Christianity In The 21st Century

Last week I asked the question, Is Barack Obama a Christian? The quick answer is, I have no idea. He claims to be. I pray that he is, and if he is not, I pray that he comes to be.

From this observers perspective, anyone who claims to be religious and believes in a God, falls into one of three categories: Jewish, Muslim or Christian. However, not all who call themselves Jewish follow the Jewish faith. Not all who call themselves Muslim follow the tenets of Islam. And, not all who call themselves Christian follow historical orthodoxy.

For example, Harry Emerson Fosdick, the apostle of American Christian liberalism, argues that the death of Christ did not involve any penal substitution but was for our benefit giving us an example of sacrifice that we are to follow.

To Paul Tillich who came to prominence at Union Theological Seminary after WWII God is not a being who possesses existence; He is a symbol of “our ultimate concern.” He wrote, “God participates in the suffering of existential estrangement, but his suffering is not a substitute for the suffering of the creature. Neither is the suffering of Christ a substitute for the suffering of man”

Believe it or not, to call Jesus ‘God’ or ‘deity’ is considered heresy to many in the “Christian” camp. Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote, “Have done with your theological Christ and give us back Jesus the ethical teacher.” For Fosdick, Christ was a mere man inspired by God who became an ethical ideal for all humanity. He writes, “The God who was in Jesus is the same God who is in us.”

What is my point? Not all those under the flag of Christian hold to historic orthodox beliefs. Sometimes I wish we had a different name.

Is Barack Obama a Christian

Is Barack Obama a Christian? The answer to the question regarding President Obama’s faith depends on how we define Christian. What does it mean to be a Christian?


I fear that in our politically correct world many have defined ‘Christian’ as anyone who professes to believe in God and Jesus Christ his son. Forget the apostle’s creed or Chalcedonian Christology, how we define God and Jesus his son seems to be up for grabs.

I hear quite often, ‘it is all about faith and what you believe.’ Let's take that to the extreme.  Consider the beliefs of our adversary the devil. He believes in God the father maker of heaven and earth. He believes that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and laid in a manger; he was an eye-witness. He believes Jesus walked on water and fed the 5000. He believes Jesus suffered under Pilate and was crucified. He was there. Satan was an eye witness to the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Satan knows that God the Father accepted Christ’s death as payment for our sins. So, does this knowledge and understanding place Satan into the category of Christian? I don’t think so. So, what does it mean for any of us to be called a Christian? Is there a difference between having a Christian belief system and being a Christian? Can you have a Christian belief system and not be a Christian? Can you be a Christian and not have a Christian belief system? Our world has become very complicated.