There Are Two Types of Christians

Christianity is a vast and complex community based on a belief system translated into innumerable ways. There are countless denominations, which can be broken down into thousands of different churches, which splinter off into an endless variety of theologies, doctrines, styles, and traditions—dispersed within various social, economic, and cultural environments.

The term ‘Christianity’ means a million different things to a million different people, and it’s hard to define exactly what type of Christian an individual, community, or institution may be. But after much observation, experience, and interaction, I’ve determined that there are just two types of Christians: the hopeful and the fearful.

The term ‘Hopeful’ or ‘Fearful’ can describe almost every single action, message, attitude, and belief that a Christian presents and experiences.

For some, the gospel message of Jesus is one of hope: restoration, redemption, and reconciliation. For others, it’s a story of fear: judgment, shame, and guilt.

Jesus is either a loving Savior, who sacrificed Himself for our sake, and wants people to go to Heaven…

Or…He’s a ruthless Authority who punishes sinners by having them eternally suffer in a fiery hell.

The future is either filled with God redeeming humanity and creation, and rescuing us from destruction, bringing back His creation back into a perfect existence with Him…

Or…the future consists of an apocalyptic wasteland filled with violence, death, and destruction.

The past either reflected a sovereign and caring God who wanted His loved ones to come back into a deep relationship—where God routinely intervenes to help guide, save, and help His creation…

Or…it’s a tragic story of how Satan overcame God, ruled the world, and everyone eventually became evil.

Today, we are either a hopeful generation of believers who are doing the best we can to emulate Christ’s life by sacrificially loving the world…

Or…we’re a hopeless generation addicted to sex, drugs, money, fame, and sin in general—humanity has never been more depraved.

Sermons are either inspiring, encouraging, and loving, communicating a mighty God of grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and love…

Or…the sermons are accusatory, hateful, and bigoted, revealing a God who wants to destroy, kill, and condemn.

Spiritual leaders are either forgiving, patient, accepting, kind, humble, and loving, reflecting the life of Christ…

Or…they’re mean, judgmental, accusatory, vengeful, bitter, and angry.

The two themes even permeate our motivations for evangelizing. We excitedly spread the gospel because want people to experience the joy of being in a loving relationship with God…

Or…we frantically scream the gospel at whomever we come across because we want to save them from dying in Hell.

The message of Christianity is hopeful or fearful, loving or hateful, inspiring or depressing. Which message are you living?

Are we fueled by an undying hope, a blessed assurance, a loving God…

Or are we driven by fear, hate, and anxiety?

As believers, we can switch from being hopeful to fearful on a monthly, daily, and even hourly basis. We can get down, scared, lethargic, and mean. We fail because we’re human.

But our life is conveying a message. What is the sum total of our actions, beliefs, attitudes? What are we really conveying? Is it hope or fear?