Being a minimal to moderate user of Facebook for two years, I’ve been flabbergasted at times by reading people’s ”religious views” in comparison to their profile.  How can someone claim Christianity in any expression (i.e. Christian, Follower of Christ, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc…), yet not portray Christianity in the very life they live?  So, based upon my own person unscientific research, I’ve concluded that Facebook is exhibiting a new form of Christianity that I’ve simply dubbed, “Facebook Christianity.” 

What exactly is Facebook Christianity?  Glad you asked.  Facebook Christianity is a form of Christianity that acknowledges Jesus Christ in word, but denies Him in deed.

Examples of Facebook Christians

For instance, the three examples that are most obvious to observe in Facebook Christians are pictures of drunken masquerades, references to sexual immorality, and a plethora of status updates and news feeds full foul language and filthy humor like it’s no thing.

You see, as a Christians, this is not to be the case at all. 

Even though we have freedom in the Gospel to drink (1 Corinthians 10.23-33), as Christians, we are commanded not to get drunk (Ephesians 5.18).

Even though sex is a good thing, it, as well as other sexual practices, is solely reserved for marriage (Ephesians 5.3, 5)

Even though a joyful heart is considered good medicine (Proverbs 17.22), our speech and humor is to be filled with matter that is good for building up others, not with filth that corrupts others and ourselves (Ephesians 4.29; 5.4).   

This scandal of self-identified, pseudo, and fake Christians is confirmed with a litany of research conducted by various people, such as Ron Sider, George Barna, and Mark Regnerus

Personally, I believe there is one general reason why there are so many Facebook Christians: A misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian. 

In the end, this means that:

You might be a Facebook Christian if your religious view is “Christian,” but the rest of your profile indicates Heathen.

Of course the Elephant in the Room that needs to be addressed is this, “How can I get off saying something like this?” 

Well, it’s quite simple. 

You see, being a Christian is more than claiming to be one alone, it’s a new way of life.   

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Being a Christian entails a new birth that leads to a new life that is characterized with insatiable desires to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (John 3.3, 7-8; 2 Corinthians 5.17).  Although this new life will be the naturally outworking of God the Holy Spirit within us (2 Peter 1.3; 1 John 2.29), we are still called to learn and live this new way of life as a disciple of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28.18-18-20; Romans 12.1-2; Ephesians 4.20-24; Philippians 2.12-13; and 1 Peter 1.14, 4.2). 

So, this rudimentary understanding of Christianity excludes the notion that Christianity can be assumed, learned, and lived through osmosis without any effort on our part whatsoever.  Quite frankly, this is a sham. 

Learning to live as a Christian is much like living in a new country.  For instance, if I were to move to a new country I would have to learn new vocabulary, customs, and manners.  Just like Christianity, this process involves effort, not passivity (Philippians 2.12-13).

Although this is the case, many self-identified Christians believe that they can claim Christianity, yet do whatever they fancy. 

In reality, this is not the case at all. 

Simply put, to be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, one who knows, believes in, follows, learns, and applies His teachings in all of their life, not just their news feed, religious views, and Sunday mornings (Matthew 28.18-20).  This elementary understanding of what it means to be a Christian naturally excludes the following misconceptions:

• Simply professing Christ,
• Identifying yourself as a Christian,
• Being born into a Christian home,
• Being born in the Bible Belt,
• Attending Christian worship services, 
• Sharing your favorite passage from the Bible in your news feed, or
• Accepting people that are different than you.

So, the point that I’m trying to make is this, Christianity cannot be an assumed religious view or way of life.

Just because you may have been born into a Christian home, the Bible Belt, or help elderly women across the street, doesn’t mean you’re a Christian.

Unfortunately countless people are given this minimalistic impression of Christianity by the church itself, who, at times, leads people to believe that if they just profess faith, raise a hand, sign a card, or walk to the front of the altar in response to the “Gospel” call that they’re right with God.  This is why R.C. Sproul quipped; “Everyone who has faith is called to profess faith, but not everybody who professes faith has faith” (also see Matthew 7.21-23).

Instead of looking to these various deceptive means in falsely determining your Christianity, consider what the Bible actually says: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13.5; also see 1 Corinthians 11.28; Galatians 2.20, 6.4).

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Tags: Cultural Christianity, facebook, facebook Christianity