“Why don’t we just call ourselves ‘Christians’?”

Steve Brown:
Why don’t we just call ourselves ‘Christians’? The answer to that and other questions, on Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
This is Key Life dedicated to the message that the only people who get any better are those who know that if they don’t get any better, God will still love them anyway. That teaching raises a lot of questions. So, here’s author and seminary professor Steve Brown, along with Pete Alwinson from ForgeBibleStudy.com with answers to the Bible, that’ll make you free.

Steve Brown:
Hey Pete.

Pete Alwinson:
Hey man. I can’t wait to talk about that. That’s going to be an interesting discussion.

Steve Brown:
It really is. You know, you, well, we’ll save it. I’ve got all kinds of ideas and you do too. That’s why we’re sitting here.

Pete Alwinson:
That’s right. That’s right.

Steve Brown:
And half of them are wrong, we just don’t know which half. That’s Pete Alwinson, check out ForgeTruth.com especially if you’re a guy living in Central Florida, you really ought to be involved in this men’s movement. It is an amazing thing. And you’ll be glad that I told you about it. By the way, we love to hear your questions. You can call whenever you want to, 24 7, the number is 1-800-KEY-LIFE follow instructions, ask your question, and we often put your voice on the air. Or you can send your question to

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Pete Alwinson:
All right. All right. Well Father, it is so good to be able to stop just for a moment and come into your presence. At the end of this long week, lord, we come before you. We thank you for your grace and mercy. We recognize that you are high and holy and lifted up, and yet you are right near us in all of your fullness Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We thank you for your goodness, your kindness to us. Thank you that you’re a God of truth. Thank you that you never change, and we can rest and rely upon who you are. Thank you that you keep your promises. And Lord, we ask for your holiness in our life. Thank you that you are holy, holy, holy. And Lord Jesus, we thank you that your death, burial, and resurrection proves so much and accomplished so much for us. We give you praise and honor and glory. And we just really ask you to continue to allow us to understand your grace and allow that grace to set us free, freer and freer every day of our life. Even this week-end as we go to church. Lord, you know our needs, we need so many things, we need growth, we need help, we need maturity, we need to worship. So, be with our leaders as they prepare us for worship this week-end. And then draw us into your presence. May we bow, in our heads and our hearts, and sometimes with our knees into your presence and give you glory. Now, we ask you for your power as we deal with these questions, and we ask for your presence. In Jesus’ strong name we pray. Amen.

Steve Brown:
Amen. Pete, let’s go to our phone lines.

Caller 1:
Why do you and other people have to say they are reformed or Luthern or Baptist or Calvinist or etcetera, instead of just saying, I am a follower of Christ, a Christian.

Steve Brown:
Because we’re right and we want everybody to know that. So, if I say just I’m a Christian, I’m making myself like you. And I’m not, I’m ordained and I’m right.

Pete Alwinson:
Superior.

Steve Brown:
So, I say I’m superior.

Pete Alwinson:
Yeah.

Steve Brown:
And I, no, she makes a very good point.

Pete Alwinson:
Yeah, I know. I love it. I love it. Oh, why do we use titles do you think?

Steve Brown:
Well, I think titles are, can be descriptive. I mean, if you say, if we’re going to sit, we’ve just met and you say you’re reformed, and I say, I’m dispensational. And we’re theologically educated. I’ll know some things about you and you’ll know some things about me and we’ll go deeper in our conversation very quickly. But as this lady points out, that’s not usually what’s going on.

Pete Alwinson:
Yeah.

Steve Brown:
It’s usually either bragging or complaining or saying I’m better than you.

Pete Alwinson:
Hmm. Or it’s perceived as that way. You know, I was thinking about this in relationship to, if somebody brought up who I’m with, as a non-Christian, and they’re, they bring up a social issue and they say, what do you think about that? I could say, well, you know, I’m a Christian and I look at it for through the Biblical lens. And this is how I view that. That seems appropriate. And I don’t think it’s condescending.

Steve Brown:
I don’t either.

Pete Alwinson:
It’s just telling that’s my perspective. I do think there’s, the first reason for that kind of language among Christians is to cut through layers quicker.

Steve Brown:
Oh. And it really does.

Pete Alwinson:
It does. I think you’re right. And that’s what you said, but that, I think that’s the first reason. Now, there are some who hold their view as superior, like I’m charismatic and you’re not.

Steve Brown:
Yeah. Exactly.

Pete Alwinson:
Or whatever.

Steve Brown:
Yeah. Or I’m a Calvinist and you’re not.

Pete Alwinson:
Yeah. Right. So, what should we do, Steve? What do you think? What should we encourage people to do?

Steve Brown:
Well, I think probably take to heart what she just said. And recognize that everybody belongs to Jesus belongs to everybody who belongs to Jesus. And we are just followers. You know, the Apostle Paul dealt with this in I Corinthians, I think. When he said, some say that I’m Apollos and some say I’m of Paul and some say and we’re just cogs. And he really makes a good Biblical statement supporting what she said and what you and I are saying also. But I think if you’re going to get to know somebody, you need to know what is going on with them spiritually. And so, it’s perfectly appropriate to say that, I’m a Christian and that’s the most important thing, but I’m also a Presbyterian and that’s not so important. So, we can walk together.

Pete Alwinson:
Right. Right. So, you can say, well, I’m, you know, I’m a Christian and I go to a Methodist church. Oh, okay. I’m a Christian and I go to Faith Assembly. Okay. So how would you guys, how would you guys deal with this passage? And then it could launch a discussion, but it, I think her point is, let’s unify around Jesus and that’s the thing we ought to do, rather than divide.

Steve Brown:
That’s true. It shouldn’t be divisive or a matter of pride or arrogance.

Pete Alwinson:
Yeah. There you go.

Steve Brown:
Even though I am right.

Pete Alwinson:
Yeah. Well more, you know, 99.1%.

Steve Brown:
Yeah. Right. As a Christian, are there, this is an e-mail, are there any guarantees or at least some hope in the Bible, that my family members will become Christians.

Pete Alwinson:
Mm-hmm. Well, you know, kids are, we consider our children as covenant children.

Steve Brown:
Yeah.

Pete Alwinson:
And so, I think there is that.

Steve Brown:
And I think God works in families.

Pete Alwinson:
I think so too, clearly.

Steve Brown:
He works in covenants. And those covenants are, they’re a number of them in Scripture, but one of the most important is a family covenant. And I have a friend who teaches kids and he said, I can tell the difference between the covenant children and the ones that aren’t covenant children.

Pete Alwinson:
Interesting.

Steve Brown:
And it doesn’t have to do with what they know. He says there’s something about a covenant child, that means that God’s hand is on him. And so, yeah, there is that hope, there’s no guarantee.

Pete Alwinson:
That’s right. And then when you think of extended members of the family, well you are that blessing to them, that fragrant aroma of the gospel. And so yes, I think as you get together for family gatherings, as you answer questions, as they see the changes in your life, as you present Christ to them. I do think there is a hope that we ought to have as Christians, that God will use us to influence the most

Steve Brown:
I agree.

Pete Alwinson:
important people in our lives.

Steve Brown:
And you know, sometimes, you know, people will question, will ask me a question, my father died, I don’t think he knew Jesus. And I said, have you ever told him about Jesus? And he’d say a thousand times. And I would say, you might be surprised. We make a big deal out of coming to Jesus. You’ve got to do this and this and this and this and then you’re saved. But that’s not Biblical. Sometimes it’s just saying help. And when you’re dying, it’s easy to say help. And if you’re in a Christian family, you know who to ask help from. And that would be Jesus. And that’s enough.

Pete Alwinson:
That’s right. Oh, that’s awesome. That’s so good. And, you know, for some of us, when we have mothers or fathers that are dying that have never really been clear in a profession of faith. Taking that deathbed time, as I think of my friend Creston who did that with his father and he shared the gospel with him boldly, lovingly as and we don’t know the outcome, but

Steve Brown:
That’s true.

Pete Alwinson:
But we step out in faith on that.

Steve Brown:
And I think a lot more people are going to be saved than we think.

Pete Alwinson:
I totally agree.

Steve Brown:
And maybe because of this family covenant. And the hope that God gives us about family.

Pete Alwinson:
That’s right.

Steve Brown:
Quick question, what happens, this is an e-mail too, what happens to the Christian at death?

Pete Alwinson:
Well.

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Steve Brown:
That’s good. This has got to be a short answer cause we don’t have a lot of time.

Pete Alwinson:
We don’t have a lot of time. And then maybe it’s all the whole kitten caboodle comes together and you get your resurrection body and then maybe not, depending on how you view time in God’s

Steve Brown:
Do you see a white light and you enter a tunnel?

Pete Alwinson:
It’s usually when I’ve been running, jogging in a train tunnel, that’s when I see that white light. I I’ve got to be careful.

Steve Brown:
You know, one of the things that you and I, over a lot of years combined as pastors, we’ve stood by a lot of deathbeds over that time. And there are things that happen that are just not explainable, except in terms of the supernatural.

Pete Alwinson:
That’s right. That’s right.

Steve Brown:
My mother opened her eyes, reached up, and I’m convinced she saw angels. So, maybe that happens, but whatever happens, God is in charge of that and you can trust him. And he said, believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house, there are a lot of places. And I’m going there and prepare one for you. And when I come, I’ll bring you to myself and we’ll get down and party. Well, he didn’t say it exactly that way, but that’s what he meant.

Pete Alwinson:
Close, rough translation. That’s awesome. That is great.

Steve Brown:
Get down and party, it’s called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And it’s going to make any restaurant you’ve ever gone to seem pedestrian.

Pete Alwinson:
It’s going to be great. It’s going to be great. Oh man.

Steve Brown:
Guys, we’re out of here. Thanks for spending this time with us. We laugh a lot, but we take this stuff and you very seriously. Before we go, Key Life is a listener supported production of Key Life Network.