The decry of many in Christian circles in the loss of
"Christian America."[i] It was most obvious the
other week with the Supreme Court ruling on marriage across the country. I have
been asking what does the term Christian mean. I believe the term has had a change
in definition and understanding since it was coin long ago.
How the Name Was Given
In truth, people who believe in Jesus Christ cannot take credit
for the title of Christian. Biblical tradition reports that the title was given
to the followers of Jesus in an ancient city called Antioch.[ii] The title was given
to followers of Jesus by non-Jewish people. It is a composite word from two
languages, Greek and Latin. The meaning is “like/belonging to Christ.” The
people on the outside saw the people following Jesus as being like Christ.
What Happened
I believe today we understand the title to be less of action and
more of persuasion. People identify as a Christian not because of what they
accomplish, but what personal convictions they hold on faith. In and individual
believes in a god and believes that god sent a person on earth with the name of
Jesus, they are a Christian. But that does not seem like enough. It is because
of this identification many people are throwing away the title of Christian and
identifying in more generic terms.[iii]
What Is Happening
Well, Gabe Lyons believes that this is changing with a new
generation of followers.[iv] I believe that all
followers can learn from this new generation. It will take us all reclaiming a
new title. We cannot keep the Christian title for the near future. It has been
tainted by hate, hypocrisy, judgement, and many other misalignments. No, it would
be better to take on a different identifier. I do not mean the trendy titles of
spiritual, religious, or any other generic religious motif. No, I believe we
should relearn a very basic ideal of Jesus’ teaching. We need to live again ,” You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with
all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”[v]
Our identifier will not be words or titles as the
faith passed down from generations past. In the now, the identifier of
followers of Christ must be our actions. Once our actions coincide with the New
Testament teaching and words of Jesus, others may one day call the followers of
Jesus by the title of Christian. But we must earn that title. It is then that
the song, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love” will ring true.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the LordWe are one in the Spirit, we are one in the LordAnd we pray that all unity may one day be restoredAnd they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our loveThey will know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by sideWe will work with each other, we will work side by sideAnd we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's prideAnd they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our loveThey will know we are Christians by our loveBy our love, by our loveAnd they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our loveThey will know we are Christians by our love
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in handWe will walk with each other, we will walk hand in handAnd together we'll spread the news that God is in our landAnd they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our loveThey will know we are Christians by our loveBy our love, by our loveAnd they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our loveThey will know we are Christians by our love[vi]
[i]
Gabe Lyons states the end was in May, 2007 with the death of Jerry Falwell.
(Lyons, Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring
the Faith (p.13). New York: Doubleday Religion.)
[ii] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11%3A25-26&version=NASB.
The term
only occurs in two other places in the New Testament (Acts 26:28; 1 Pet 4:16) (Polhill,
J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 273).
Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
[iii] Lyons,
Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring the Faith
(p. 11-12). New York: Doubleday Religion.
[iv] Lyons,
Gabe. (2010). The Next Christians: How A New Generation Is Restoring the Faith.
New York: Doubleday Religion.
[v] Luke 10:27, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10:27&version=NASB
See also Matthew 22:36-40
[vi] Copyright © 2010 ChristianLyricsOnline.com All Rights Reserved. http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/carolyn-arends/theyll-know-we-are-christians.html
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