User:StAnselm/Nominal Christian

The term nominal Christian is used to describe someone who is a Christian in name only. It usually refers to those who indicate on census forms that their religion is Christianity but do not actively practise their religion. The phrase is also used in a pejorative sense by evangelical Christians of those who attend church but have not had a born again experience.

The phenomenon is known as nominal Christianity, nominality or nominalism.

Nominalism
The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization define a "nominal Christian" as one who "is a person who has not responded in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and Lord." The LCWE notes that such a one "may be a practising or non-practising church member. He may give intellectual assent to basic Christian doctrines and claim to be a Christian. He may be faithful in attending liturgical rites and worship services, and be an active member involved in church affairs." The LCWE also suggests that nominal Christianity "is to be found wherever the church is more than one generation old."

Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk suggest that "nominalism" is a major issue. They assert that "many traditionally Christian populations know nothing of a personal faith, true repentance and a trust in the finished work of Christ for their salvation," and estimate that 1.2 billion people are "nominal and non-practising 'Christians'."

The concept of nominal Christianity was important in the thought of John Wesley, who contrasted it with "Real Christianity". Douglas Strong writes that Wesley often talked about "real Christianity" as a way of designating "vital regenerative faith in contrast to nominal or formalistic religion." Strong goes on to argue that Wesley taught that real Christians "had a conscious assurance of divine acceptance." Randy Maddox argues, however, that in the 1740s, Wesley dropped the motif of real Christianity and the distinction between a real and a nominal Christian.

Some theologians disagree with the category of "nominal Christian". Douglas Wilson argues that all who are baptized enter into a covenant with God, and are obliged to serve him. There is, therefore, "no such thing as a merely nominal Christian any more than we can find a man who is a nominal husband." There are, however, "wicked and faithless Christians."