How do you recognize when someone is a Christian “in name only”?

Sometimes known as “nominal Christians,” these are people who identify as Christians due to their family tradition, societal norms, cultural affiliation, or religious activity. However, they do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus referred to people in this category in His “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 7:22-23:

On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’”And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”

Notice how they assumed they had a relationship with Christ because of their works, yet Jesus tells them, “I never knew you.” What a chilling indictment! They knew who Jesus was and even attempted to serve Him, but they had no personal relationship with Him.

Our job as believers is to bring the gospel to the entire world, including those who believe they already know Jesus but do not.

However, we need to proceed with caution. We do not want to come across as questioning someone’s salvation in a Pharisaical way. Also, external behaviors do not always tell the internal story. If someone judged King David by his actions in 2 Samuel 11 (adultery, deception, murder), they might assume he did not know the Lord. However, even during this time, He was a child of God and was later disciplined by the Lord. 

Here are five ways to recognize that someone MIGHT be a nominal Christian.

(Note how I emphasized the word, “might.” Only God knows for sure.)

1. They refer to God in generic terms.

They may refer to God as “the man upstairs,” “someone up above,” or “someone out there.” Another indicator is they use phrases like “I believe God exists” and leave it at that. The lack of personal language may indicate the absence of a personal relationship.

2. They exhibit no evidence of transformation or fruit.

The goal of a relationship with Christ is not only a change of mind and heart but also a change of life. If there is no sign of personal transformation over an extended period, there might not be a personal relationship.

3. They live in sin and don’t care.

One of the Holy Spirit’s roles in a believer’s life is to convict them when they sin. If a person lives in habitual sin and shows no remorse, it may indicate an absence of the Spirit’s presence in their life.

4. They believe that other religions lead to God.

Someone who sees their faith as one option among many may not understand the magnitude of sin, the holiness of God, and the need for Christ’s sacrifice. It may also mean they have never understood the gospel.

5. They refer more to what they have done rather than what Christ has done.

I always hesitate when someone refers to their conversion exclusively by saying, “I’ve prayed the prayer,” “walked the aisle,” or “was baptized.” The alarm bells really go off when they say, “I’ve tried to live a good life.” We are not saved by prayer, altar call, baptism, or living a good life. True faith is not based on what we have done but on trusting Christ alone and what He has done by dying for our sins and rising from the dead.

6. The closer you get to the issue of their own relationship with God, the more defensive they become.

Defensiveness could mean that someone is not comfortable talking about their faith. However, it could also mean they have no faith.

Again, these are not definitive indicators that a person is not a Christian but signs they may not be.

It is important to approach this topic with humility. We are not called to be fruit inspectors, but we are called to be gospel sharers. Ask the Lord to help you navigate the conversation with grace, discernment, and truth. (Also check out Larry’s article about “How to Share Christ with Nominal Christians” here.)