Christians

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. – Acts 11.25-26

‘Christian’ is a word used in a lot of ways today. We have the Christian west and we speak of Christian nations. It is used culturally to speak of people who have had a  concept of Christian principles and has those written into their laws.

But there is a much deeper origin to that word. It was first used of the beleivers in Antioch. Some say it was first a term of mockery or derision. I honestly don’t know about that. What I want to see is what a ‘Christian’ is. The word, it is basic form simply means ‘of Christ.’ That term has been debated and described a ‘little Christ’ or ‘follower of Christ’ or a few other things but I think ‘of Christ’ really nails it. That mean that our essence is not His essence. We are born again because of Him and through His power. He is in us and we are in Him. Christ in us is our hope of glory.

The question we must ask ourselves is if the people we encounter everyday see Christ when they see us. Do they see Him in our words and actions and attitudes and behaviour and how we treat others? If not are they any better than that cultural generic use of the word ‘Christian.’

Do people really see you and me as ‘of Christ?’