Nominal Christianity refers to people who identify as Christian but do not actively practice or live out the teachings of Christianity. A nominal Christian may have been baptized, attend church on holidays, and identify with Christian values, but does not have a strong or active faith. There are several characteristics that often define nominal Christians:
Cultural or Social Christians
Many people consider themselves Christians because they were raised in a Christian family or live in a predominantly Christian culture or society. They may have a basic belief in God and Christian principles, celebrate Christian holidays, and identify with Christian morals. However, faith does not significantly impact their day-to-day lives or decisions. For them, Christianity is more of a cultural label or social identity rather than a deep spiritual commitment.
Churched but Not Committed
Some nominal Christians may attend church services fairly regularly out of habit, family obligation, or social expectation. However, they are not actively engaged in the church community. Their attendance is more about maintaining appearances than spiritual growth. They do not participate in Bible studies, small groups, or church ministries. For these nominal Christians, church attendance is more about tradition than transformation.
Belief without Action
Many nominal Christians profess a basic belief in God and the teachings of Jesus. However, they do not make efforts to cultivate their faith or apply Christian teachings to their lifestyle. Their belief does not compel them to attend church regularly, read the Bible, pray, serve others, or make faith a priority in their lives. For them, faith is intellectual acknowledgment rather than life application.
Selective Beliefs
Some nominal Christians pick and choose beliefs according to their own preferences rather than biblical authority. They accept certain Christian teachings that align with their own opinions but disregard teachings that make them uncomfortable. Rather than surrendering their lives to God’s Word, they shape their version of “Christianity” around their personal values.
Belief in Works, Not Grace
Nominal Christians often have a works-based understanding of salvation. They believe entrance to heaven is earned through attending church, being a good person, baptism as a child, or other rituals or practices. They do not understand salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ. As a result, they do not have a relationship with Christ or personal commitment to Him.
Lack Spiritual Fruit
According to Galatians 5:22-23, the Holy Spirit produces fruit in the lives of believers such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Nominal Christians often lack spiritual fruit because they do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Their lives do not exhibit a transformed character reflecting Christ’s love and grace.
No Spiritual Disciplines
Active, committed Christians engage in spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, Scripture memory, evangelism, fasting, worship, service, etc. These practices nourish faith and build intimacy with God. In contrast, nominal Christians do not devote time or energy to spiritual disciplines. They do not cultivate habits and practices to grow their faith.
Limited Understanding of the Gospel
Nominal Christians often have a vague, limited understanding of the gospel. They know Jesus died for sin, but do not grasp the depth of humanity’s separation from God or God’s grace in providing salvation. Many cannot fully articulate the message of salvation through faith in Christ alone. They have not grasped the gospel message enough to share it with others.
Focus on Outward Appearance
Within churches, nominal Christians are often concerned with maintaining an outward appearance of righteousness and faithfulness rather than pursuing inward transformation of the heart. They want to be perceived as devout Christians without doing the hard work of dying to self, resisting sinful desires, and allowing God to shape their character, thoughts, and actions. For them, the Christian life is about perception, not reality.
Lives Don’t Reflect Christ
Perhaps the clearest sign of a nominal Christian is that their daily lives do not reflect the character, teachings, and priorities of Jesus Christ. They compartmentalize their faith, keeping it separate from most aspects of life. Outside of church, they often make decisions and behave in ways contradictory to following Christ. Instead of serving God, nominal Christians live primarily to please self.
Not Born Again
Jesus taught that in order to enter the kingdom of God, one must be born again spiritually (John 3:3). This happens when a person places their faith in Christ for salvation. Nominal Christians have often not experienced this life-changing spiritual rebirth. They may think they are “Christian” because of family background, church attendance, or good behavior, but lack a personal relationship with Jesus.
No Fruit of Repentance
Repentance is more than remorse or apology – it means a complete change of heart and mind toward God that results in a change of behavior. Nominal Christians may admit sins and shortcomings, but do not demonstrate the spiritual fruit of repentance (Luke 3:8). There is no evident turning from sin and turning to God.
Prone to Hypocrisy
Since nominal Christians often maintain a façade of righteousness without inner transformation, they are prone to hypocrisy. Their profession of faith does not match their core values, belief system, or lifestyle choices. They claim belief in Christ, but act contrary to His character and commandments.
Self-Deception
Tragically, many nominal Christians deceive themselves into thinking they are genuine believers. They point to a prayer they said as a child at VBS, baptism, family history, and other external factors as evidence of salvation. However, the Bible warns about self-deception leading to a false sense of eternal security (Matthew 7:21-23; James 1:22).
Cares More About Earthly Things
Nominal Christians tend to care more about earthly, temporal things than spiritual, eternal things. Their priorities reflect the values of the world rather than the values of God’s kingdom. They exert more effort pursuing wealth, success, popularity, comfort, and human relationships than pursuing God and things which have eternal significance.
No Desire for God
Those who belong to God have a soul thirst for Him that longs to know Him more. Nominal Christians do not cultivate this kind of hunger and thirst for God’s presence. They may want the benefits of faith, but do not desire a relationship with God Himself. Their hearts are closed off to God rather than longing to draw near to Him.
No Spiritual Warfare
Scripture teaches that there is an ongoing spiritual battle between God’s kingdom and the forces of darkness. Nominal Christians remain largely ignorant of or indifferent to this spiritual warfare. They do not recognize attacks from the enemy, do not put on the full armor of God, and do not engage in fighting sin and spiritual battles through prayer, Scripture, and faith.
Religious Knowledge, Not Relationship
Above all, nominal Christians lack a genuine, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. They know about God and Christian teaching, but do not commune with God’s Spirit. They view God as a distant concept rather than knowing and experiencing Him personally in their daily lives. They maintain a form of religion without actually knowing the relational God of the Bible.
In summary, nominal Christians have some outward association with Christianity, but lack authentic, saving faith. They need to examine if they have truly been born again by God’s Spirit and surrendered their lives completely to the lordship of Jesus Christ. The Bible calls such people to repent, place their full trust in Christ, and demonstrate genuine faith through obedience flowing from a love for God.