Maybe you have, or haven’t, heard the term Christianish before. I first heard it used on a talk radio program and became curious about it, as the conversation in which it was used didn’t really offer a good context to determine what it meant. According to the Urban Dictionary, it is “the practice of Christianity lite.” Someone who is Christianish “believes in selective moral teachings of Jesus, and may or may not believe in the resurrection, miracles, and other traditional beliefs.”
Sometimes this term is used for those who are considered to be a Christian in name only. I believe it is a modern term used to refer to what was once called cafeteria Christianity, where one felt he or she could pick which teachings of Scripture to follow and feel free to reject the rest. One illustration refers to those who can’t be bothered with reading the Bible as being Christianish, meaning they define what it means to be a follower of Christ by their own feelings and choices, rather than what is revealed in the Word of God.
While there are, no doubt, those who could be described as nominal Christians or Christianish, the real question is, “Does this please God? Does He allow us to pick and choose how we are committed to Him?” I’m not talking about the process of growing and maturing in Christ, of seeking to follow Christ as He desires and struggling against fleshly thoughts and desires. I’m speaking of redefining what we are to be as disciples of the Lord, of those things that are integral to be His children. Is being Christianish really being a New Testament Christian?
The answer is, of course, “No.” In the pages of the New Testament, terms like pattern or standard are consistently used of the life we are called to live in Christ. Paul reminded Timothy that he was to “hold on to the pattern of sound teaching” (2 Timothy 1:13), and he reminded the brothers and sisters in Rome how they “obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over” (Romans 6:17). Both passages refer to a model that makes an impression because God has molded and modeled it. Thus, Christians must copy and hold fast patterns discerned from the pages of inspiration – the Bible and especially from the New Testament. As our Creator, God has all authority as to how one should live to be acceptable to Him. Christ is to be our example of this type of life (1 Peter 2:21), which must be carried out in us. “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6).
To be Christianish is to redefine what it means to be a Christian: something that sort of identifies with Christ but not really, not to the extent we must if we truly belong to Him, either in finding forgiveness in Him, or living for Him. It’s picking and choosing what appeals to the individual, but not that which might be in conflict with one’s desires or challenges one’s personal sensibilities. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). He also said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27).
It takes a certain kind of follower who identifies his or her life with that of Christ, crucifying self that Christ can mold us in His image, fitting us for eternity which truly honors the Father. Ours is not to define what we like, being Christianish, but to submit to God’s will so that we truly show ourselves as Christians. Humbling ourselves in Him, living by His will, spending time in Scripture to know that will, is what bring us His blessings. Pray that, in word and deed, we can help others to know sort of being a Christian is not what God wants. Let’s not be Christianish, but true Christians, followers of Christ to eternal life.
