“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
Acts 11:26b
The name Christian means “Christ follower” or “those of the household of Christ”.
When the believers were first called Christians it was more than likely a term of derision. One they adopted along with the name they had given themselves ‘followers of the way’.
From what I understand the taking on of the name Christian run the risk of them losing the protection of the law under the
religio licita the legal religions of the Roman empire.
It also separated them form Judaism. As a result they had to look carefully at themselves and define how the mix of Jews and gentiles that was the early church worked.
Even today in some places the debate on just who is a Christian continues.
There are some denominations and “christian” groups out there that claim they are the only Christians.
In Iraq and other Arab countries everyone from the west is by many generally regarded as a Christian.
But just what is it that defines us as Christian.
I’m sure if you asked a person from Jerusalem in the time of the crusaders what a Christian was they would have said he was a blood thirsty oppressor.
Some people in the secular world today especially in North America would perhaps say Christians, in particular those who espouse to be ‘fundamental evangelicals’ are bigots who wish to restrict the freedoms of those who would espouse an alternate lifestyle.
I would go as far as saying if you looked at the words and actions of some of the self proclaimed fundamentalist Christians with a quick glance the description is not that far off.
There has been a lot of misrepresentation of Christians over the years.
Over the years in North America over zealous preachers have condemned everything from Rock and Roll to Harry Potter.
They’ve used the Bible (wrongly) to back up slavery and condemn interracial marriages.
They have gone on every tangent from the ‘God’s going to get you for that’ to ‘God want’s us all to be rich wealthy and healthy,’ the ‘name it claim it’ crowd. And when they were proved wrong they have modified their statement to side step the fact they were wrong.
The men and women who espouse such doctrines may by the slimmest of definitions be Christians but they are badly sidetracked and will one day have to answer to God.
So the question remains what it the Quintessence Christian?
Quintessence,
the Oxford dictionary defines it as “1 the most perfect or typical example or embodiment of a quality or type. 2 a refined essence or extract of a substance”
The simplest definition of a Christian that comes to mind is “a Christ follower” A person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her personal saviour. A person who is saved by the grace of God. Who has confessed their sins to Christ and been forgiven.”
Many years ago someone came up with the formula for lack of a better word of how a person becomes a Christian. It goes something like this,
1/ God loves Mankind and created man to have fellowship with Him.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17
2/ God demonstrates that Love he had for mankind through Christ Jesus,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
The apostle Paul goes on to note
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 3-4
3/ The Bible does make it clear that man is sinful and sin separates man from God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23
This is spiritual death separation for God.
4/ Scripture makes it clear however,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9
5/ Paul underlines all of this by telling us it is our faith in God that saves us, writing,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.’ Ephesians 2:8,9
6/ The writer of Hebrews notes,
“ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Hebrews 11:6
Being a Christian is or should be more than just confessing your sins however.
It has been said that if you think you’ve arrived as a Christian either your dead or you’re vastly mistaken.
All true Christians are progressing. They should be learning daily what it is to be Christian.
So then what more is there to being a Christian?
In Matthew 22:37-40 he records these words of Jesus.
“Jesus said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40
Earlier Matthew records these words,
"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:43,44
Paul writes,
“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Romans 13:10
In Romans 12:9 he states,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Paul in 1 Corinthians even defines love,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...now abides faith hope and love but the greatest of these is love.”
1Corinthians 13:4-8b,13
In Philippians Paul tells us what those of us who claim to be of the “house of Christ” should be,
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
Christians need to be servants, living at peace with those around us.
In Romans he states,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
Christians are to be good citizens submitting to the secular civil authorities providing they do not violate God’s law, Again Paul writes,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” Romans 13:1,2
Jesus as recorded in Matthew 7:1,2 warns us not to judge. And tells us what will haven if we do.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
Christians are not to be judges of the world they are to take the salvation message to the world.
To tell the world of God’s salvation. To continue the work of Christ. To tell the world
“...God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17
I firmly believe being a Christian is a way of life. It is no more burdensome than rules to be followed in a football game.
The consequences of living a Christian life however does have eternal repercussions.
Jesus said of believers,
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16
I believe unfortunately that there are many out their who claim to be Christians that have lost their way. Like I have said they are Christians only by the slimmest of definitions.
When those in the secular world see their light, they see red and run away turned off by the judgmental attitude of the so called Christian, in which they fail to see the love.
Jesus said,
“Jesus said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’”
Matthew 22:37-40
He also said,"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
Matthew 5:43,44
If we indeed are of “the house of Christ” then our lives must reflect that of our Father and Teacher. We must love and show love.
This is the quintessence of being a Christian.
