Why You Should Question People Who Say They Are Christian

Twisted Christianity

When I share my faith on the street or talk to people who visit the church I attend, many people are quick to point out that they are Christian too, believe the Bible, go to church, and so on. But as you listen to the above podcast: Romans Road with Eddie Roman — Author of the book: Search and Rescue, you can never be too sure.

For example, my first encounter with Mormon missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) was on my front porch. They were quick to point out their name badges emblazoned with JESUS CHRIST across them in big, bold letters, that they read and believe the Bible, and that they were sharing the gospel with people in the area. I had been a Christian for about two years and hardly knew anything about this group. So I asked them to share with me what they think the gospel was. Call it discernment, or good old fashioned cynicism, things they were telling me seemed very off; using the same words, but the meanings were different — almost alien.

I have heard Evangelist, Ray Comfort ask the following question to other people, so I decided to use it here.

“Imagine if my wife and I got in a fight, and she stabs me right in the back — literally. I don’t have much time, the knife piercing my lung. You guys come along and ring my doorbell. I answer it, bleeding all over. I see your name badges with JESUS CHRIST across it. I’m scared, and only have three minutes to live. I grab you guys and say, ‘I’m scared, and terrified to die. Please help me and tell me how I can be with Heavenly Father.’ What would you say? How can I get to heaven?”

If it wasn’t winter, I swear I would have heard crickets. Nothing. No response. They couldn’t answer my question. They said it was impossible to get to heaven by faith alone, that a person needs to fulfill many requirements in order to get there, that by now it was too late. That is not Christianity. That is not what the Bible says. That is not true.

Questions To Ask

Like the LDS, Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses, there are many cults out there claiming to be the true Christian church but are not. Even those who are unbelievers who are not saved may say, “I’m Christian too, just like you?” Here are some questions to ask them to draw out the truth.

• “There’s a knife in my back; I have three minutes to live. Can you tell me how to get to heaven?
• “What happens after a person dies? Where do they go?”
• “What is the gospel?”
• “Are you born again?”
• “Who is Jesus to you?”

Jesus’ account of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16–22 is a perfect example of challenging someone who thinks they are saved and on their way to heaven. He had the wrong idea of what “good” was, and thought he was good, and in his mind — perfect.

Why we should ask them?

There are several Bible verses that show us the reason why we should share the gospel to professing believers, because they may not be saved.

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [Jeremiah 17:9 NLT]

There are several times in the Bible where it speaks to the believer not to be deceived.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. [1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV]

"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!' [Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV]

The problem with this is that many people think they are good with the Lord when they are really not. That is a problem. I mean, can you imagine dying and expecting to be waking up in heaven only to be waking up to the flames of hell? That is a scary thought. I would want to know now, right here on earth if I was alright or not.

Christians can also be deceived in the influences of the world on them (1 Corinthians 15:33), the influences of the self on them (Galatians 6:6–10), the temptations of the world on them (James 1:12–18), and the influences of false religion on them (Luke 21:8). That’s a problem. But the great tools we have to get back on track is God’s Word. The Holy Scriptures shows us what is right, what is wrong, how to get right, and how to stay right so that we may be complete and equipped (2 Timothy 3:16–17). We also have the church, and leadership to equip the flock to multiply His kingdom (Ephesians 4:11–14).

Remember, all we are doing is warning those who are on the wrong path to get to the right one.