Podcast Summary: Are You A ____ Christian?

Jack Hibbs Podcast | Host: Jack Hibbs
Release Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack Hibbs challenges listeners to examine the modern phenomenon of the "hyphenated Christian"—that is, identifying oneself as a Christian with an added political, doctrinal, or social label (e.g., "progressive-Christian," "gay-Christian," "conservative-Christian"). Hibbs argues that such labels divide the body of Christ and are antithetical to the Bible's vision of unity among believers. Drawing from Scripture and historical examples, he urges Christians to shed all “hyphens” and find their sole identity in Jesus Christ, emphasizing the new creation found in Him.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Problem of Hyphenated Christianity

• Jack introduces the episode by asking:

  "Is your life described by a hyphen?... We live in a hyphenated culture. People seem to be absolutely obsessed with the hyphen part more than the reality." ([00:39])

• Historical context: Jack shares Patrick Henry's rejection of state-based identity in favor of being simply "American," drawing parallels to Christian identity.
• Hyphens in Christianity:
  • Examples: Baptist-Christian, Methodist-Christian, progressive-Christian, conservative-Christian, etc.
  • Jack notes these create divisions within the Church, counter to what Scripture teaches.

2. Biblical Mandate for Unity

• Scripture quoted and discussed:
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10–17: Paul rebukes believers who divide themselves by saying "I am of Paul" or "I am of Apollos," urging instead unity in Christ.
    • "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?... For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." ([03:50])
  • Galatians 3:26–29, emphasizing unity:
    • "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." ([05:35])
• Jack’s interpretation:
  • The Bible recognizes no hyphenated versions of Christianity—only unity "in Christ."
  • Early Christians’ identities were subsumed in Christ; there were no "Galatian Christians" or "Roman Christians" ([08:00]).

3. Modern Divisions and False Identities

• Cultural context:
  • Jack criticizes contemporary trends of identifying as a particular sub-group of Christian (ethnic, doctrinal, or ideological).
  • Lists modern hyphens: white Christian, black Christian, Asian Christian, gay Christian, pro-choice Christian, etc.
  • Argues that these are not biblical and serve only to divide.
• The “gay Christian” example:
  • Differentiates between a Christian who struggles with temptation and someone who combines an unbiblical lifestyle with Christ as their identity.

  • "Can you be a gay Christian? If you're tempted, you can be a Christian that's tempted in these areas, but you don't follow through with that. Can you be a pot smoking, drug taking Christian? You cannot hyphenate that into your Christianity." ([13:40])

4. Hyphenation versus Transformation

• The new creation metaphor:
  • Cites 2 Corinthians 5:17 ("If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...") and Galatians 2:20.
  • The Christian is not defined by their old labels or sins; these are to be “nailed to the cross.”

  • "If you think for a moment that any one of us are going to enter the kingdom of Heaven with a hyphen we've deceived ourselves." ([12:40])

• On ethnic and cultural churches:
  • Not inherently wrong if it’s the result of local demographics, but actively dividing by ethnicity or language is not biblical.

  • "I have to tell you, I'm not a fan of all white churches. I'm not a fan of all Asian churches... or all black churches. I'm not a fan of dividing up the body of Christ." ([17:10])

5. Choice, Responsibility, and False Justification

• The 'Pro-Choice Christian' argument:
  • Jack critiques the idea as self-deception, using an analogy about choosing to eat a spicy burrito and suffering consequences ([19:45]).

  • "You already exercised choice. This is the consequences from your choice. You chose to have sex and... the result is a baby."

• Separating life circumstances from moral choices:

  • "Don't ever mix pigmentation with life choices. None of us have the choice of our pigmentation, but everyone has the choice about gayness." ([17:50])

6. Scriptural Warnings Against Hyphenation

• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – the list of those who “will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
• Jack’s summary:

  "You see any hyphens in there? No hyphens. No dual existence." ([22:40])

• On the weakened Church:
  • Argues that the presence of hyphens in Christian life is a reason why the Church lacks cultural influence and respect.

7. Cults, Division, and the Danger of Labels

• Reference to Walter Martin and 'Kingdom of the Cults':
  • Martin claimed cults exist because people seek religion but not truth. If they weren't in cults, such people would damage churches ([25:00]).

  • "Those people that attend that cult, they have a real hunger for religion, but they don’t have a hunger for the truth."

• Denominations and Christian unity:
  • Jack clarifies he’s not against denominations per se but against identifying faith with anything but Christ.

8. The Struggle with Old Temptations

• The Christian battle:
  • It is normal to battle temptation (greed, immorality, pride, etc.), but not to adopt these as part of one’s Christian identity.

  • "You have to reckon the old man on a daily basis... If you think you can bring the old you and put a dash hyphen and then staple on Christian, you’re deceiving yourselves." ([29:30])

• Encouragement to remain in the Word:
  • Daily Bible reading is essential for “slaying the old you” and standing in victory over sin.

9. Global Christian Perspective: The Persecuted Church and Hyphens

• Contrast with persecuted believers:
  • Jack describes how persecuted Christians risk their lives for worship and do not concern themselves with labels ([32:45]).

  • "Hyphens are insane. They’re Christians. They’re Christ followers. How can you staple anything of the flesh unto that?"

10. Final Exhortations

• Christians should self-examine: Have we adopted any "hyphens"?
• Let go of cultural or social identities that compete with your identity in Christ.
• The only label in heaven is "Christian."

• "It must never be ever said that we are a hyphenated Christian because that's self deception and it cannot happen." ([34:01])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On unity in Christ:

  "Their identity had been swept away by the blood of Christ and they had come into a brand new relationship with Jesus Christ and all of their earthly tags, markings and identities had been removed from the real source of who they were." ([09:50])

• On the error of 'hyphenated life':

  "If you think for a moment that any one of us are going to enter the kingdom of Heaven with a hyphen we've deceived ourselves. That is not going to happen." ([12:40])

• On opposition in culture:

  "The church, on the surface anyway, the bulk of the church—air quotes—is all of these things hyphenated. And we wonder why the church has no power." ([23:30])

• On the new creation:

  "You have a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, we're new creations in Christ. The old us is gone." ([29:30])

• On persecuted Christians:

  "They have no idea if they are going to survive church while we in America and in the west, we lick our finger and test the wind to see if we should go outside to go to church. Might be too hot, might be too cold." ([33:45])

Important Timestamps

• 00:39 – Introduction to "hyphenated Christianity"
• 03:50 – Paul’s warning against division (1 Corinthians 1:10)
• 05:35 – Galatians 3 and the unity of believers
• 13:40 – Can you be a 'hyphenated' Christian? Explores specific examples
• 17:10 – Critique of racially or culturally segregated churches
• 19:45 – Explaining the "pro-choice Christian" analogy
• 22:40 – No hyphens in 1 Corinthians 6:9 (list of those not inheriting the Kingdom)
• 25:00 – Walter Martin and the necessity of unity over labels
• 29:30 – Daily Christian battle; new creation in Christ
• 32:45 – Examples from persecuted Christians worldwide and the folly of hyphens
• 34:01 – Final exhortation against "hyphenated Christianity"

Tone and Style

• Direct, bold, often confrontational
• Laced with biblical references and personal anecdote
• Passionate plea for unity and scriptural fidelity
• Occasional humor and colloquial analogy (e.g., the spicy burrito story)
• Unapologetic about controversial current issues

Summary Takeaway

Jack Hibbs calls for Christians to abandon all identity labels apart from Christ. He insists hyphenation—whether ethnic, doctrinal, social, or moral—divides the Church and diminishes its power. The challenge is clear: Be a Christian, fully surrendered and identified in Jesus, not in any other tag, movement, or past struggle.