• It’s not necessarily what many people might think •
[2 MIN READ]
Many people, including students, have flawed understandings of what constitutes authentic Christianity; by that I mean, who is a Christian or — if you will — an authentic follower of Jesus. In identifying one, it’s helpful to consider the angles of perspective people use in developing their definitions (iCandybyWangC). The ones I find commonly used are emotional, institutional, social, spiritual, and biblical.
Some might say they’re Christian because they feel emotional and social satisfaction, significance, and well-being by being connected with a group like a church or a fellowship. Others may consider themselves Christian because they feel a spiritual connection to the creator God of nature and the universe. Yet others believe that attendance at a church and participation in the liturgical trappings of one makes them Christian.
The problems with looking through emotional and social lenses are that feelings can come and go, based on internal or external factors. For example, you can love Arcadia Christian Fellowship one moment, because attending it makes you feel complete, and hate it the next, because it always meets during class times. The problem with looking through a solely spiritual lens is that many faith traditions, even ones under the umbrella of Christianity, can provide mere spiritual connection. By way of example, Star Wars’ connection with the Force is spiritual in nature without being biblical. And the institutional church has done much damage across generations of alienating biblical followers of Jesus.
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Jesus himself uses the familiar phrase “born again” when speaking with Nicodemus the Pharisee in John 3 and describes the need to be born of the spirit (BibleGateway.com). The apostle Paul extends Jesus’ words by describing salvation as requiring both a transformation of heart and declaration of mouth (Romans 10:9-10. YouVersion.). So, according to the bible, being a Follower of Jesus (being born again) requires both transformation and declaration; both believing in one’s heart and being able to state with one’s mouth the acceptance of who Jesus is (the Son of God) and of his saving power.
I like to use my own Catechism of Salvation to help people understand why transformation and declaration are even necessary to become FOJ, Followers of Jesus.* The important reality from an “angular” perspective is that biblical is the only true basis for considering oneself an FOJ…
The other angles of perspective provide only that, perspective, on one’s authentic Christian faith. Institutional membership and practice (e.g., baptism without individual conviction) are not adequate for biblical salvation. Emotional and social connection are only changeable expressions of authentic faith. And divine spirituality can only come through individual transformation and declaration.
FINE PRINT [CCOmmentary #7 for 2025’10’24’F] *This content does not necessarily represent the precise statements of belief and faith of any one institution or organization nor is it intended to be doctrinally comprehensive. ¶Text: Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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iCandybyWangC 
I like it! Nicely worded. /TD