Image via CrunchBaseSeveral things stand out to me that bear mentioning. I think that he is totally sincere. I also think that he explains what it means to be a Christian almost perfectly. Under his definition, I think he's right he really was a Christian. However does his definition of Christianity match what the Bible says? Let us table the discussion for later as to whether or not the Bible is truly God's word and instead consider if it matches what he says. I'm in a great position to comment on his experience as he has related it. I grew up in the Church of God in Christ which is the sister denomination of the Assemblies of God. The story of the split between the two is a story for another time, but suffice to say they began at the same time in history under the same leadership and the same circumstances! I can honestly say that I heard everything he has said before about the "born-again" experience and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. These are important to me also...however it is not important to every single Christian. Under the Biblical definition, you don't have to have these things and still be a Christian. As a matter of fact, I've seen people have experiences like these every Sunday and not claim to be saved. They have profound emotional responses, yet there is no change in their lifestyle or thought patterns when they leave the church until the next time they come back. They most likely believe in God but they are not Christians. They have a relationship with God but it's not like the relationship the Bible describes.
Let me be clear: Nothing described in the video is enough to qualify for being a true Christian. Let us see what the Bible has to say.
1. Believing that God exists is neccessary but not sufficient in being a Christian.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.James 2:19
2. Believing that Jesus atoned for your sins is what makes you a Christian - True. But how do you know when it's genuine and not just head knowlege?
18Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. - 1 John 2:18-19
People leaving the church is nothing new. It is nothing to get concerned over nor proves that Christianity isn't true.
3. The video does not talk about the man's life or whether or not it changed from before he gave his life to Christ. I myself experienced much change. I stopped being as concerned with myself and began to care about others and fulfilling God's plan for my life. I no longer had some of the same sinful desires and attitudes that I had before salvation. And those things that I still have/had I experienced the desire to put those under control and to work at overcoming them. This is what the Bible says.
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. - Galatians 5: 16-26
Let me make sure I'm clear: if your life is nor characterized by verses 22-25, you are not saved. I'm not saying that the person in the video lived or lives like verses 19-21 but it is my experience that people who live like that are not going to be calling themselves a Christian for long.
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
And what is the point of this relationship with God?
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. - Romans 8:28-29
Unfortunately, this conviction has two responses: we either accept it and begin our relationship with God in Christ or we miss it - despising the gift and deserving the condemnation and the guilt. I never understood how anyone could accuse Christianity of trying to control people through guilt because it is about freeing people from guilt and shame.
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8:1-4
Again for clarification - argument is that according to scripture once a person becomes born-again and is transformed - he can't become unborn-again. I'm more than willing to agree that a person can think they are born again but when the chips are down, they fall away. One thing that comes to mind as evidence for a relationship with God is that when God says "No, you can't have this." Or "No, I have something else in mind." you not only realize that these are just as viable and as possible as God saying "Yes" to a prayer but that you don't get mad. God is not obligated to do anything we want. It's the other way around. And the closer we get to him, those desires change to align with those of God himself as in Romans 12:1,2.
6.The Bible clearly shows one cannot be a believer and die an apostate. If you stop believing than you never believed in the first place
4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.- Hebrews 6:4-6
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