You may be familiar with the recent viral video by BuzzFeed, "I'm a Christian, But I'm Not." The video seeks to explain why this carefully curated collection of "Christians" is better than those like, I don't know--Kim Davis, are better and a higher quality, more relevant to the times than the traditional Christians. Some of the ways they describe themselves is "not homophobic," "not close-minded," "don't place myself on a pedestal," and of course, the trinity of Christianity: not "judgmental," "conservative," or "ignorant." To read these descriptions, you'd think all Christians had an inflated sense of self, with no education, intelligence, common sense, or openness to people or ideas.
The BuzzFeed "Christians," however, excel in the business of being "accepting," "feminist," and "queer."
Is this what the new breed of Christians is supposed to look like? Is this the spotless, unified Bride that Christ is coming back for? Do they even believe Jesus is, in fact, coming back?
Spotless
The "Bride" represented in this Buzzfeed video is full of spots and blemishes. And you know what? They like it. They're proud of if. They view their spots more as fashion statements and expressions of individuality, than as the sin. Some of these spots are:
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Homosexuality, lesbianism, and transgenderism, which is unnatural, unclean, and perverted in Scripture (Levi. 18:22, 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27; I Cor. 6:9-10; I Kings 14:24; Deut. 22:5)
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Fornication, defined as inappropriate, sinful, and compared to idolatry in Scripture (I Cor. 6:9-10, Matt. 15:19, Mark 7:21, Gal. 5:9-21, Eph. 5:3-5, Col. 3:5, Heb. 13:4)
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A lack of judgment which they mistakenly identify as being judgmental (I Cor. 2:15, John 7:24, Gal. 5:19-23)
Unified
The arrogant air expressed in this BuzzFeed video does not seek to unify the Body of Christ. Christ will not return for a factioned Body, but a unified one. And the unity expressed must be biblical in nature, not according to the will of man. But there's one good thing about factions:
"Of course, there must be factions among you to show which of you are genuine!" (I Corinthians 11:19 ISV)
Other translations state that the factions "show which of you have God's approval" (NIV) and also that "those who are right will be seen from those who are wrong," (NLV). Those who are in error will always be opposed to those who are in the Truth, yet as always, God's will Truth prevail.
Bride
Some of the comments uttered by these "BuzzFeed Christians" are just astounding.
"A lot of people think Christianity ruins people, but to me I think it's people that are ruining Christianity, you never really see the good that happens, you only see the hypocrites, and the people who put themselves on a higher pedestal." By this we may gather that it is the Christians who actually follow Scripture who are tainting Christianity and not the ones who reject or cherry-pick it. It's also extremely ironic as Matt Wash so aptly pointed out that these "Christians" who accuse biblical others of putting themselves on "a higher pedestal" create their own pedestals in the process.
"I don't think that Christians should judge people for who they are or what they do, I think everybody is in a different part of life on their own path to wherever they're trying to go. We're all people and love is the most important thing." This quotation is, again, full of irony in that they are accusing "terrible" Christians of doing precisely what is being done in the video.
"Just because we prescribe [sic] to a faith that has some really terrible people in it doesn't make all of us terrible." Positively HYSTERICAL! Heaven forbid Christians actually adhere to Scripture.
The Bride of Christ must be just that: the Bride of Christ. Not of this world, not of Satan, or of anyone or anything else (ideologically speaking). We must be of Him. And not the "him" of our own making, but the Him Who made us for His purposes.
'I'm a Christian, But I'm Not'
This statement expresses everything. In grade school, we all learned (or should have learned) that whatever comes before "but" in a sentence completely negates whatever came before it. So really, the title of the video should be, "I'm not a Christian." While some feel this video so ignorant it shouldn't be heeded, I rather think it is the evidence of a much deeper deception that has embedded itself in American Christianity. And yet, Scripture remains firm.
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Galatians 1:6-10)
Paul goes on to say, "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ," (Gal. 1:11-12). What Paul is saying here is that any gospel, any definition of Christianity, that does not align with the Word and Spirit of Truth is not, in fact, Truth. It is not dependent on human opinion for it did not originate from man, but from God. And there is the power of it.
BuzzFeed "Christianity" simply isn't gonna cut it in this life and it certainly won't help you into the next.
