Are You A Christian?

Many of us today call ourselves Christians, to use as an umbrella term for our specific denomination. Many Catholics call themselves Christian along with Methodists, Lutherans, Anglicans, and non-denominational. How did the term “Christian” become a term for all of these variations and denominations of beliefs? One reason is that they all came from the same place believe it or not. My hypothesis is that people stopped reading their bibles or tweaked the initial intent of the Bible for their own beliefs (the Catholic bible was revised so many times, that it can no longer be looked at as the same book since its debut). I submit to you that, with all of these “Christian” denominations, there is only one group who can call themselves Christians. Hopefully, I will be able to describe that group to you. And you can make the decision for yourself. Are you a true Christian?

The term “Christian” was the name given by the Greeks or Romans in reproach to the followers of Jesus. It was first used in Antioch: “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). The term Christian “occurs three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26, 26:28, I Peter 4:16). The term disciple occurs twenty-nine times in the New Testament. The reason why Christians are not called disciples is because other men besides Jesus had disciples. So if you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Christ.

Now, since Christians are really disciples of Christ, you should know the definition of disciple—A scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Matt 9:14), and the Pharisees (Matt 22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes in his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Matt 10:24, Luke 14:26,27,33; John 6:69). This is a Christian or, a disciple of Christ. 1) A scholar—do you know your Bible, 2) imbibes his spirit—do you have the Holy Ghost, 3) imitates his example—do you follow his teachings. Not all of the aforementioned denominations encourages reading your Bible, not all of them believe that we should have his Holy Spirit. So how can all of these denominations call themselves Christians if they do not encourage these ideas?

The term Christian also ascribes to being “Christ-Like”: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:24). Obviously, He wants nothing less than spiritual perfection and maturity. He also expects us to be good examples on earth: “Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour, werewith shall it be salted” (Matt 5:14). We are the examples for the world to look to. If we are not acting like true Christians (Disciples of Christ), who will help save the world. How can you party with the world, how can you drink with the world, you cannot call yourself a Christian and act as a sinner at the same time: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”(Matt 6:24).

There is no such thing as a good Christian, a bad Christian, or a mediocre Christian. You are a Christian or you are not a Christian, there is no in-between. If you are in-between, it is just as bad as not being a Christian at all: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16). The message of this verse is clear: a part-time Christian is not a Christian and God will reject you at the white throne of judgment. “I don’t have time to read my Bible” or “I only go to Church on Christmas and Easter” are common excuses. A hard head makes a soft tail: “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. Many will say to me in that day Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in they name? and done many wonderful works? And I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:21-23). Yet again I ask you: Are you a Christian?