Bad Christian, Good Christian, Not Christian

[Chichebe]

Reading the preface *Mere Christianity * by C.S. Lewis reminded me of some of the discussions that I have had with some of my non-Catholic friends some of whom would remove the appellation Christian from most Catholics. Some of them despite previously being members of other churches through baptism and otherwise would only admit to being a Christian only after being ‘ born again’ or ‘saved’ which relates often to a life changing experience. This is to the point of rejecting the validity of sacraments of initiation into the Christian faith.

So the question is whether the word Christian simply as C.S. Lewis once warned simply becoming a word of praise for those that some Christians think by their standards is good. Also in using the term in this fashion we start to judge others. Should it be for those who follow the teachings of Christ and disciples? C.S. Lewis states the term Christian should have, ‘no question of its being restricted to those who profited by that teaching as much as they should have…… When a man who accepts the Christian doctrine lives unworthily of it, it is much clearer to say he is a bad Christian than to say he is not a Christian’.

Who is and who is not a Christian?

 

[Verbum]

Hi Chich__,

Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul. It is the mark of Christ who claims you as His own. It cannot be removed. A Christian can be an unworthy Christian, bad Christian, or whatever, but he is a Christian all the same.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1272Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.

That being said, anyone can have a life-changing experience of a spiritual nature. One can recall St. Thérèse’s experience at 14. You can read about it here.

Verbum

 

[Chichebe]

I totally agree! Ephesians 4: 1-7:

‘I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.’ (NRSV)

Whe we lead lives that are unworthy do we cease to be Christian. I believe we do not. For this I often think of the Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother (Luke 15: 11-32) - did he ever cease to be his father’s son? Repentance is the key (Luke 15:1-7). Often this is one difficulty I have when conversing with some non-Catholic Christians - in that they have been Christian only from the moment they were saved / born-again regardless of their previous Christian life.