(Above photo: Anders Behring Breivik)
July 25, 2011
Another heartbreaking tragedy has hit. We've watched the reports from Norway with hands over our mouths, grieving at the awful destruction of life that occurred last Friday.
Then, as if matters could be made worse, a baffling report has arisen from some in the press who say that Anders Behring Breivik's killing spree was motivated by his Christian beliefs. This was due to information allegedly seen on the terrorist's (now blocked) Facebook profile. Anders Breivik, who killed over 90 people including 80+ children allegedly self-identified as a Christian.
So, is the Norwegian terrorist a Christian? How would we know? Did Breivik mean "Christian" in the nominal sense, as in "not Muslim?" Apparently, Breivik's claim on Facebook serves as evidence enough in the minds of some to affirm that Christianity did motivate his bombing of a government center in Oslo as well as his ruthless gunning down of defenseless children at a youth camp. While such an appalling lack of discernment among the press is not excusable, it is somewhat understandable as reporters may have been breathing the "judge not" atmosphere of today's Christianity.
Is a personal profession of Christian faith all that one needs to be considered a Christian? And is such blanket acceptance good practice? Is it the biblical or historical way to know who's in and who's out of the Christian community? Increasingly, over the past few decades, it has become standard fare in the broader Christian world to take a person's profession of faith at face value. Only rude, mean, or "legalistic" Christians question the personal faith of others. Notwithstanding this fad to twist Jesus's judge not statement beyond its intended meaning, Christianity.com has posted articles stressing the need to be biblically discerning about what it truly means to be a Christian.
The following are four biblical means that the Christian community has historically used to confirm the validity of professions of faith in Christ. Is the Norwegian terrorist a Christian? How would we know? Let us "examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith" (2 Cor. 13:5).
Four Biblical and Historic Means to Confirm the Validity of One's Claim to Christian Faith:
1) Do I believe the gospel? (see article by D.A. Carson)
2) Am I a member of a doctrinally sound local church where this gospel is preached and members
strive to confirm only professions of faith that are credible? (see article by Mark Dever)
3) Do I submit to church discipline, lovingly, graciously, and faithfully administered?
(see article by Jonathan Leeman)
4) Am I making continual progress toward inward godliness, fueled by the indwelling Holy
Spirit, not legalism? (see article by Mark Driscoll)
Let us help, pray for, and grieve with the Norway attack victims and their families. At the same time, may we respond with gracious discernment to those who are quick to accept spurious claims to Christian faith.
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com
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