Why are you called a Christian (if you are)? In the early church they were called a Christian because they were following Jesus and it was evident.
Acts 11:19-30 - 19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Do you see yourself as a Christian? If so, why? If not, why not?
Acts 11:19-30 - 19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Do you see yourself as a Christian? If so, why? If not, why not?
Posts
4 comments:
I have always called myself a Christian, but in the last 8 years, I have learned that it doesn't just mean that I believe in Jesus. To me, it means living life the way Jesus would want me to, sharing his word and setting an example that will lead non-believers to believe. I fail, but I learn from my failures, ask Jesus to forgive me and try again.
Someone wrote and asked not to be posted - so I share only part of their thought.
The church represents to me now a mechanism to show me exactly how many ways I'm a terrible person,
How sad that this person hasn't found the church I know. In my short two years at Mt. Oak I have found a church family that mainly receives people as they present themselves. True, by grace we will strive to commend each other to holy living, but, we are not anyone's judge.
It is clear that we are saved by grace. It is also clear that we are saved for more than mere salvation. We are saved to be used by God to draw others to Him. We are to allow God to work in us, through us, and in spite of us to reflect Jesus.
This is a process and not usually done over night. We will fail, confess, repent, and try again. We are not to be complacent, though when we are, if we seek forgiveness, God will grant it and urge us to fight the good fight, run the good race, and strive to reflect Christ to the world around us. Christians are called to be the ambassadors of Christ.
Would those around you see enough Jesus in you to call you a Christian?
This post ties into the current sermon series. We get Saved, usually grow and become very attempting to be pleasing. Then perhaps after a good many yrs, and life-issus, age, or whatever excuses we choice to call it, we become stuck not-so-eaer to please, or willing to grow. (if not at times fail or backslide). Perhaps luke-warm. I think Ray's comments in his nxt to last paragraph speaks directly to these things.
So yes this is the dilema, perhaps, knowing that you have become a Christian, and knowing only a complete fool, would go back to being a non-Christian, is what keeps your belief desire to continue to move forward though it's become a stroll vs a eager sprint as it once was earlier in your life. For me at least always willing to speak of Jesus to others even in the mist of my own less-than-eager walk provides me with some benefit of knowing I'm a Christian, and hoping my being honest with a non-christian or potential seeker can still be used as a vessel even in my own weaker walking stage. Always willing to see my own warts when I look in the mirror.
Hope this makes some sense?
8:47 responder again-
Some more thoughts some may simply be off the charts w/ no true basis, but my thoughts. To a stranger who does not know what a Christian is suppose to be like, how to them do they know Whom then is a Christian, I don't think we Christians wear name tags. Sure Jesus' light should shine thru us if we are a follower of Christ. I know many folks outside of Church walls, who in our discussions have informed me they are Christians, I can tell by their overall discussions that they are followers of Christ, more so because I (by being a Christian) at least can discern the Truth when the speak of issus/views RE life (regardless of my own walk in a particular stage of life), but again others who don't know the Real Truth vs what they and society has provided them with, would not know those folks to be Christian. So just thinking about it some, I think this topic is harder to pinpoint than perhaps as it may be to those who already are Christians. The large major of folks may refer to a person as a good person and not discern in affect that the person is a Christian, unless that person verbalizes it. I think Christians, like society come in a variety of flavors and in multitude of their own presentations and walk out their faith in multitude of ways. Many to some Christians may not see Christ like at all, (bsc many xs some Christians want to box everyone into their own little neatly packaged box).
Any way, just sharing thoughts here, usually out of deep deep left field, but everyone can't play centerfield-HA!!
Post a Comment