The True Meaning of the Name

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:19-26 NIV)

If you have not heard, there is a civil war going on in the Central African Republic.  News services have framed this battle as between Christians and Muslims because militias claiming to be Christian and Muslim have both committed terrible atrocities against one another.  As a follower of Jesus, I am appalled that such acts of evil are being attributed to Christians.  Nothing about what they are doing—raping and killing Muslims, pillaging and burning villages—is consistent with ones who follow Jesus.  

As Paul points out, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which all true Christians have living within them, is: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). And Jesus said it is the love Christians have toward others that is the evidence they are His disciples (John 13:35).  In fact, a closer look on the ground in the CAR reveals that the true Christians are exhibiting these attributes toward their Muslim neighbors.  Far from abusing and killing them, they are showing love through protecting and sheltering them from harm.

The 1st Century believers were first called “Christians” because people knew they were followers of Christ.  Originally, it was a term of disparagement because those who aligned themselves with Jesus were scorned as fools.  It was their close identity with Christ that led to the name.

Today, however, the name is used very loosely.  If one goes to church, he is called a Christian.  If one is born into a family that identifies itself as Christian, then she is called a Christian as well.  If one holds to certain biblical beliefs (e.g., Jesus is the Son of God), regardless if he lives by them, he is considered to be a Christian And in some cultures, those who are not Muslims are considered Christians by default.  These days, the original meaning of the word has been lost in its application.

From the earliest days of the Church, Christians were those who, not only by their words but also by the way they lived their lives, were closely identified with Jesus.  Today, if you identify yourself as a Christian, then recognize the true meaning of the name—follower of Christ.  What the world so desperately needs is for people identifying themselves as Christians to live like those who truly follow Jesus.

© Jim Musser 2014