nominal

The word nominal is interesting to me in that I only remember it being used in one context. I’m not saying that it has no other applications; I just don’t remember any other common ones. Among other definitions, this word has the meaning: being such in name only, or: so-called, or: putative. Breaking down so-called, it means: called or designated thus or incorrectly called or styled thus. Putative is: commonly regarded as such; reputed.

For most of my adult life I have heard this descriptive adjective used in reference to Christians. Very zealous exhorters would spit out the phrase, ‘nominal Christian’; much like one would forcefully and pneumatically expel a bug that had accidentally entered their oral cavity. It was an either ‘us’ or ‘them’ situation, with the ‘them’ being the ‘nominals’. But I wonder how many of the ‘us-es’ are really ‘thems’ in disguise?

But to determine the real from the pretenders, one would have to determine what a real Christian should be and what actions would come from the life of this forgiven one. The book of definitions gives several of these concerning a Christian, but the one I like best is: a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ. Or as a short verse in Matthew says: “Therefore by their fruits you will know them”.

So what are these fruits? These have been expounded upon many times but in one message of long ago, every category of Christian fruit was covered. These are: 1) Character – who and what you are. 2) Conduct – how you act. 3) Contributions – what you give (money, time, love, etc.). 4) Communications – what you say. 5) Converts – Actively striving daily to win someone to Jesus. Is the fruit of your life what Jesus desires?

When it comes down to pronouns in conjunction with being a Christian, it is not an ‘us’ or ‘them’ situation but it’s whether or not we are His. ec