Are you a Christian or a "Christ Follower"? Is there a difference? Does it matter? For some - apparently so. I've been somewhat curious as to what's behind this new fad that would cause life long Christians to want to suddenly be referred to as "Christ follower" instead of as a "Christian". Don't get me wrong - a Christ follower is a very good thing and I'm one myself. But why the change? What's the big deal? Is it bad to be called a "Christian"? After all, "Christ followers" have been called "Christians" for nearly 2,000 years. The name started all the way back in Acts 11:26 where we learn that the disciples were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. The Apostle Peter later added: "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." 1 Peter 4:16. I do praise God that I bear that name - Christian. And that's why I'm not sure we should be so quick to abandon that name. It's fitly described believers for the last 2,000 years - and now it suddenly doesn't work for some?
I get that there have been plenty of hypocrites, bad eggs and just plain lousy representations of Christianity that have without question hurt the name of Jesus and the name "Christian". But is that alone a good reason to abandon the name 'Christian' - given that the name 'Christian' literally means 'Christ follower' anyway?
I'm a big fan of Ohio State football. I went to the Ohio State/Michigan game a couple of years ago in Columbus with a friend of mine who is a Michigan fan. I wore my scarlet and gray and he wore the Michigan maize and blue. Throughout the day he was treated OK by most of the fans. There were, however, exceptions - exceptions who acted like absolute idiots and embarrassed me as an Ohio State fan. Since that time and despite those bad eggs, I haven't once considered calling myself a 'scarlet and gray follower' instead of a Buckeye fan in order to distance myself from miscreants who like the same team as I. My friend is also smart enough to know that not all Buckeye fans act like some did at that game. I could give other examples - but the point is that you will find clueless, out of touch, ignorant people in ALL genre's of life - so are we going to find other names to label ourselves with when we find whatever term(s) we are labeled with is no longer cool?
History reveals that there have been plenty of fakes and frauds doing terrible things while they carried the name of Jesus - but that didn't cause Luther, Huss, Tyndale or Wesley to abandon the name Christian. Are we smarter than they were?
Do people who prefer the label "Christ follower" really think they they are going to outrun the negative examples and phonies who wear the name of Christ? Good luck with that. Give 'Christ Followers' enough time and they will undoubtedly garner more than their fair share of hypocrites as well. Then what happens? Another name change?
Part of this name change appears to be attempt to put distance between those believers whom they deem to be uncool and/or out of touch. Which leads me to this thought: I don't think we're smarter than the saints of old, but I do think we may be more smug. The smugness with which this "Christ follower" thing is coming off is what bothers me. It's a smugness fed by generational conceit. It's the old "I'm better/smarter/got-it-more-figured-out/ than you do" thinking.
Can we dispense with the 'label war' and let believers be who they are, and concern ourselves with loving our neighbors as ourselves while going after God with every fiber of our being? What's the point of mocking and belittling other believers anyway? Is this what a real 'Christ follower' should be doing?
I guess some believers love their labels more than they realize.
Maybe it's just more "politcally correct". You know how you can't call short people "short" you have to call them "vertically challenged". It's just stupid and a different way of saying the same thing. People don't seem to realize they need to make Jesus the center of their lives not make their lives the center of Jesus. He's God - not them. No matter what they call themselves.
ReplyDeletewatching those video clips - I just can't stand seeing other believers put down for standards that they feel are important (like dress, music, what translation of the Bible they use) - it's neither right nor necessary.
ReplyDeleteI think for some people, they use it to be "cool" or distance themselves from the folks that have given the name "Christian" a bad name.
ReplyDeleteFor others, I just think they're trying to use more precise language. Yes, Christian means "Christ-follower" in its origin, but today when someone says he's a Christian, you have to ask him what he means by the term. Did he have an emotional reaction to a sermon and pray a prayer as a child, but doesn't have an ongoing walk? Does he call himself a Christian because he gives mental assent to the teachings of Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth? Does he call himself a Christian because he attends services at Easter and Christmas, tries to live a good life, and doesn't align himself with any other major religion or atheism?
I think for many the use of the "Christ follower" name is an attempt to get past all the varying definitions of Christian that exist in our culture, and get to the heart of what being a Christian really is: being a disciple (follower) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It's getting past a one-time conversion experience or "I became a Christian" and getting to the daily "being a Christian" of discipleship.
I do agree that those who use the term "Christ-follower" while putting down those using the name "Christian" are not being very good followers. They're kind of like the churches that talk more about what they're against than what they're for.
I agree with you Brian - so isn't this really a matter of Biblical illiteracy then - or at least unbiblical definition of salvation?
ReplyDeleteFor a person to think they can be a Christian for the reasons you describe is an indictment on the church and church leadership as much as anything else, imho.
The term "Christ Follower" or "Jesus Follower" is much more than just a term change. It's part of the emergent church where they follow what Jesus said in terms of helping the poor and the disenfranchised. But they don't talk about the cross or old-fashioned terms that Jesus said like "born again." This is simply liberal Protestantism repackaged.
ReplyDelete@Eric
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about the generational aspects of this. It seems like there is a clear disavowel among much of the rising generation for those with snow on the roof, those doddering old fools! They don't even want to be in church with their elders. It looks to me more like cocky teenage angst run amok than thoughtful reactions to prior hypocricy.
@diane r
Liberal Protestantism revivified... I think you're spot on. Everything old is new again.
While I understand the frustration with a video such as this (I find it idiotic and repulsive) - I think care needs to be taken that a person who uses the term to describe him/herself is not categorized as cocky or emergent or whatever. (Their daily walk and fruit speaks for itself.) I believe you are then guilty of the same labeling offense. The term "Believer" is used more times than the word "Christian" in the New Testament. I refer to myself as a Believer in Christ first and foremost. Yes, I follow Him, therefore I am also a follower of Christ. And, I am a Christian, a Saint, a Chosen One, a Child of the King, a disciple of Christ - I could go on. I think what matters is not what we call ourselves, but that what we are doing in word and deed is done to give glory to the name of Christ (Col. 3:17.)
ReplyDeletejerz - agreed, and the term 'disciple' is used far more than 'believer' or 'Christian' - so based on that why not use that term?
ReplyDeleteYet still, to hear the corrective, "I'm not a Christian - I'm Christ Follower" is funny - and the 'why' behind things like that are always interesting to me.
It has been my experience recently that the word Christian is becoming more and more of a political term as well. We do use labels such as liberal, conservative, progressive, fundamental etc.. and to tell the truth I imagine that is why we are seeing a shift in language for some people. Maybe they see it as separating the term political Christian from apolitical Christ Follower.
ReplyDeleteRepackaging the word Christian isn't a bad thing especially with all the baggage that the word Christian conjures up in today's culture.
Not all "emergents" are just advocating justice and neglecting the cross. Just the most visible leaders, which I think we can all agree that regardless of your religious affiliations, the leaders tend to be more polarizing than anything else. It is no longer either/or it is both/and.
And remember, we were once followers of "The Way," of course that wouldn't be politically correct in our culture today either would it?
what i find interesting is that Christ follower--while it may be an accurate term--could convey a concept of works righteousness. i could see how a nonbeliever could hear Christ follower and think that the standard for being in good standing before God is how diligently you follow Him.
ReplyDeleteTo which I have to ask, "Are we most concerned about conveying an accurate gospel, or having a hip reputation?"
danny - that's really a great point and that fits the 'social justice' emphasis that I see from the emergent movement. Visiting some of these emergent church websites one would think that salvation is indeed found in works, i.e., social justice and not through faith alone in Christ alone.
ReplyDeleteHey Eric, I believe in the title Christian as well as Christ follower. I am writing a book now with that in the title. However, I agree with you to many are turning from the saints of old trying to do the new thing...whatever that is. For me,I am using the phrase as a rebuttal more or less, against the popular term "Jesus follower". Don't get me wrong I am a follower of Jesus, but many are using that phrase because they relate to his humanity and want to emulate that towards humanitarian causes, while ignoring His divinity. When we say we are following Christ, we are following His Kingship and Lordship. Therefor Christ followers are living in humble submission to His divine nature as well as His humanity that was expressed in the gospels. The truth is...He is on a throne, not walking around palastine. So I am a christian who worshipfully follows Christ.
ReplyDeleteRob - thanks for you post. You make a great point about those who follow Jesus emphasizing His humanity over his divinity - and I like your explanation of the term "Christ follower".
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