This morning I want to begin by posing a question that at one time or another, all of should answer. It is this: What is a Christian? If you asked a hundred different people this question, I’m certain you’d get a hundred different answers.

Some people would tell you that a Christian is someone born in the United States. Muslims living in Arab countries believe this myth. They don’t understand that being a Christian has nothing to do with a person’s visa or passport.

Some people believe that a Christian is a person who belongs to a Christian church.

• Story of the homosexual nurse. He belonged to a church. When I asked him, "What is it you want?" he replied, "I want God to give me a husband to love." I told him, "You’re not ready to be a Christian."
• The Monist (anti-Trinitarian) doctor who began attending our parish and gave big checks.

Both of these people were members of a church, but they weren’t Christians. Sometimes it’s helpful to remember that Christ said, "Many will come to me in that day and say, ‘Lord! Lord!’ And I will say, ‘Depart from me for I never knew you.’ "

If you asked some people the question, "What is a Christian?" they would tell you an emotional story about how their life was a falling apart. They’re spouse had left them. They’re children were in trouble with the police. And they didn’t have enough money to make the next bass boat payment. Then while watching TV late one night they got this warm feeling that started in their socks, ran up the back of their legs, jumped up their spine and made their hair stand on end.

We laugh at that sort of "personal testimony." But the man who told me that story didn’t laugh. I was stunned listening to his tale of woe.

If you or I were to ask people like this, "But what does this have to do with Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God?" They are very likely to say, "Who?"

What is a Christian? Some people would tell you that a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ. They reduce the Christian faith to mental assent or simple agreement with some basic facts about our Lord. So, Christianity is reduced to decisionism and people are encouraged to, "Make a decision for Christ."

• James 2:19 "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!"
• In the second chapter of St. James’ epistle, his point is that Christian faith is more than simple, mental assent.

What is a Christian? Many people believe that being a Christian means living by the golden rule and keeping the Ten Commandments. Often these people reason and rationalize in the following manner, "I’m thankful that God is gracious and loving. If he wasn’t I’d be in big trouble, because I’m certainly not perfect."

This sounds noble and respectable. But the Scriptures don’t teach this and the Church has certainly never believed it. Galatians 2:16, "A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, . . . for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."

It’s been my experience that people say they’re living by the "golden rule" often use this rationale like a sedative to numb their stinging conscience while they’re wallowing in rebellion and disobedience to the commands of Christ. If this person is confronted about their behavior, often the first question out of his or her mouth is, "Are you perfect? I’m doing the best I can! In addition, I’m sincere."

What is a Christian? In St. Luke 15, there’s a poetic explanation of what it means to be a Christian. It’s the parable of the Prodigal Son. No other portion of Scripture is quoted more often by the Church Fathers. In the past, when the church wanted to explain what a Christian is, it pointed to this passage of Scripture. Here, we find a succinct summary of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

In this parable, we’re told the prodigal forsook his father and left the place of blessing. He squandered his inheritance in a far away country with riotous living. Finally, he lands in a pigpen feeding swine. Now mark verse 17 where we’re told, "…he came to his senses." He experiences an epiphany, a sudden awakening, like Allie Hamilton in the movie, The Notebook. A flood of light illumines his mind and he "comes to his senses."

Prior to this moment he was like a brute beast, pursuing pleasure with no regard for right or wrong. Sin made him senseless. Because of his rebellion, he experienced a type of temporary spiritual insanity. He’s like Smeagle in Tolkien’s, Return of the King. The ring is a symbol of sin. And Smeagle’s love for the ring causes him to wander from home. It causes him to eat things unnatural. It causes him to forget his name. It even disfigures him. Sin has a profound effect upon the Christian. It turns him into a stupid beast.

What is a Christian? A Christian is someone who has come to his or her senses. They’ve had this moment of insight, this moment of understanding that something isn’t right, between he and his Father, something is amiss. They’re not what they’re supposed to be.

Second, in verse 18 we read of the son’s repentance. He’s had an epiphany. He’s come to his senses. After this he says, "I will arise and go to my father." Repentance is what happens when we’ve been running in the wrong direction, away from God. Then we finally say, "I’ve gone this way long enough. I’m turning around, and I’m going to go back in the other direction." Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of life.

And a Christian is someone who has repented of his or her sin and continues to repent. The Christian is someone who says, "Chasing sin has taken me far from my loving father, far from the place of blessing. Now I have to get back to that place."

As people, our fundamental need is a restored relationship with our father. He’s willing to receive us, if we have a change of mind and change of heart.

Third, I want you to see that this boy is honest. Notice what he says in verse 18, "I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you." We can’t go back home until we’re honest about our sin. The Christian is someone who admits that he was wrong when he decided to rebel and disobey. Being honest means admitting that we are solely responsible for the mess we’re in.

What is a Christian? A Christian is a person who’s been awakened. They’re honest with themselves and they’ve turned from doing their own will to serve their Father. That’s one definition. Another is this: a person who lives a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ and His Church.

Now, the question all of us must ask is this: Am I a Christian? Remember, the epistle lesson for today. All the Israelites experienced the blessings of God, but God was not please with most of them.

"For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. ²They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them."