I am Not Christian

Do not be alarmed, for I have not lost one iota of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather am searching for perspective.

The title "Christian" or Christ-like, has been so denigrated as it is attached to every modicum of nominal Jesus reference,(ie. "Christian Movies, Christian Bookstores, Christian Worship, etc.).

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Smith's Bible Dictionary
Christian. [N] [E]

The disciples, we are told, (Acts 11:26) were first called Christians at Antioch on the Orontes, somewhere about A.D. 43. They were known to each other as, and were among themselves called, brethren, (Acts 15:1,23; 1 Corinthians 7:12) disciples , (Acts 9:26; 11:29) believers , (Acts 5:14) saints , (Romans 8:27; 15:25)

The name "Christian," which, in the only other cases where it appears in the New Testament, (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16) is used contemptuously, could not have been applied by the early disciples to themselves, but was imposed upon them by the Gentile world. There is no reason to suppose that the name "Christian" of itself was intended as a term of scurrility or abuse, though it would naturally be used with contempt.
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http://www.bibletruthforum.org/cords/christian1.htm

"If ye be reproached for the NAME OF CHRIST, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a CHRISTIAN, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" I Peter 4:14-16


The word Christian is not a Biblical name that should be tossed around in a loose manner without respect. It is the NAME OF CHRIST applied to one of his "followers". It describes a child of God as a "follower of Christ" who is "Christ-like" in his beliefs and actions. The word is used only three times in all of Scripture. It is never designated as, or intended to be, a name for every member of God's family. It is not a name given to every new born child of God. It is not a name given to everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ. You can not find in the word of God where Jesus or any of the Apostles ever called a child of God a Christian. The name was given to the Disciples first at Antioch (probably) by the Gentiles in order to distinguish the "true followers of Christ" from the unbelieving Jews.

No where in the word of God can you find where a child of God ever calls himself a Christian. Any child of God who thinks he deserves to be call himself a Christian should read the words of Paul who said "Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners; of whom I am chief". Paul thought of himself as a "wretched man" and said "For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18-25). If Paul, who was a true "follower of Christ" never called himself a Christian, who should call himself a Christian ? The answer is none ! Why then do we find this name being so misused and abused today ?

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I do not think I am Christian, for I am so far from being Christ-like in my daily walk with Him. There is so much of this old fleshly attitude that Christ can very seldom glimmer through to the world around. It would be arrogance and false advertising, on my part, to declare myself Christian or Christ-like, so I will follow the example set by the Apostles and declare myself a servant of Christ, and maybe someone will call me Christian, as they catch a darkly veiled glimmer of our Heavenly Master, within me.

Phillipians 2:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:


May God so bless His precious Children.

A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

Baptist Believer:

If you have a living faith in Christ, God is working in your life to conform you to His image.

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It is called sanctification, different from justification. We are justified before God at the point of receiving Christ, through the propitiation of Christ we gain righteous legal standing before God.

Sanctification, whereby God sets us apart and works to conform us to the image of Christ, is an on-going process, and will continue until this imperfection puts on perfection.

May God so bless His precious children.


A servant of Christ,
Drew