And yet, and yet…

I was online today (as one does when in a Texas ice day and the boy is having him some Cocomelon on TV), and ran across the phrase “Deeper Christian.” It caused me to pause.

This idea the cause for a lot of our problems in Christianity. I think we need to ditch it.

I know that’s a big statement, but hear me out. What do we mean when we use the term “Deeper Christian”? Certainly there will be connotations of being people who take their faith seriously, who read the Bible for understanding, seeking to obey what the Bible directs, loving and serving other people well, and sharing the gospel. All of these things are very good and admirable.

No, my problem comes with the less-readily understood connotation: that some people are better Christians than others. Friends, this understanding of grace and the gospel is a ludicrous disparagement of the overwhelming grace of Christ. It shows a willing lack of understanding of how grace works. On a more insidious and sinister level, it opens a wide door for the sewage of religious pride to flood into a believer’s life. The idea of being a “deeper” Christian has been used by opportunists and cults since the time of the New Testament. Consider Galatians 1:6-11 (ESV):

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

¹¹ For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.

OK, so why do I have such an issue with the idea of the “deeper Christian”? Isn’t it a good thing to pursue a healthy walk with Christ? Shouldn’t I want to be a better person?

The main reason that I object to the idea is that it pushes the gospel of works (Paul’s “man’s gospel”) and fails to recognize that there is not a gradation of belonging in the Kingdom of God. Either a person is a follower of Christ, a Christian, or he is not. There is no gradation, no purgatory, no step level of rankings to earn the pleasure of the Lord. That kind of idea is human pride, and not the recognition that all have sinned and thus have fallen short of the glory of God. And I’ve watched as the idea has been taken by people who manipulate others who just want to be loved by Christ. It’s reflective of what Christ condemned the Pharisees for in Matthew 23:15, ^” Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

I like the way that Kierkegaard puts it: “Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing.” Our growth in Christ isn’t achievement of anything but desiring relationship with Christ and conforming to his image and will. Paul gives us the picture of what it means to be a “deep Christian” in Philippians 3:8-11,

⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

So friends, if you struggle with the pain and shame that you might not be a “deep Christian” or a “good Christian,” take heart. There’s no such thing. There are only those who are “in Christ” and those who are not. And praise the Lord, we’re adopted into a family that doesn’t discriminate.

I’ll close with an illustration: I have had the privilege of going snorkeling multiple times in the ocean. It’s so cool to me to see the world under the water full of life and depth. But there have been times when I’ve swum at the top and seen the seafloor from 30 feet up. It’s crazy to me to think that I’m floating so high up from the ground.

But here’s what’s so cool about it: even though I’m not very deep under the surface, I still get to experience the depth of the waters. And what’s more, I get to appreciate the depths that I can’t go to. When it comes to seeing the ocean floor, you’re either in the water or your not. In Jesus, you’re either in him or your not. And there are wonders that we are privileged to experience and discover in him. What a privilege that we are given access to this ocean of grace, which is deeper, wider, and more wonderful than we could ever imagine.

Let’s ditch the rankings and jump in.

Signs and wonders, y’all.

³⁰ For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. ³² For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Romans 11:30-33