What is a Christian?

History

First Use -

Acts 11:19–26 (ESV)

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

World’s Definition

What does the term mean? christianos -

Merriam Webster = : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ

Personal - Are you a Christian? many different answers as to why

ever wonder when Christendom was in full swing, polls would say that 70+% would claim to be Christian, less than half of them would be evangelical, even smaller percentage grasp the basic tenets of the “Christian” faith virgin birth, sacrificial death, grace

Baptized or born into a specific family

CEOs or Chreasters

Went to a church or Sunday School once or when they were kids

Try to be a good person and help unfortunate

Believe Jesus was a good man and/or teacher

Try to follow his teachings but have no idea what they were

Josh’s Definition

To me, Christian is one who follows the word of Christ. One who represents the morals and obligations as laid out in the Bible, and who champions the teachings of a theoretically moral and just God. Christians are people who want to help others regardless of their title or status or background. They are people who spend time learning their place in the world, and figuring out how to better themselves and others. This is what it means to me as I was taught and as I believed growing up.

Sadly, Christian has become a term that broadly refers to people who know about the bible and Christ and go to church. I've seen too many examples of condescension and righteous bigotry to believe Christian has become anything more than a term for role players who wish to hide behind the divine to excuse their awful behaviors. Again, this is broadly and I am not assigning this blame to all Christians, but I see the word, and The Word, horribly misused to further marginalize and attack already vulnerable members of the population and I vehemently oppose it. I wish "they are a Christian’ inspired confidence and warmth and love like it used to, but the cold reality of the world is that God and Christ are too often an excuse to be a jerk and claim some higher moral ground.

I think if someone tells me they are a Christian I would be skeptical of them and their motives. If some SHOWED ME they are a Christian, I would believe them and support them 1000%. Like you.

“Church’s” Definition

Be in the church building every time its open

Pray and Read Bible at least 15-20 mins per day, preferably in the morning

Tithe at least 10% gross and give to Missions and other Christian Organizations

Belong to a specific political party

Take place in various social protests

Have appropriate and very strong opinions on all topics: Capital Punishment, Government involvement, Media, Home Schooling, R-Rated movies, drinking, legalizing marijuana,

Regularly and Actively witness to everyone you come in contact with - Mandatory

Women wearing pant suits

Bible’s Definition

Acts 11 - derogatory term - little Christs

they were called,not called themselves

Antioch is not Jerusalem - effective witness - couldn't stop talking about Him

Left after Stephen’s martyrdom

Some of the Greek Jews witnessed to Hellenists - Shared w/everyone

Hand of the Lord was upon them

Jerusalem heard about it and sent the Son of Consolation and Comfort

remain faithful to the Lord with. Steadfast purpose

full of the Spirit and of faith

Got Paul and taught for a year

Significance

Until now, believers were deemed a sect of Jewish faith

breaking away was dangerous, no longer under Roman protection, both sides

yet, flourished - added daily

1 Peter 4:15-16 (ESV)

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

v15 - Murderer, thief, evildoer, or busybody

For 300 years, Christianity thrived in spite of hatred and persecution from all sides

At the height of persecution, 303-311, being asked if you were a Christian meant life or death

Galerius’ mom

Pliny - slave girls who gladly died

Finally, Rome under Constantine realized that the more they killed, the more would come to Christ

Side note: When the Political Leaders embraced Christianity and stopped the persecution, did that help or hurt the kingdom of God…

What was special about them?

What makes them Christ-like? Why are they so different than the “christians” that i see today? My first thought, flesh, would be that they set up a really good set of rules, a formula of how to be a good Christian and then stuck to it. Read a really good self-help book or had amazing willpower.

We humans tend to do that… Forgetting about the grace that saved me and working, under my own power, to keep my salvation and to make God proud of me and love me more. They even dealt with it back then… Galatians=Judaizers or Colossians= Asceticism

That's not the case - Rom 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Key clue is in the name: Its all about Him

Heb 12:2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

all about Jesus - An infinite and holy Creator God sent His Son and Representative to come to this earth, live as a human, so that He, Yeshua, could be the perfect representative and sacrifice for all of humanity, thereby making a way that we could have a restored relationship with the Creator of the Universe and walk with Him daily under the power of the Holy Sprit, parakleto

Php 1:6-11 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

heilikrinḗs - tested by sun

2 Cor 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

Gal 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

2 Cor 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

The basis for your Christian walk and life is your Identity

- Truest thing about you

What does that look like?

Eph 5:15-20 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Colossians 2:20–3:17 ESV

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.