No one is "just Christian"

06/17/2025 • View profile

Before we get started, please read my previous article article here, it makes a direct challenge on Christian views of the New Testament and of Jesus, and is way too important not to read; Y'all, Jesus is Lord, and if you want to help me out, go head, Help with medical bills, and and please check out my latest on Locals, Israel prevents World War III, how IRAN started the war, and how Iran's lose helps Ukraine

There is no such thing as “Just Christian”. I know that, here in the southern United States, a lot of people don't what to identify with denominational labels. Okay, I totally understand. But, many of the same people accept things like the five solas, which places them firmly in Protestantism.
That since, since Protestantism is not a monolith, you might have someone who holds to prima scriptura instead of sola scriptura. Some denominations might also take issue with “faith alone”.
So, I'd say that the majority of people that say they're “just Christian”, fall into the broader Protestant category.
Oddly enough, most of these people seem to hold Baptist theology, at least where I live.
I don't know why they don't just call themselves “Baptists”, but whatever. I mean, they're called Baptists because of their unique views on baptism (yes, mot Christians practice infant baptism, the ones that don't are the odd ones out), and while I can't rule out none of these groups don't practice infant baptism, most certainly do not (for more on baptism, An overlooked passage on baptismal regeneration and infant baptism, Baptism on the brain, Something the Bible doesn't teach, certainly not what I put for the URL on that one).
So, what church do these people go to? Assuming they do, usually something with the word “assembly” or “fellowship”. So, in many cases, they don't even call their churches, well, churches.
There's also another thing I've noticed, some people of these people that do attend church services of established denominations, won't refer to themselves as members of that denomination.
For instance, I had an old, well, for lack of a better word, friend, refer to herself as going to a Baptist church, but, wouldn't readily identify herself as Baptist.
I mean, if that's you're theology, I don't see what the big deal is.
Also, I should note, that the Bible doesn't use the term “just Christian”, in fact, it hardly uses the word “Christian”, “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians”. (There's more there, and I encourage you to read it, but, that's the very first time it's recorded in the Bible).
And not much else, though, we do get this exchange;
“And Agrippa said to Paul, “in a short time you think to make me a Christian”! (Acts 26:28).
Although Paul does mention wanting everyone to be a Christian (v. 29), you'll note that none of those verses actually say what a Christian is.
In fact, in the early days of the Church, “The Way”, was more common.
“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1-2)
“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aqui'la heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26)
“And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the the Kingdom of God; but when some were stubborn and disbelieved, speaking evil of The Way, before the congregation, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the halls of Tyran'nus”. (Acts 19:8-9).
Now, do NOT misunderstand me. I am NOT saying these people are not Christian (the truth is, that The Bible doesn't really go in depth about what a “Christian” is).
But, what do you believe about the Lord's Supper? That it's completely symbolic? Well, you're a Zwinglian. That it's both the body and blood of Christ, but also bread and wine? Well, you're a Lutheran? That the appearance of bread and wine remain, but that it ceases being bread and wine? You're probably Catholic or Orthodox, though, there are a few other things you can be.
Do you believe that baptism doesn't do anything, and it's solely a profession of public faith? I'd say you're a Baptist.
But, my broader point is this, while all these groups are Christian, no one is “just Christian”.