Before you think I've hit a crisis of faith, let me remind you that the first use of the term "Christian" was apparently as a derogatory label by opponents of Jesus' Antiochan followers. At some point the term Christian became appropriate, just as the object of Jesus' execution became a fashionable trinket. However, since then "Christian" has collected centuries of bad associations, from savage crusades to political agendas, hypocrisy, hatred and intolerance.
I also think the problem comes from how people aquire the label:
- Formulaic conversion experiences that require little more than a raised hand.
- Generational inheritance of the family faith without heartfelt transformation.
- Understanding Christianity as purely cultural, or what you are if you aren't Athiest, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or New Age. (my apologies to all the other faiths and isms that I don't have time to list)
If we read the account of how Jesus made disciples we don't see him handing out heavenly citizenship to anyone who simply said a sinners prayer. We don't see "Christians" around Christ trying to scare their neighbours with the prospect of hell in the hope that they will "hop into the boat" to heaven. Instead we see a group who had committed to follow Him, imitate Him, model their lives after His. In the process their stuggle with sin and guilt was addressed and their lives became as attractive as His was. Rob Bell describes the practice of New Testament discipleship in his book, "Velvet Elvis". Not his latest work but definitely one of the most significant books of recent years.
I wish I was no longer "Christian". It doesn't say enough, and other have made it what it shouldn't be. I am a learner and a follower of the way of Jesus.
Ian, I strongly agree with you!!! Muslims, Hindus, Krishna's, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and Christians all over the world need to come to learn and follow the way of Christ! I cannot more strongly agree. I am no longer "Christian", but I will gladly die for Christ; I will give every moment of my life to Him, I will follow Him where ever He leads me, I will listen and learn from Him, I devote myself to following Him and His purposes...I have to refuse the empty label of "Christian", its so so so much more than that!!! It costs a life of dedication to learning and following the way of Jesus. That costs, that demands change, and that takes willfully turning against our sin grain. So much more is demanded than is expressed by the general understanding of that label! The, once adequate, label "Christian" is, I think, to tarnished to be repaired. You need to lay down your life to gain this title. Maybe we will formulate a new label for a "learner and follower of the way of Jesus". Jaycee
ReplyDeleteDecent Blog!
ReplyDeleteScuze my spelling throughout, im noob. :)
I agree with you to a certain point.
"I also think I'll struggle to describe who I am to others if time or vocabulary is limited."
- That’s so true, if you drop the term Christian what’s left? It’s just your character and your fruit showing the world who are and what you stand for. Will the world know I live for JC if I don’t flaunt my label?
Practically, it seems impossible for a new Christian to not grab onto the very rigid formulaic Christian culture. Christianese seems like a foundation of knowledge in all of us.
When you first give your life...Oh my scone, it’s the most daunting decision ever! Christianity isn’t just a decision; it’s an extensive and hardcore education. You find comfort in structure and lucid topics, partly because you know nothing.
We know all the catch phrases, know all the rules(cultural not necessarily biblical) we should follow, know how to act and what to say/pray and even think that we have the authority to determine whether people go to hell or not. Lol.
BUT! Everyone who has an honest and willing heart grows, and there’s NO doubt that they’ll see how superfluous and unnecessary "christianese" is and embrace a lifestyle of love and fruit in the church and with Jesus.
Dean :)
I agree Ian - I am no longer Christian. I don't like being lumped with all the other "Christians" out there who hardly have any idea who Jesus really is!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blogging, I'm really enjoying it. I think Christians are often afraid to tell the truth and get their true opinions heard; instead they resort to "Christianese" and they say all the 'right things'. It's one of my pet peeves!
Casting Crowns sing this song where they talk about "happy plastic people" and how we all put on a facade and pretend like everythings fine.
So carry on with this Ian - carry on addressing issues and challenging us on how we view God, life and Christianity! Let's throw Christianese to the wind and get real with each other; but more importantly - real with God.
Well said Ian.
ReplyDeleteChristians have given Christianity such a bad name ... we've become the joke of society. I'm also embarrassed to be called a Christian.
Why can other faiths wear their labels with pride while we're frantically trying to find another label?
Why is it that it's only our God whose name is used "in vain"?
I once heard someone say that our faith is the only one worthy of attack ... the only threat to the enemy.
i really enjoyed sunday nights discussion!! it tied in with a book im reading at the moment called Starving Jesus. great book! written by the guys who started xxxchurch. i recommend it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a topic...
ReplyDeleteIts interesting to see how many connotations are attached to the title "christian"
My number one comment I get back after discussing faith and revealing im a christian is...Christains are hypocrites....(sigh)...
I agree with Jaycee's comment...nicely said brother!!!
Lisa-Jane
The amount of "hard truth" in your post is profound and almost has an awakening effect on a person that is at the same time comforting….THANKS!
ReplyDeleteLooking at my Christian Journey so far I can’t help but think that we all fall victim of this thing called Christianity and the religious acts of it. Let’s face it, religious branding (all religions) has its positives + and negatives -…. Due to their associations, (+ and -)!
What I can never take away from Christianity (formulaic), is that it’s the ‘brand’, method, movement or culture that God used to change my life. He stepped into my dark world through Christian’s….. And he didn’t just reach out to me through Christianity but has also been moulding me through it ever since the day I met Him. Therefore I can never take away what Christianity / Christians have done and is doing for me – because without it / them I wouldn’t have stepping into the available, Saving Grace of God. And to be honest, for me to subtract Christianity from my relational-package with Jesus is like cutting my nose off to spite my own face…
At the moment I am a Christian; even if its primary reason is for that person that I have a conversation with on the street! I don’t wear a WWJD band (sorry, not dissing those that do…), dress like a Christian (what ever that looks like?), speak like a Christian (hell no…). But after all is said / not said – done / not done, I am a Christian! Why, because when ‘that person’ and I get into a conversation about God, they need to associate me to something that is of a religious nature... If I describe myself as a Child of God / god, follower of Jesus, Saved – what interpretation does that leave for them? Its way too open…especially in today’s polytheistic world.
This doesn’t mean that Christianity or even Christians don’t frustrate me at times – mmmmm, now more than ever, funny enough! And the continuous thought that often crosses my mind is, “can my relationship with the Trinity survive if I remove myself from Christian circles?” And, “what would I become with out ‘Christians’ around me – besides backslidden…?”
i am a CHRISTIAN. i am proud to be a CHRISTIAN. 'like Christ', that is what the word means!
ReplyDeletecome on people, where is your courage? if nobody is prepared to stand up and be a light, if nobody is prepared to show the world what it means to be a christian, how will they ever know? i think it is a point of shame that too few people wear the title with the honour that comes with being a disciple of Christ.
i for one, am going to be a christian. i'm going to call myself a christian. i'm going to teach the world, one person at a time, what it means to be a christian. when we all start to shine that light and when people begin to see chrisitanity portrayed as it should be, then the word christian will begin to mean something good again! read any literature from sixty or more years ago and you will see that at one time the world new what 'christian' meant. i'm sick of the world stealing things from us and i'm not going to take it lying down!
sorry for the rant, but i feel so strongly about this! and i feel even more strongly about people abandoning something that has been broken, instead of fixing it!