# Source of bumper sticker: "Are you Christian? Does Jesus know it?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117 "2005-03-25T00:18:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/1 "2005-03-25T00:18:08Z")
I’m posting in GQ, in hopes there is a simple answer to this. I saw this bumper sticker today, and I haven’t been able to figure it out. What in the world does that mean? I understand “Are you Christian?” But what does that second part mean? How could you be Christian and Jesus not know it? I just can’t get my little doggy head around that theology. If there’s not a known source for this, I reckon the mods will relocate the thread, but I’m hoping someone out there knows where this comes from. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/2 "2005-03-25T00:26:34Z")
Some people claim to be Christian, but really aren’t. They haven’t been “saved”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/3 "2005-03-25T02:52:25Z")
Some self-proclaimed Christians do not act in a real Christian manner. Jesus presumedly is able to tell the difference between the people who shout his name and the people who follow his teachings. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/4 "2005-03-25T02:53:12Z")
In the United States a large percentage of the population go to church. Many of them do this because of tradition, “its just what you should do.” If they were asked about their religion, they would say they are “Christians.” The bumper sticker is pointing out that just because you go to church and call yourself a Christian, does not mean you are a “real Christian” - a true follower of Christ, and going to heaven when you die. Just like… because you may walk into a graduate school phyics class, it doesn’t make you a physics graduate student. ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/5 "2005-03-25T02:56:43Z")
Thanks, guys. Since all are in agreement here, I reckon this one is asked and answered. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/6 "2005-03-25T04:15:27Z")
Pretty much so, but I wanted to elaborate that they’re likely using the bumper sticker with reference to salvation theology – in other words, have you prayed the sinner’s prayer to Jesus? If not, well, Jesus wouldn’t hear it and you wouldn’t be a Christian yet (wouldn’t yet be saved). \*Disclaimer: I’m not in the “moment of salvation” camp. ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/7 "2005-03-25T04:51:08Z")
> [@lel](#): > > Pretty much so, but I wanted to elaborate that they’re likely using the bumper sticker with reference to salvation theology – in other words, have you prayed the sinner’s prayer to Jesus? If not, well, Jesus wouldn’t hear it and you wouldn’t be a Christian yet (wouldn’t yet be saved). > > \*Disclaimer: I’m not in the “moment of salvation” camp. What’s “the sinner’s prayer”? “Have mercy upon me, a sinner”? “I believe. Help thou mine unbelief”? ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/8 "2005-03-25T07:23:41Z")
> [@Sample\_the\_Dog](#): > > What’s “the sinner’s prayer”? > > “Have mercy upon me, a sinner”? > > “I believe. Help thou mine unbelief”? Any of the “I’m a sinner. Please save me, Jesus, and be Lord of my life” prayers. There are many versions. This one is from Kenneth Copeland’s website. _Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” I do that now. I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead._ ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/9 "2005-03-25T13:39:35Z")
Oh. In that case, I reckon the sticker should read “Are you a Christian? Does Paul know?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/10 "2005-03-25T15:58:36Z")
I would imagine that the bumper sticker refers to Jesus’ parable of the narrow door, found in the book of Luke: > [@](#): > > 22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” > He said to them, 24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ > > “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ > > 26“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ > > 27“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ > > 28“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-of-bumper-sticker-are-you-christian-does-jesus-know-it/296117/11 "2005-03-25T17:42:18Z")
That, and/or this from Matthew 7: 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘ **I never knew you.** Away from me, you evildoers!’