What’s The Definition of a Casual Christian?
By Karyn Markwell | 30-Sep-08 in Christian Living
It’s likely that we all know casual Christians. We may once have been one. Perhaps we’re still struggling between being a casual Christian and getting serious about our faith.
But what exactly is a casual Christian?
Firstly, a casual Christian is most likely not saved – but they usually don’t know it. A casual Christian may also take some or all of the following forms:
- Someone who believes in God and who thinks that this is enough to be saved
- Someone who misquotes the Bible to justify their own actions or beliefs
- Someone who claims that ‘God didn’t really mean it when He said don’t lie / don’t steal / don’t look with lust, etc.’
It can be difficult to spot a casual Christian. He or she may attend church regularly. He or she may tithe. He or she may be involved in Bible study, church fundraising and teaching Sunday School. But he or she may be busy doing things for God without actually having a relationship with Him.
Since the early church, leaders have measured the spiritual growth of Christians via three key ways:
- Church attendance
- Unfortunately there are people who attend church every week but who have never actually been saved. They attend church out of a sense of obligation or for socialisation, while lacking a saving relationship with Christ
- Once a person has been genuinely saved, he or she will desire to spend time worshipping God and fellowshipping with other believers at church
- Conversion
- Casual Christians are usually false converts who have ‘asked Jesus into their heart’ but have never actually been saved. That’s why they’re so casual about their faith – they have no conviction to motivate them. Jesus said, ‘Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”’ (Mt 7:21-23)
- It’s after genuine conversion that a man or woman displays a life transformed by Christ and it’s through His sacrifice alone that they will be welcomed into eternity with Him
- Tithing
- Many casual Christians tithe ten per cent of their income each week, without realising that they’re unsaved. Their financial gifts won’t save them; only surrendering their lives to Christ will
- When a man or woman is genuinely saved, he or she will desire to invest into God’s Kingdom through bringing their tithes
A casual Christian can only become serious about their faith after repenting of and forsaking their sins and accepting Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
'Alert me of new posts via email'
and ChristianCupid are trademarks of Cupid Media Pty Ltd.
Are christians who are carnally minded.i.e The spirit of God dwells NOT in them coz they are in the flesh. They are church goers.4 the Body is not dead becoz of sin.
Hi Joseph, thanks for your feedback. It's likely that Christians who are carnally minded are not true converts. One of the ways we can identify a Christian is through his or her fruit. True Christians will never be perfect because we are sinners by nature who live in a fallen world, but we will increasingly GROW in holiness. If we're sinning as much as we were a year ago, or ten years ago, and if we're falling into the same sins time and time again, it's probably time to seriously examine whether we are in fact saved. A genuine Christian will still sin, but they will sin less often all the time and they should immediately recognise when they sin and be repulsed by it. I hope this helped! We hope to hear from you again soon, Karyn
This is a good read, I myself have been born & raised into a christian family but have sensed in reading this that I myself must be that so called casual christian. Thanks for an eye-opener, I am really glad I joined into this site (only been a couple of weeks now) but its an amazing lesson since.
Hi Lillian, it's great to hear from you. It's definitely a good habit for all of us to examine our hearts and motivations, especially when it comes to our relationship with God. If we suspect that we're only a casual Christian and not really saved, then we should come before God, confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness. He is both willing and able to save us! We hope that this website continues to be a blessing to you and we hope to hear from you again very soon. Karyn