The Almost Christian Discovered by Matthew Mead
“The heart of man is the greatest imposter and cheat in the world”
It was 5:57am and I heard a knock at the door.
Normally, this would be alarming. However, on this day of the week, it was expected. There standing in the winter Indiana cold was a high school student and his brother. Then three minutes later another knock. Several more high school students carpooling together. Although I like to think I make competitive coffee and mean flapjacks, these students weren’t at the house for a caffeine and sugar high.
They were there bright and early on a school day to study the Puritans.
It is book 50 of 52 in the Tim Challies 2020 reading challenge, and for this book, I chose Matthew Mead's The Almost Christian Discovered.
Originally published in 1661, Matthew Mead was a 17th century English Puritan who preached at the ward of Stepney in London.
In this treatise, Matthew is identifying and arguing for the “Almost Christian”, those who might seem so real, so authentic, so convincing, and yet have never been truly saved. Soteriology, the study of salvation, is a hotly debated concept within our modern moral therapeutic deism Christian culture.
How do I know if I am saved?
For many churches, the answer is simply to pray a prayer and start coming to church, and bam, you are saved. For others, it involves catechism and years of observation before anyone would dare pronounce confidence in salvation. Still, others think there can never be assurance, and all one can do is their best and trust in the grace of God.
Matthew begins his book by first ensuring everyone is clear on the definition of what a Christian even is before discussing how someone becomes one. This is critical and probably a major contributor to the disagreement and confusion in the church over soteriology.
Here is what Matthew states:
“A Christian. I hope I need not tell you what a Christian is, though I am persuaded there are many who are called Christians who do not know what a Christian is; or, if they do, yet they do not know what it is to be a Christian.”
I believe that statement is as true in 2021 as it was in 1661.
“A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ, one who believes in and follows Christ.”
Matthew walks his readers through several passages defending his simple definition that has profound meaning.
I have never met a Christian that would say that someone shouldn’t become a disciple, but I have met plenty of Christians who believe these two things, Christian and disciple, as somehow different.
The problem with that position is that it divorces the clear statements Jesus has made concerning those who truly believe and what they will do as a result of their belief (Luke 14:25-33, John 8:31, John 13:34-35, and John 15:8). And as a result, only supports Matthew’s doctrine position.
“There are very many in the world that are almost and, yet, but almost Christians.”
Matthew is quick to ensure weak Christians, but genuine Christians, are not discouraged by this message. But rather, he aims to call those who are not initially disturbed, for it is those who may very well be the almost Christian. What follows are several of his remarks considering natural objections and questions his audience would have to his position.
On Spirituality
“A man may preach like an apostle, pray like an angel, and yet may have the heart of a devil. It is grace only that can change the heart.”
On Confession of Sin
“No man was ever kept out of heaven for his confessed badness, though many are kept out of heaven for their supposed goodness.”
On the Reason for Mistaken Salvation
“A proud man has an eye to see his beauty but not his deformity; his parts but not his spots; his seeming righteousness but not his real wretchedness.”
On Salvation and Sanctification
“Salvation is not as easy a thing as it is imagined to be.”
On Christ’s Work in Salvation
“As a Priest, He redeems us. As a Prophet, He instructs us. As a King, He sanctifies and saves us.”
Perhaps, the Puritans and Matthew’s position angers you. Perhaps, you think this is an unloving or cruel form of Christianity. If you do disagree, I would challenge you with a simple question. Why?
I offer these quotes as a spiritual stimulus, hoping that they insight a passion in you to root yourself firmly in the word of God.
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John Owen came from Welsh descent, was educated at Queens College, and became a renowned Puritan theologian, Oxford professor, and passionate pastor who lived from 1616 to 1683. In 1647, he wrote the exhaustive treatise The Death of Death defending Limited or Definite Atonement against the Arminian view of Universal Atonement or Unlimited Atonement.