What does it really mean to be a Christian? Mike McKinley looks at this most important of questions.
Jesus divided the world into two groups—those who follow him and those who don’t. But what happens when someone thinks he or she is a Christian, but isn’t? With his witty, engaging style, Mike McKinley takes readers on a journey of what it means to be a Christian. He asserts that “manipulative evangelism techniques and a poor understanding of the gospel have resulted in an abundance of professing Christians who have no idea what it means to follow Christ.”
Each chapter title begins with “You’re not a Christian [if/when/just because you]…” As he surveys what it means to be Christian, McKinley offers criteria for evaluating one’s standing before God. Readers are guided through a series of challenges to reflect, repent, remember, and report to another person. Am I Really a Christian? ends with chapters on salvation and the local church. This unique book is written for nominal or new Christians and can be used in personal or small-group study.
Foreword by Kirk Cameron
Introduction: Is This Book Mean Spirited?
You Are Not a Christian: Just Because You Say That You Are
You Are Not a Christian: If You Haven't Been Born Again
You Are Not a Christian: Just Because You Like Jesus
You Are Not a Christian: If You Enjoy Sin
You Are Not a Christian: If You Do Not Endure to the End
You Are Not a Christian: If You Don't Love Other People
You Are Not a Christian: If You Love Your Stuff
Can I Ever Really Know If I Am a Christian?
A Little Help from Your Friends
Acknowledgments
Notes
General Index
Scripture Index
| Contributors | Mike McKinley |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781433525797 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | July 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Crossway |
This is a truly important book in the most urgent sense—a book that serves the cause of Christ by raising the most important question human beings face, and helping to answer it, no less. I am thankful to McKinley for his faithfulness and for the pastoral concern that prompted him to write such an important work.
There can be no more important question than ‘Am I really a Christian?’ and Mike McKinley helps us answer it with great skill. He manages to challenge nominal Christians while comforting genuine believers. McKinley’s writing is accessible, engaging, and simple without ever being simplistic. I particularly appreciate the way he encourages us to explore this crucial question in the context of a Christian community. If you’re not sure where you stand before God, or you know someone who’s not sure, then this is the book for you.
