Is the title "Christian" as important as we make it out to be?

[Navigator]

Alright, first off, I would like to say hello to everyone (again). I haven't been here in a while, so forgive me for that; I've been very busy with school.

As the title suggests, I want to get all of your opinions on my question: "Is the title 'Christian' as important as we make it out to be?"

Yes, being a "Christian" is something that we can hang our hats on, it shows us and others who know of our religious standing that we are "little Christs" following God's Word and accepting Jesus as our Savior.

But that's just it. If we do accept Jesus as our Savior; do we NEED to call ourselves Christians? I guess I should have put a little disclaimer or something though...I am NOT saying I am ready to drop my title as a Christian or anything, it's just something I've been thinking about.

Being a Christian can have so many advantages; you can meet other Christians, grow and develop your spiritual lives together and form close bonds in the Spirit. THAT is just awesome. But is it really the title that we latch onto with others, or their love for Jesus that you share with them?

The big issue I have is that people are doing things, both positive AND negative, today in the name of Christianity (at least it seems). They are Christians so they should give money to the poor; They are Christians so they should help the old lady cross the street. To me, it seems Christians are doing things because they think that's just what Christians do. I don't really like that personally, because it shouldn't be an obligation. Your title of Christian doesn't mean that you HAVE to do certain things...it may hint that you SHOULD but that decision to help others should be yours because you love them..you pity them..like Jesus did with us.

I'm rambling, and I don't even know if I have a real argument here, but what are your thoughts????

 

[Nathan]

Whats interesting about this is that the book of Acts tells us that they were called Christians; as opposed to calling themselves Christians.

They were called as such because they were seen as people who followed, continued on the teaching, of the Man who was said to be the Christ.

That is a view from the outside looking in. We know He was the Christ, but they were called as such because they imitated Him and did the things He did.

I think you are seeing some of the same things I have seen for a while now. We have come to view "Christians" as a title, not a lifestyle. And all too often the excuse of "we are just saved, not perfect" is used to defend why our lives do not imitate the Christ, Jesus.

 

[Danus]

Whats interesting about this is that the book of Acts tells us that they were called Christians; as opposed to calling themselves Christians.

Good point.

If Christianity is nothing but a title to "hang our hats on" to quote the OP, then it's worth nothing. There are many for whom it is just a title, a popular thing to say about one's self but only in certain circles. That's not what Christianity is.

 

[Webb]

The name "Christian" should be as important as GOD makes it out to be: "Yet if any man suffer as a christian,let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." I Pet.4:16.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

"Is the title 'Christian' as important as we make it out to be?"

Yes, being a "Christian" is something that we can hang our hats on, it shows us and others who know of our religious standing that we are "little Christs"...

It shows we have chosen to purposely identify ourselves with Christ. That is valuable. Even if we all decided to just let our lives bear witness to our identification with Christ we're still going to be distinguished somehow or another from those who don't identify with Christ. The name 'Christian' just happens to be how we have come to be distinuguished from those who don't identify with Christ. And we know from the Bible that first happened at Antioch.

But that's just it. If we do accept Jesus as our Savior; do we NEED to call ourselves Christians? I guess I should have put a little disclaimer or something though...I am NOT saying I am ready to drop my title as a Christian or anything, it's just something I've been thinking about.

Even if you decide not to adopt a label, one will be given to you anyway.

Being a Christian can have so many advantages; you can meet other Christians, grow and develop your spiritual lives together and form close bonds in the Spirit. THAT is just awesome. But is it really the title that we latch onto with others, or their love for Jesus that you share with them?

The big issue I have is that people are doing things, both positive AND negative, today in the name of Christianity (at least it seems). They are Christians so they should give money to the poor; They are Christians so they should help the old lady cross the street. To me, it seems Christians are doing things because they think that's just what Christians do. I don't really like that personally, because it shouldn't be an obligation.

Part of loving God is to love God with your mind, too, not just your heart. I think it impossible that we only reserve the name 'Christian' to those who love from the heart, too. How do we check that? Who enforces it? As it is now, even the most immature Christian yet to grow up into the mature fruit of love (from the heart) is entitled to be identified with their Savior, Jesus Christ. If God accepts them, so should we (a scripture reference is dangling on the edges of my mind just now).

Your title of Christian doesn't mean that you HAVE to do certain things...it may hint that you SHOULD but that decision to help others should be yours because you love them..you pity them..like Jesus did with us.

Love is actually the mature fruit of the saint. We learn to love with all our heart, body, mind and soul as we grow up into the salvation we have been given. And the name 'Christian' covers every single aspect of that growth, and every person in that growth process. We treat with special modesty those parts of the body that aren't so presentable. Paul tells us they are essential members of the body of Christ and that there should be no division in the body...even though we feel ashamed and embarrassed by those unpresentable parts. Part of the love you speak about is the love that accepts the least of the members of Christ's body. I will stick with my brothers and sisters to the end.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The name "Christian" should be as important as GOD makes it out to be: "Yet if any man suffer as a christian,let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." I Pet.4:16.

Amen, brother.

I got your back.

 

[Nathan]

The name "Christian" should be as important as GOD makes it out to be: "Yet if any man suffer as a christian,let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." I Pet.4:16.

Whats interesting is that this verse falls on the heels of the previous verse which states:

1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

No one walks around with the title of "murderer" or "thief". Even those who have murdered or stolen. But rather it is something that someone calls those who do such things. They are called that because that is what they do, not what they have done. Christians should be called Christians because of what they do, not what they have done.

Sure, a murderer is called a murderer after he has murdered. Or a thief after he has stolen. But, when they turn from, and are not doing those things anymore, then they are not called such anymore.

But somehow, when a "Christain" quits acting like Christ, he is still a "Christian"; because of something he has done(past tense). :

 

[Nathan]

Part of loving God is to love God with your mind, too, not just your heart. I think it impossible that we only reserve the name 'Christian' to those who love from the heart, too. How do we check that? Who enforces it? As it is now, even the most immature Christian yet to grow up into the mature fruit of love (from the heart) is entitled to be identified with their Savior, Jesus Christ. If God accepts them, so should we (a scripture reference is dangling on the edges of my mind just now).

Its not that we call ourselves that, its that we are called that by others. Who cares what we call ourselves? Others are just going to call us what they want anyways.

What it has served to do is to bring confusion to the term "Christian". Before, it was only said of those who acted like 'little Christs' (where the term originates). Now, it is said of anyone who claims it for themselves.

Its not up to us to claim the title, its only up to us to uphold the name.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Whats interesting is that this verse falls on the heels of the previous verse which states:

1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

No one walks around with the title of "murderer" or "thief". Even those who have murdered or stolen. But rather it is something that someone calls those who do such things. They are called that because that is what they do, not what they have done. Christians should be called Christians because of what they do, not what they have done.

Sure, a murderer is called a murderer after he has murdered. Or a thief after he has stolen. But, when they turn from, and are not doing those things anymore, then they are not called such anymore.

But somehow, when a "Christain" quits acting like Christ, he is still a "Christian"; because of something he has done(past tense). :

Does the child of the Smith's, or the Jone's lose his identification with his family when he doesn't live up to the family name?

Who among us has really lived up to the name of 'Christian'? Who's standard do we use? If it's Christ's we all lose out pretty miserably, no matter how good we think we are. It's only by the grace of God that we're in the family to begin with, let alone maturing into the full stature of our Father in heaven.

 

[Nathan]

Does the child of the Smith's, or the Jone's lose his identification with his family when he doesn't live up to the family name?

Who among us has really lived up to the name of 'Christian'? Who's standard do we use? If it's Christ's we all lose out pretty miserably, no matter how good we think we are. It's only by the grace of God that we're in the family to begin with, let alone maturing into the full stature of our Father in heaven.

I understand what your saying, but I believe its trying to combine two separate lines of logic.

The fact is that indeed one can loose their identification to their family if he/she is completely unlike them. There are many people with my last name, yet I know hardly any of them: much less, would I associate myself with them just because they have the same last name.

But then on the flip side, you have my son for instance. He is known as my son, not because of his name, but because of who he is and what he does.

Its not a matter of "living up to it". The disciples, I am sure, at times did not act the same as Christ. However, when people saw them, what they were doing, they associated them as "Christ followers".

Paul gives the example of a Jew.

Rom 2:28-29 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

"Outwardly" is a title, "inwardly" is a life.

There are many who bear the title "Christian", but few who live it.

 

[for_his_glory]

It should be important to us as it was in Acts 11:26 as it was by others that called the Disciples Christians which means one who follows Christ and continues in the ministry of Christ. A Christian should be an example of everything that stands for Christ and His ministry, but unfortunately the world sees most Christians as hypocrites and want nothing to do with the god they display through their actions towards others that are or are not Christian, other words being holier then thou! Even for myself I would rather be known as a blood bought child of God leaving out the title for what the title has become to those who do not know Christ.

 

[Navigator]

Its not that we call ourselves that, its that we are called that by others. Who cares what we call ourselves? Others are just going to call us what they want anyways.

What it has served to do is to bring confusion to the term "Christian". Before, it was only said of those who acted like 'little Christs' (where the term originates). Now, it is said of anyone who claims it for themselves.

Its not up to us to claim the title, its only up to us to uphold the name.

Haha. I wasted a whole page of writing when this sentence is basically all I wanted to say. Well done.

 

[Nathan]

Haha. I wasted a whole page of writing when this sentence is basically all I wanted to say. Well done.

Just know that I think I understand where your coming from with this thought. I have often questioned it before. Anymore it's a very loose term and holds no meaning for me. I understand what was meant when it was first used to describe someone, but now it can mean just about anything from a person who goes to church to someone who has ever prayed.

It no longer is used the way it was first used and therefore has become just another word. I do not need the title of "Christian" to make me one. I know who I am, and if someone does not then they can derive who I am from what I do.

 

[Navigator]

Just know that I think I understand where your coming from with this thought. I have often questioned it before. Anymore it's a very loose term and holds no meaning for me. I understand what was meant when it was first used to describe someone, but now it can mean just about anything from a person who goes to church to someone who has ever prayed.

It no longer is used the way it was first used and therefore has become just another word. I do not need the title of "Christian" to make me one. I know who I am, and if someone does not then they can derive who I am from what I do.

Exactly and that I was going for. In addition to this though, you could argue that some people who aren't all that well educated in regards to the Bible/Christianity take Christianity to simply be a group who does good things. While that's not a bad label to have as Christians, that's not really what it's all about so if the title is going to be viewed like that..why do we need it? If you know that you are a Christian, then let your actions show others that you are, not your mouth.