Dawkins & Most people aren't Christians

Mr Dawkins and his friends have done some "research" (which the BBC reports). No doubt it was totally unbiased and not influenced by any kind of agenda.

Most people in the UK claim to be Christians, but the militant atheists have found that these people admit that they don't go to church, read the Bible or pray at home as often as they might. This is no doubt true and is hardly news.

It would be great if people prayed more and read the Bible more and came to church. I can send you some helpful pointers on prayer, a free Bible or some suggestions of at least 2 or 3 good churches if you like.

But these things do not prove that someone is not a Christian. They may show that he should be a better Christian, and perhaps he would be if he did those things more.

A Christian is someone who (in their right mind and better moments just about) trusts in Christ as Saviour and seeks to like with him as Lord.

Mr Dawkins shows his characteristic arrogance and presumption. He cannot make windows in to men's souls and he should not try. How can he say whether someone is a Christian believer or not? Someone claims to believe and Dawkins says that person does not. Who are we going to believe?

One interesting aspect of the research as it was reported on the Today programme is that apparently many people think of themselves as Christians because they have been baptised. Now, being baptised does not make you a believer: it is not a magical automatic garauntee of salvation. The baptised must persevere in the faith in to which they are baptised. But there is a sense in which being baptised makes you a "Christian". The term "Christian" was orginally used by pagans of "Christians". It was a phenominological term used to describe the Christian community from the outside. Now, going to church on the Lord's Day to renew covenant with him is a very important part of that. But it is indeed baptism that defines the Christian church. Someone is visibly, publically, formally, officially a member of the visible, historical church here on earth after their baptism and before their excommunication. All the baptised bare Christ's name and have covenant obligations to live for him.

The church needs to recall all Christians to live in the light of their baptism.