THERE ARE MANY different voices throughout the world who claim that they are, “Christian.” They all have their own reasons, and their own logic that makes sense to them.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
I Corinthians 14:10 The BIBLE
- In Lebanon and the Middle East, “Christian,” defines your culture/social group/neighbourhood.
- Roman Catholics and Orthodox often term themselves, “Christian,” because they began as such.
- Mormons and so-called, “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” or people referring to those groups, often refer to them as, “Christian,” because they use much of the same terminology and follow many similar practices.
- A person may refer to himself as, “Christian,” because he occasionally or often attends church services.
- A person may refer to himself as, “Christian,” because he is nice, does good works, or is, “a good person.”
- A person may refer to himself as, “Christian,” because his parents were, or referred to themselves as such.
- A person may refer to himself as a, “Christian,” because he once prayed, “the Sinner’s Prayer,” or responded positively at an evengelistic meeting or invitation.
- A person may refer to himself as a, “Christian,” because he agrees with some things said or done by Jesus or His followers.
- A person may refer to himself as, “Christian,” because an official document or organization requires some such kind of identification or differentiation from others.
- A person may refer to himself as, “Christian,” to differentiate himself from other religions or cultures.
- People may refer to themselves as, “Christian,” because they were born in the Western World.
But NONE of the above in fact defines a, “Christian.”
(The term, “Christian,” was first coined in the ancient Asia-minor city of Antioch[1] to refer to followers of Christ. Literally, it means, “Little Christ;” in English, it might be directly translated as, “Christlet,” much as one might use, “booklet,” for, “little book,” or, “tablet,” to describe a small table. Because, in Greek, the suffix, “ion,” was added to a word to accomplish what, “let,” does in English; for instance, “paidion,” means a little, “paidia,” or, “child.” No doubt, the nickname was intended to be derogatory, much as, “leaderlet,” is sometimes used to suggest that someone is a weak or ineffective leader, etc. But, just as, “Yankee,” “Canuck,” and, “Redneck,” were originally intended as derogatory words, but were adopted by those against whom they were used, “Christian,” has been enthusiastically adopted by the followers of Christ.)
Rather, at the beginning of His ministry, JESUS Himself defined what would make and define His followers, those who would eventually be termed, “Christian:”
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 8:11-12 The BIBLE
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which Is in heaven.22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:Matthew 7:20-24 The BIBLE
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be BORN AGAIN.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
John 3:3-12 The BIBLE
In other words, many religious leaders, have incorrect ideas or in fact no idea at all of what defines a Christian!
Jesus said that a man must be BORN AGAIN, and made a totally new creature, to contain and exemplify the truth of God. A man must be supernaturally and miraculously transformed by Jesus, and reflect Jesus as He would wish. It is a transformational work by the Holy Spirit of God, that comes after one has repented of his sins, and relied on JESUS to make him holy and accepted by God.
21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Mark 2:21-22 The BIBLE
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3 The BIBLE
[1] Acts 11:26
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