What’s in a name? Yesterday, I wrote about brand names and suggested that Christians be known more for how our lives reflect Jesus than for the brand names we buy and chase. That, in turn, got me thinking about the word Christian, which appears only three times in the Bible, all in the New Testament.
So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. Acts 11:25-26 ESV
Many scholars believe it was used by non-believers as a derogatory term, identifying them as being different from Jews.
And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian? Acts 26:28 ESV
King Agrippa recognized Paul’s faith as something very different than Judaism. He’s at least skeptical of the faith, if not hostile.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:16 ESV
Peter recognizes that the Christian life is different, even in how we face life’s hardships.
The term Christian has changed over the years and, in many ways, has become far from the original beliefs to the point of being almost meaningless. In much of the world, Christian means anything from the West, which is ironic considering the faith originated in the Middle East and had European, Asian and African influences through the first centuries.
For some people, to be Christian just means being born in a “Christian” country. That has many problems, not the least of which is that a country can never be Christian, as a country cannot have a relationship with Jesus; only people can.
For some, it’s a derogatory term that implies low intellect, racial bias and hatred.
What is a Christian? One source says, “A Christian is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, which is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians believe in Jesus as the Son of God and seek to live according to his teachings.”
I would use the following as a very rough, working definition: “A Christian is a person who has been forgiven their sins through faith alone in God’s grace. This was accomplished through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross alone.” I think you could certainly refine the definition.
How would you define the term? Let me know in your comments or by return email.
Be blessed
Kevin
SUMMARY
The word Christian appears only three times in the Bible, and today it can mean almost anything. I’ve offered a very rough, working definition, so let me know how you would define it.
TAKEAWAY
The name Christian may have started as a derogatory term. Even so, Peter tells us not to be ashamed of it but to glorify God in that name.
Over the years, the word Christian has drifted so far from its original beliefs that it’s become almost meaningless. So it’s worth asking what a Christian really is.
To be a Christian is to be forgiven our sins through faith alone in God’s grace. Jesus Christ accomplished that through his substitutionary death on the cross alone.
