"I am not a Christian!" - quoted from an interview of a notably famous persona in the Music industry. The interview was almost interesting until this statement was made, then the persona seemed to lose focus and fail to connect with relevance... Duh!
What an overused, cowardly, politically correct phrase: "I am not a Christian!" For so many who think that this makes them more neutrally acceptable and noted as "educated", they have actually stigmatized their lives... Especially when they try to quote Jesus' Words as "Someone once said". Wow!!! "Declaring themselves to be wise they became fools."
Oh, I understand the historically warped and irrelevant events of the past that have been unearthed by self-proclaimed experts in their field; dusted off, and polished in an insidious way too bend the events' actual history to create a hatred for the term "Christian". I also, too keenly, understand the inerrant wicked evil that loves the darkness and hates the light, but appears to the naïve in our generation as an "Angel of Light". This entity is powerfully persuasive in his portrayal, master in his lying presentation, and viciously accusatory of the followers of Christ. He makes sure that true believers take the fall for events where wolves in sheep clothing hid their sin under the guise of the Cross.
We live In such an arrogantly ignorant time in History; a time of literal educational suicide: where current and historical events can be virtually altered to create unbelievable biased public opinion. Many swayed by the media are taking the cowardly way out by not identifying with the term "Christian" but making claims that they are very knowledgeable of the Bible.
I have a feeling the title may have made you wonder about what was going on in my life. There have been times in my life where I have observed good, trusting, and giving people being hurt by those claiming that they were Christians; and to boot many of the scarred scenes seem to have been inflicted by those in ministering or ministry situations. I can understand at a personal level why someone would not want to identify with the abusers; but those of us who are Christians because we have been crucified with Christ (never the less we live, by the Faith of the One who loved us and gave His life for us)... are following Jesus, and hopefully our identification marks are "kingdom" commendable.
There are only 3 verses in the New Testament where the name "Christian" is called out:
- One time in Act 11:26 where "The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" ... because they gathered together as a called out assembly to learn and followed the teachings of Jesus Christ"... more than likely they marked by "love for one another and others" and thus Called Christians (Note: they did not call themselves Christians).
- Second Time ... Acts 26:28 where King Agrippa responded to Paul's passionate Gospel persuasion "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian". The name "Christian" now being identified with the sacrificial obedient following of Jesus Christ... for what ever personal reason, King Agrippa had not the will to take on the that stigmatic snapshot of life.
- Third Time ... I Peter 4:16 - "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." Peter knew what it felt like to deny Jesus, and wasn't about to let other believers make that mistake by suffering as a "love promise" breaker. The believers choice to sin puts Christ's name in jeopardy of being undesirable instead of irresistible by His Spirit and Love.
Let's raise the bar of His Love through us - let others discover the goodness of God that leads to repentance - and do everything to stay close to Jesus; but if we fail and fall- and we will at some point in time... I John1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Perfection is not expected - but integrity (transparency in our struggles, our open reflex to trust Jesus, and a humble admission when guilty) is a great place to start when under the scrutiny of seekers.
We will always have adversaries, God will take care of them.
Let's long for others to see Jesus in us!
HLFA,
Jeff
PS - I AM A CHRISTIAN - early in my walk with Jesus, I was told by a Satanist that I was and that being a Christian was my weakness (though he was physically terrified of me).