There are many definitions of the word "Christian" in use out there. Probably most people do not think about what it is they are saying when they use the word. For many it simply means a generally good person, and that is a reasonable definition if the definition is understood. For a lot of church type people it refers to people that are following Jesus. They take that definition from the idea that in the book of acts the Greek version of Christian was applied to Jesus' followers meaning that they were little copies of Jesus. That definition is an in house definition. The main modern usage, which I will use for this blog, has to do with the historical and Christian churches. My definition of a "Christian" is someone who has the basic beliefs and culture of members of typical Christian churches.
The problem with the "basic beliefs and culture" is that Christianity basically only pretends to love God with "all of their hearts, soul, mind and strength." We are told to not love the things of the world as part of the New Testament job description. Christianity has evolved its culture and much of its teaching and tradition to continue to love the things of the world.
Followers of Jesus on the other hand need to consider carefully all of the scripture passages that include the idea of enduring to the end. Several examples are Revelation 2:7, 12:11 and 22:12
"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." 2:7 (the same message repeated to each of the seven churches.)
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." 12:11
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." 22:12 (In context - this verse is sandwiched between verses talking about some people going to hell and others heaven. It is hard to rationalize this as talking about levels of rewards in heaven.)
Followers of Jesus strive to actually follow their Lord, not just claim to follow Him.
2 comments:
Based on the recurring arguments about who is a TRUE Christian, one wouldn't know that the category was meant to be all inclusive. Catholics call the break-away protestants Christians, but flawed ones. The Protestants in their turn call the Catholics fallen Christians. And each protestant sect acknowledges each other one - but only to a degree.
I went to a Christian Prayer Breakfast at a conference once. I was accepted until I announced MY Christian denomination - I was a MORMON, and the one thing they all seemed to agree on was that I wasn't a Christian at all!
There are a lot of issues involved in the issue of defining Christian. The one that I see as by far the most important is has the person renounced living by the worlds system to follow the Lord Jesus.
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