Christian is defined as a "person who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ". Ask anyone you know what a Christian is and you'll probably get a different answer from each of them. They might say it's someone who believes in God, or someone who believes that Jesus is God's son, someone who goes to church a lot, or perhaps someone who has been baptized or has prayed to ask Jesus into their heart. But, believe it or not, the Bible say much about being "Christian". I've learned all this in the last few days from a bible study we're doing in Sunday School by Andy Stanley called "Christian, it's not what you think". It has completely changed my perspective. Stanley says, if we're honest, a lot of people would define Christians as: "judgmental, homophobic, moralists who think they are the only ones going to heaven and secretly relish the fact that everyone else is going to hell." That made me laugh, but it is truly what some people think, and I believe what we often fear that others will think about us. The fact is, a Christian can be defined in a million different ways. The word Christian only appears three times in the bible and it's not defined! It was actually a derogatory term used by people outside of the "Jesus community" to describe the ones who were inside it. The people inside the "Jesus community" never used it to describe themselves! Let me say that again, the followers of Jesus never called themselves Christians. The bible does define the followers of Jesus, but it is not as Christian....it is as Disciples. Disciple is defined in Webster's as "one who accepts the teachings of and who assists in spreading the doctrines of another. An adherent follower." That's very different from simply believing in Jesus Christ. The bible says even the demons believe in Jesus. They know exactly who He is, and they fear Him. Anyone can believe. But, believing is very different from actively participating. It's very different from being an adherent follower. So, the next question is....Are we disciples, or are we just Christians? Are you a disciple of Jesus or are you a Christian? Are you an active follower of Jesus, or do you just believe in Him? It's a disturbing question isn't it? It makes us uncomfortable. It's very specific. Because if you define yourself as a disciple of Jesus, it requires something specific of you. It's not broad like the word Christian. Jesus gave specifics about being a disciple and it wasn't anything lengthy at all. As a matter of fact, it was quite simple. In Romans 10:9 it says if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Declare it, believe it. The evidence of that salvation is spoken of in John 13:34. "A new command I give to you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Let's just imagine for a moment that all of us in the church who claim to be Christians, lived as Jesus asked the disciples to live and we LOVED one another the way Jesus loved US?! Stop...let that sink in....Blows your mind doesn't it? What if the people looking in on our "Christian" lifestyle looked in and saw us and said, "Look... how... they... LOVE!" Wow!! What a witness for Christ that would be if we treated each other with the same kind of love that Jesus showed US! Jesus went on to explain it in John 13:35 when He said, "By THIS, EVERYONE WILL KNOW that you are my DISCIPLES, if you LOVE one another." Jesus wants other people to look at the relationship you have with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and be drawn in by the way you LOVE each other. He wants us to create a community of people who are characterized by that kind of unconditional, generous, compassionate, giving, almost ridiculous kind of love. Can you even imagine the transformation in our church if we loved that way? What about the transformation in our families? This is EPIC! This is WORLD SHAKING!! Do you understand how this could change the ENTIRE world's view of what a "Christian" is?! We're not some broad spectrum of loosely based rules and beliefs. We are to be Disciples of Jesus....not just believing, but actively loving each other the same way Christ loved us! We are to be adherent followers, striving to be like Him and HE... IS... LOVE.
1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them.
"Christian, it's not what you think" by Andy Stanley
Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK6Ohz5DH0o
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