What is a Christian? Its origin held significant meaning, yet today it is a term thrown around by every kind of person with every kind of doctrine, including those which have no association to Jesus Christ or His church at all.
Those who feel the word represents “good” call themselves Christian. This comes from some sense that morality or good works are associated with this term. However, what morality is would be debatable among this group as well as what is good. The term “Christian” to them is still a word they want to align themselves with, even if it is only to comfort their conscience from some fear that hell is real and it’s possible to go there. Sadly, the term has been so diluted that those who are not Christians still claim Christianity. By doing so, they change its meaning and its value.
I, for one, want to boldly exclaim that it is indeed very important.
Acts 11:26 tells us they were first called Christians at Antioch. Its origin in Greek came from the persecution of those who were known as servants or followers of Christ. The word Christ itself means anointed one and not Jesus’ last name. A Christian believed that Jesus the Christ was and is the Son of God and not a mere man. That He died and resurrected from the dead; and ascended back into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for His saints. These “Christians” were baptized in His name, believed in the power of His name to perform miracles, signs, and wonders by healing the sick and casting out devils, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit as were the 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost, which was the gift of the Father.
That, my friends, is not a word that just anybody can claim association. These bold men and women feared God more than man, loving not their own lives. You couldn’t even serve food to the widows if you were not full of the Holy Spirit.
So today, I challenge us all to ask ourselves, am I a Christian?
Jaime Luce
