Four Different Kinds of 'Christian'

I believe that those who self-identify as Christian can be placed into four different groups. These groups are general: many different kinds of believers can be found in them. Two of these groups believe that Christianity is a kind of universal unattached to history. The other two groups believe that Christianity is a particular that is uniquely historical. These four groups could be called the mystical, moral, cultural and messianic.

Mystical Christians believe that the real essence of what it means to be Christian is found in some kind of mystical union with the divine (God). This mystical union cannot be expressed in words. There is no human language, whether natural or artificial, capable of truthfully conveying what occurs in this mystical union. This view has one essential characteristic. It locates the center of Christianity in a mystical, non-discursive experience.

Moral Christians believe that the real essence of what it means to be a Christian is found in a right moral behavior and thought. This kind of Christian could believe that this moral behavior is found most completely in Christianity, equally in all religions, or just better than most in Christianity. This moral behavior is able to be copied by all, or perhaps only those who are properly enlightened. The only essential characteristic of this view is that the center of Christianity is right morality: both in thought and behavior.

Cultural Christians believe that the real essence of what it means to be a Christian is found in a particular accident of history unique to that individual that associates him with certain beliefs of the time. These need only be moral, mystical or historical beliefs that people of that circumstance associate with Christianity. These circumstances could be racial, political, national or familial. They could be the belief of one's parents, the church one attends, or the moral opinions one espouses. These Christians rarely reflect on their beliefs about the nature of Christianity. When they do, they often think of themselves as being Christians in a lesser sense. The one essential characteristic of this view is that Christianity is an element of culture just like any other cultural element.

Messianic Christians believe that the real essence of what it means to be a Christian is found in the particular history of Jesus of Nazareth understood as the Lord. These Christians disagree with each other over many things, are from many denominations, and include both liberals and conservatives. The one essential characteristic of this view is that the belief that Jesus (of history) is Lord is essential and central to being Christian.

I have been unable to think of a particular view that cannot be subsumed under one of these four. If these are all of the views, then it is only fair to say that I am a Messianic Christian. I should mention a few things though. None of these views entail pluralism, nor do any deny it. It is also possible to believe elements of more than one view. However, it is not possible to believe more than one view.