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“Christianish”

“Christianish”

Last updated on: July 27, 2024 at 10:46 am by Roger E. Olson

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“Christianish” 2024-07-27T10:46:10-05:00 Roger E. Olson

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“Christianish”

Repeatedly I have been challenged when I have dared to say that I don’t think a church or minister or teacher is truly, authentically Christian. And my challengers are sometimes right. The decision is not always a “black or white” one. So I have coined a new word—“Christianish.” What does it mean?

It means, to me, neither fully, authentically Christian (orthodox) nor neither fully, authentically non-Christian. It’s what academics call a “liminal” category.

Of course, you will want examples. I stand between some of my evangelical Christian friends and acquaintances who have dared to say that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christian and those who say it isn’t and can’t be. I will dare to call it Christianish.

But, wait! Don’t jump at me yet. I would dare to say that many contemporary Christians who attend evangelical churches are only Christianish, insofar as they do not care about orthodox doctrine, biblical ethics, or the dangers of placing America (or anything else that is not God) alongside God or mixing them together.

I have no doubt that many Latter-day Saints will return the favor and call me Christianish. Okay, I accept that. Can we keep talking? I hope so.

What then is a church that claims to be Christian but is not even truly, authentically Christian? Not even Christianish?

Not far from where I sit is a church that calls itself a church of spiritualism. Christian Spiritualist Church. They believe in communicating with the dead via seances. The minister claims to be a medium. They believe that the Mount of Transfiguration event was a seance conducted by Jesus. They believe what was special about Jesus Christ was that he was the perfect medium.

IMHO, that church is not a Christian church in spite of its claim to be Christian. I would say the same about some other churches that bear the name “Christian.” But I would say the same about truly liberal churches that deny the empty tomb of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (even as they still say he rose from the dead) and deny that Jesus Christ was ontologically both God and man.

However! I am open to populating the category “Christianish” more fully. Years ago, before engaging in formal and informal dialogues with Latter-day Saints I would not have called any of them or their church even Christianish.

What churches would you call Christianish and why? Don’t name; just describe. Keep it brief. Avoid insults or slander. Keep it academic, civil, respectful even in disagreement.

*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*

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