Do you call yourself a Christian? I did for many years, yet I wasn’t saved. I had absolutely no assurance that when I died, I’d spend eternity with Jesus. In reality, if I had died back then, I would have gone to hell. I was a Halfway Christian until I finally saw the light. This brings me to the question, are YOU missing the salvation of Jesus Christ? Let’s find out…
What is Halfway Christianity
I first came upon the term “Halfway Christians” when I was doing research for my series on Where the Catholic Church Went Wrong. It goes back to the Protestant Reformation in Europe and the Anabaptists. Author Bruce Shelley tells the story in the revised edition of “Church History in Plain Language.” (Christianbook Affiliate)…
Under the cover of darkness, a dozen or so men trudged slowly through the snow falling in Zruch on January 21, 1525. Quietly but resolutely, they made their way through the narrow streets. The wintry chill blowing off the lake seemed to match their mood as they approached the Manz house near the Great Minster, the largest church in town.
The city council of Zurich had that day ordered their leaders, Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz, to stop holding Bible classes. Opposition was mounting! Only four days before, the council had warned all parents to have their babies baptized within eight days of birth or face banishment from the territory. What were the brethren going to do? They agreed to meet at the Manz house to decide.
Once inside, they shared their rumors and reports, and then they called on God to enable them to do his will. They arose from prayer to take one of the most decisive actions in Christian history.
George Blaurock, a former priest, stepped over to Conrad Brebel and asked him for baptism in the apostolic fashion — upon confession or personal faith in Jesus Christ. Grebel baptized him on the spot and Blaurock proceeded to baptized the others. Thus Anabaptism (literally, “rebaptizm“), another important expression of the Protestant Reformation was born.
Bruce Shelley, “Church History in Plain Language.” (Christianbook Affiliate)
Thus, they coined the phrase, “Halfway Christian” to describe anyone who had not affirmed Jesus Christ as their personal savior and been baptized showing themselves and the world that they are born again to a new life in Christ. The “Apostolic Fashion” is depicted clearly in the Book of Acts.
What in the world happened to the church? That always fascinated me ever since I started studying the Bible. How did we get from the church in the Book of Acts to what we have today? That’s the Great Apostasy. Moreover, the Apostle Paul called it!
What is the Great Apostasy?
Paul wrote about the “Last Days“…
Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 NLT
Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries, one of my go-to sources for Bible Prophecy, wrote an article in her latest newsletter, under the title “What Happened to My Church?”…
What was wrong with the old way of doing church?
Someone made a consious decision that we should have a “new way of doing church”, although many members and attendees agreed there was nothing wrong with old ways of doing church. Terms began being used like “purpose-driven,” “seeker-sensitive,” “church-growth movement,” “postmodernism,” “Emergent wokeness,” and more.
People started to hear about love, unity and tolerance. We must be known for what we agree on, not what we disagree on. Everything and everyone must be accepted. Aberrations must be accepted. People loved having their ears tickled. They would be encouraged to “feel good” and have their self-esteem built up. Sound doctrine was being set aside.
Jan Markell, Olive Tree Ministries
A study earlier this year by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that just 37% of Christian pastors in America have a biblical worldview. In other words 2/3 — a great majority — of “Christian” pastors — of ALL denominations — DO NOT have a biblical worldview! Even worse is that only HALF of “Evangelical” pastors have a biblical worldview! That’s why I refuse to call myself “evangelical”. I’m a born-again, biblical Christian believer. Check out my testimony at the bottom.
Beware of False Teachers!
Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and other New Testament writers warned us about the false teachers and prophets that would come along. Paul wrote…
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons (doctrines of demons). 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 NLT
Jesus told us…
15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Matthew 7:15-19 NLT
Who is a Halfway Christian?
A Halfway Christian…
- …Knows who Jesus is as part of the Holy Trinity. However, you don’t KNOW HIM in your HEART. You have “head knowledge” but no “heart knowledge”.
- …Knows who the Holy Spirit is and probably thinks they received Him at confirmation. Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit is not alive in you.
- …Can recite the Apostles’ Creed by heart. Yet, you have no idea of its significance.
- …Attends a church regularly thinking that they are OK. Sadly, sitting in a church doesn’t make you a Christian just like sitting in a bank doesn’t make you rich.
- …Rarely if ever reads the Bible, the inerrant Word of God. Thus, you are missing out on the Gospel Truth.
- …Thinks they are “Christian” because they are not Jewish, Muslim, or any other religion. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way! The Book of Acts tells us when and where the first followers of Jesus were first called Christians.
- …Thinks they are Christian because they were born into a family that was Catholic, Orthodox, or another denomination.
What Do the Gospels Say about “Knowing Jesus”?
Jesus told us…
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
Matthew 7: 21-22 NLT
He reiterated this in the Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids…
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Matthew 25:1-13 NLT
I’ll be doing a deeper study on this parable as it compares to an ancient Jewish wedding in a few weeks. Subscribe so you don’t miss out!
One of the saddest phrases in the Bible is Jesus saying to you, “Believe me, I don’t know you!” My question to you is…
Are you a Halfway Christian?
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
Glorious Day
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
The 5 Solas
- Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.
- Sola Fide (“Faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
- Sola Gratia (“Grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.
- Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Savior, Redeemer, Lord, and King
- Soli Deo Gloria (“to God alone be the Glory.”): It’s all about God, not us.
My Testimony…
- From Catholic to Prodigal: Surviving College
- From Prodigal to Progressive: Surviving Hurricanes
- From Progressive to Born Again Christian: Surviving Unemployment
