Today we addressed a question that every Church member needs to answer; namely, What is a Christian? This is due to the fact that an estimated 2.1 billion, or approximately 33% of the people in the World as of 2008¬ claim to be “Christian.” The majority of these individuals believe to be “Christian” on Biblical grounds. Interestingly, the word, “Christian” only appears three times in all of Scripture and it is never defined.
1) The Disciples (followers) were first called “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26)
2) King Agrippa felt that Paul was persuading him to become a “Christian” (associated with following Christ) (Acts 26:28).
3) The Apostle Peter encourages his readers to persevere and praise God for bearing the title of “Christian” despite their suffering (1 Peter 4:16).
It is hard to believe that 33% of the Worlds population would call themselves “Christian” having never though of whether or not a clear-cut Biblical definition exists. What's more, many people worldwide are eager to hold “Christian” functions in hopes of spreading the message of “Christianity.” Likewise, most of these rallies are calling people to become “Christians” without offering a clear definition of clarification of what the term means according to the Scriptures. And the result is confusion and the production of sincere yet curious and confused people.
In reality, a clash over the meaning of the “Christian” and the means by which a person attains “Christian” status has triggered one of the most mind-boggling concepts; namely, what it means to be a Christian and/or how a person can become a Christian.
An appropriate title would be “Brothers in Christ”(100+) or “Believer”(25+) simply because those terms are Scripturally more common and less ambiguous. Some Free-Grace theologians make a distinction between a "Christian" and a "Disciple", but the terms seem to be referring to the same people. For example, the Disciples (Acts 11:26) suffered persecution for believing in and following Christ (1 Peter 4:16). Moreover, the title “Christian” seemed to be downright derogatory (Acts 26:28).
There is nothing wrong with calling oneself a "Christian" so long as we know what it means and the contexts of the passages in which it is used. There is a problem with those of us who have been using the term out of context and without having considered where it even came from. All doctrine should be examined alongside the text of Scripture interpreted in its proper context. The next time somebody tells you they are a “Christian” you might want to ask with gentleness and respect to explain exactly what they mean.
The Texts
Utilizing the CHECK D.I.S.C. hermeneutic will enable a contextual conclusion on the basis of observations.
Acts 11:26 - D.I.S.C.
Discover the Context: Peter is explaining the Church in Antioch to the circumcised believers in Jerusalem. He is explaining the ministry of Barnabas and Saul as they met with the church and taught great numbers of people (v25) ending with the words, “the Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.”
Identify Key Verbs: first called
Subject: When were the Disciples first called Christians?
Complement: The Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 26:28 - D.I.S.C.
Discover the Context: Paul is giving his testimony before an audience with King Agrippa, high-ranking officers and the leading men of the city (v1). Festus calls him insane (v24) and when Paul makes a great point about fulfilled prophecies, the King (possible out of conviction) stops him and asks him if he is trying to persuade him to be a Christian.
Identify Key Verbs: think, persuade, to be
Subject: How does the King respond to Paul’s point about the fulfilled prophecies about
Christ?
Complement: The King responds to Paul’s point about fulfilled prophecies about Christ by asking the question, “Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
1 Peter 4:16 - D.I.S.C.
Discover the Context: From verse 12 to 19, 8 references are made to suffering for being associated with Christ.
Identify Key Verbs: do not be ashamed, praise God,
Subject: What is Peter’s advice for his believer friends that are suffering for being
followers of Christ?
Complement: Peter’s advice for his believer friends that are suffering for being followers of
Christ is to not be ashamed to be a Christian, but to praise God for bearing that name.
Conclusion
The three texts above make no clear cut definition of what a “Christian” is; rather, they all point to the notion that a Christian is a follower of Christ who often encounters suffering some kind of pain or ridicule due to their allegiance to the person of Christ. The term Christian was and is a synonym for Disciple, which basically means follower. Since not all followers (disciples) of Christ were believers, it is safe to say that not all Christians were believers. There were curious followers, convinced yet coward followers and also convinced and committed followers. Although these three occurrences are examples of Christians who were believers in Christ, that does not warrant a permanent connection with the word Christian and believer.
Onward Christian believer soldiers!
-Ryan
1) The Disciples (followers) were first called “Christians” at Antioch (Acts 11:26)
2) King Agrippa felt that Paul was persuading him to become a “Christian” (associated with following Christ) (Acts 26:28).
3) The Apostle Peter encourages his readers to persevere and praise God for bearing the title of “Christian” despite their suffering (1 Peter 4:16).
It is hard to believe that 33% of the Worlds population would call themselves “Christian” having never though of whether or not a clear-cut Biblical definition exists. What's more, many people worldwide are eager to hold “Christian” functions in hopes of spreading the message of “Christianity.” Likewise, most of these rallies are calling people to become “Christians” without offering a clear definition of clarification of what the term means according to the Scriptures. And the result is confusion and the production of sincere yet curious and confused people.
In reality, a clash over the meaning of the “Christian” and the means by which a person attains “Christian” status has triggered one of the most mind-boggling concepts; namely, what it means to be a Christian and/or how a person can become a Christian.
An appropriate title would be “Brothers in Christ”(100+) or “Believer”(25+) simply because those terms are Scripturally more common and less ambiguous. Some Free-Grace theologians make a distinction between a "Christian" and a "Disciple", but the terms seem to be referring to the same people. For example, the Disciples (Acts 11:26) suffered persecution for believing in and following Christ (1 Peter 4:16). Moreover, the title “Christian” seemed to be downright derogatory (Acts 26:28).
There is nothing wrong with calling oneself a "Christian" so long as we know what it means and the contexts of the passages in which it is used. There is a problem with those of us who have been using the term out of context and without having considered where it even came from. All doctrine should be examined alongside the text of Scripture interpreted in its proper context. The next time somebody tells you they are a “Christian” you might want to ask with gentleness and respect to explain exactly what they mean.
The Texts
Utilizing the CHECK D.I.S.C. hermeneutic will enable a contextual conclusion on the basis of observations.
Acts 11:26 - D.I.S.C.
Discover the Context: Peter is explaining the Church in Antioch to the circumcised believers in Jerusalem. He is explaining the ministry of Barnabas and Saul as they met with the church and taught great numbers of people (v25) ending with the words, “the Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.”
Identify Key Verbs: first called
Subject: When were the Disciples first called Christians?
Complement: The Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 26:28 - D.I.S.C.
Discover the Context: Paul is giving his testimony before an audience with King Agrippa, high-ranking officers and the leading men of the city (v1). Festus calls him insane (v24) and when Paul makes a great point about fulfilled prophecies, the King (possible out of conviction) stops him and asks him if he is trying to persuade him to be a Christian.
Identify Key Verbs: think, persuade, to be
Subject: How does the King respond to Paul’s point about the fulfilled prophecies about
Christ?
Complement: The King responds to Paul’s point about fulfilled prophecies about Christ by asking the question, “Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
1 Peter 4:16 - D.I.S.C.
Discover the Context: From verse 12 to 19, 8 references are made to suffering for being associated with Christ.
Identify Key Verbs: do not be ashamed, praise God,
Subject: What is Peter’s advice for his believer friends that are suffering for being
followers of Christ?
Complement: Peter’s advice for his believer friends that are suffering for being followers of
Christ is to not be ashamed to be a Christian, but to praise God for bearing that name.
Conclusion
The three texts above make no clear cut definition of what a “Christian” is; rather, they all point to the notion that a Christian is a follower of Christ who often encounters suffering some kind of pain or ridicule due to their allegiance to the person of Christ. The term Christian was and is a synonym for Disciple, which basically means follower. Since not all followers (disciples) of Christ were believers, it is safe to say that not all Christians were believers. There were curious followers, convinced yet coward followers and also convinced and committed followers. Although these three occurrences are examples of Christians who were believers in Christ, that does not warrant a permanent connection with the word Christian and believer.
Onward Christian believer soldiers!
-Ryan
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