After my article last week, urging Christians to not seek validation from the world and instead seek it from the derivative of our namesake, Christ Himself, I mentioned that it was merely the first installment regarding that topic.

So this article will serve as a continuation of the thoughts that I began to address in last week's article.

Let me begin by saying: Atheists, I am not just talking to you here. I'm also talking to the plethora of Christians whom I have seen subserviently bending the parameters of their faith to garner the approval of individuals who, frankly, equate our Lord and Savior with the likes of Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Which is precisely where this proverbial thorn in my side has begun to fester.

Every single time I peruse the comment thread of a social media post regarding Christianity I have always been able to find two types of people commenting therein: (1) an Atheist who condemns one of the several-thousand-year-old aspects of the Christian faith and (2) a progressive-minded Christian who equally condemns the very same aspect.

My question, for the people who identify as the latter is this: if you, someone who is self-described as following the commandments of Christ, share the same views of your own faith as someone who rejects your faith entirely, then what is separating you from them?

My point here is that if an atheist and a Christian hold the same opinion on an aspect of Christianity, then that Christian is beginning to tread into some very dangerous territory. It is abnormal for someone to view God in the same light as someone that doesn't believe He even exists.

I believe this phenomenon is an offshoot of the broader phenomenon that I brought up last week--Christians that are seeking validation from the world, rather than from Christ.

In these back-and-forth conversations between the Atheist and the Christian who holds their same view, the Atheist will always conclude by saying something along the lines of, "Thank you for being a TRUE Christian!"

So, let me ask this of Atheists: If you don't believe Christ exists, and subsequently believe that our faith is nothing more than desperate people clinging to a fairy tale, how would you have any idea of what being a TRUE Christian is?

The truth is that there is no possible way that you could. In fact, it would be like someone making the "No True Scotsman" argument while simultaneously believing that Scotland doesn't exist.

Which is why, as abrasive as the title for this article may sound, I really don't care whether or not you think that I am being a TRUE Christian. The only person that matters in thinking that about me is Jesus Christ.

Which should be recognized by anyone else who willingly calls themself one of His followers.