January 12--Can somebody explain the word "Christian"
I don't know how to answer the question, "Are you a Christian?" any more.
I was in school yesterday when a friend that I hope becomes more than a friend walked up just in time to hear me talking about House Groups.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Oh--nothing much. I do this thing on Thursday nights were I get together with a bunch of my church friends at a house and talk, eat, study, pray---things like that."
"So you're a Christian" he said, only when he said Christian, I twinged a little.
I could tell that his picture of being a Christian and mine were pretty different but I had no idea how to communicate to him what "Christian" means to me. It's tough when there are all of those "Christian" T.V. evangelists that run around and scream like crazy people. Then you have the "Christians" who bomb abortion clinics and all of the "Christians" who vote a certain way politically and all of the "Christian" movies and the "Christian" book stores and the "Christian" t-shirts and the "Christian" magazines and the "Christian" talk shows and the "Christian" music and the "Christian" bumper stickers. Why is it that a word that was originally used to describe people and a way of life now is used to describe anything under the sun?
Now that I think of it, I have no idea of what "Christian" even means anymore either. Can somebody help?
Is this your story?
What does the term "Christian" mean to you?
What does the term "Christian" mean to your friends?
Did you know that the first time someone was called a Christian was in a place called Antioch way back a couple years after Jesus was around? Check out Acts 11:26 and you'll see the inaugrial statement. However, did you also know that this term was not meant in a kind way? "Christian" was meant in the same hurtful way that white supremists meant when they called African Americans "niggers" during the civil rights days. It was a statement intended to belittle, offend, and make fun of a this emerging people group.
"Christian" literally means "little Christ." What a powerful word to describe who we need to be.
Do you think Jesus was a "Christian?"
Do you think what "Christianity" has become is what Jesus came to start or bring?
Check out these passages:
Matthew 16:24
Matthew 22:37-39
Mark 10:21
James 1:27
Matthew 14:23
Matthew 18:21-22
Matthew 9:9-13
What do these tell you about following Jesus?
Do these paint a different picture than what "Christian" means today?
Post some reflections--
posted by 209 Staff @ 10:31 AM
14 Comments:
when i think christian, i think judgemental. who cares if someone believes in something else, as long as they love, right? but some chrisitans think they have to convert everyone else. its better to be spiritual that religious.
I think that it is about more than love. I think that everyone believes something. What we believe dictates how we live. I believe by faith that God loves me and the rest of the world enough to become flesh and take my punishment for sin. That belief dictates how I am able to love. Soemtimes I get it, sometimes I don't.
I do agree that it's weird how so many Christians think it is up to them to "convert" everyone else.
"Christian" has become a "bad" word to the point where some of my friends are no longer calling themselves that. They call themselves "followers of Christ". Originally, that's what "Christian" was supposed to mean, but now it's become a sub-culture with it's own music, art, books, films, you name it.
I sometimes don't want to tell people I'm a Christian because they look at me funny and think I'm some sort of goodie two shoes - something I'm definitely not!
A bumper sticker says it all: Not perfect, just forgiven
I think the people who are hitting others over the head with "Christianity" are missing the point because they are living by laws and "doing things right" rather than living by faith and by following what Jesus said in the great commandment (love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor).
I think a Christian is Someone that lets God take your life into His hands... Freshmen Girls
Some people interpret a Christian or associate you as a "goody goody" "suck up" "church girl".... we think this is true to some extent in that we are good people, but we aren't super conservative and go from house to house and say this is what you need to believe, but rather you welcome those that are interested and we think that being a Christian is being very open minded to what others may believe and we don't want to disown people that think differently, unfortunately there are still some Christians that are like this....there was this time on Trading Spouses where there was an overly Christian one and totally over did it and this is where people get the stereotypes from.... Freshmen girls
Christians give people second chances.....WHY?
Well let me break it down for you.... Because God gives us seconds chances (actually more than just second chances)
Freshmen Girls - Katie G.
I believe that Jesus technically wasn't a "christian" because in the early days it meant "little christ" so Jesus really wasnt "Christian" he was Christ. Jesus wasnt a follower he was a leader
Here are a few things that the Junior guys talked about...
Is calling ourselves Jesus Followers reactionary? Is it individualistic?
Are we risking throwing out the baby with the bathwater?
Does God really hate religion?
Is Christianity all about the salvation moment? Is it about a ticket to Heaven? Do we have to live a certain way?
I really like what John B. said about Jesus. Good point! The sophomore girls also didn't think Jesus was a "Christian", but we didn't come up with such a good definition... We definitely didn't think that Christianity today is what Jesus came to bring or what he intended for us. More from the sophomore girls from JK later.
I think that Christianity is a big generalization. The word Christian essentially means "follower of Christ", and that can mean alot of different things. It's not as though Christians are an object, a noun, a thing, but rather, Christians are unique and different from each other to a certain degree. There are the extremes of Christianity such as the people on TV that pray and heal and worship openly almost to the point of embarassmanet, but on the other hand we have the self acclaimed "Christians" That say we will all burn in Hell if we don't repent now, and give the other 95% a bad name. I just think that a Christian is not a race of people or a social class but that it is many differnt people joining for one cause. There is on wolrd and one desperation, one hope and one salvation. That's what I personally think.
Zack,
Great point about Christian not being a noun. I agree--what if we looked at Christian as a verb--a way of living life.
I'm curious about what anybody thinks about the first comment on this post.
What does judgemental mean? Are Christians judgemental because they believe that a relationship with God can happen only through Christ?
Does judgemental mean something about Christians' demeanor as a whole?
According to the text, it does matter what you believe. Love doesn't mean anything by itself. I believe that Jesus came and lived and died, taking the penalty for my sin (Romans 5:8). That belief impacts the way that I live and love.
I believe that when I put my trust in Him--my eternity (starting now) is altered and for the first time I am able to be in a relationship with God (Romans 3:21-24). That belief impacts the way that I live and love.
I believe that He is at work in me and will continue to be for eternity (Philippians 1:6). That belief impacts the way that I live and love.
I believe that His Spirit is alive and active and is bring all of humanity to Himself (John 3:16, Acts 1:8). That belief impacts teh way that I live and love.
Belief comes from wrestling with the text and experiencing a life where faith is necessary.
What do you believe?
If I didn't believe these things, I would live differently.
One other thing that I believe--this might be the most important for the way that I live my faith and love:
I believe that through Christ and Christ alone does someone enter into a relationship with the Father. (John 14:6)
This is why I do what I do....
I re-read the first comment on this thread...I agree and disagree. As Christians I think we should care about what others believe, but we should not resort to threats and condemnation if others choose to reject what we believe - that's not what Jesus did. We all have free will and with that we have the freedom to make a choice. This includes rejecting Christ. I believe that I will get farther in a relationship with someone else if I show love than if I show judgment.
As for salvation, I believe Christ is the only way to God.
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