation and my writing. When people hear the phrase “the Christian life,” they often think of a prescribed lifestyle of performing a set of “believe right and do right” behaviors which include going to church every week, studying their bibles, saying their prayers, giving ten percent, and “acting like a Christian.” Christian religion has perverted the phrase “the Christian life” into something Christians are expected to do and perform without any understanding of the dynamic provision of God’s grace in Jesus Christ to enact such.

Such a man-made system of performance-based “Christianism” is antithetical to what Jesus Christ came to bring in Himself. The New Testament scriptures on three occasions use the word “Christian” (Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Pet. 4:16) as a noun (Greek Christianos) referring to a Christ-one, i.e., one who is identified by or in Jesus Christ. Never does the scripture use the word “Christian” as an adjective of description. But in the English-speaking world, we use it adjectively as an annex to a host of nouns: Christian religion, Christian life, Christian behavior, Christian church, Christian culture, Christian country, Christian music, Christian ministry, Christian books, Christian businessmen, Christian trinkets, Christian cruises, Christian theme parks, etc.

Even the noun form of “Christian” is rapidly becoming devoid of meaning, for if everyone is a “Christian,” then no one is a Christian. Some readers have noticed that I often refer to a “Christian” as a “Christ-one,” one in whom the Christ-life dwells and is intended to be lived out to the glory of God. So, instead of referring to “the Christian life,” I prefer and will attempt to henceforth refer to “the Christ-life lived out in a Christ-one.” That is a far more precise explanation of the process whereby the grace empowering for such is the Spirit of Christ Himself and not the performance duty of the Christ-one attempting to generate the Christ-life – Impossible!

Jim Fowler is a cherished and respected friend of Plain Truth Ministries, a wonderful brother in Christ, having served in a variety of capacities, on our Board of Directors, as a theological consultant and as an author and editor.  He continues to write, with his latest being “Manifesting the Life of Jesus” available on Amazon.  Jim is a treasure to the body of Christ, a Christ follower who faithfully reflects God’s grace in Jesus, as our risen Lord lives his life within him.