What Does the Word "Christian" Really Mean?

Saints, 

The meaning of a word is important. Take the meaning of the word Christian for example. What does this word mean? What does this word mean in the United States? What does it mean in the cultures of Belarus, Russia, North Korea, India, China, Pakistan, Uganda, Libya, or the Ivory Coast? What degrees of variation in meaning have been applied to this term throughout the last 2,000 years? There is a lot to discuss here, but I want to look at what this word meant to those that first used it. Christ-followers were first called Christians in Antioch.

What was happening in Antioch according Acts chapter 11?

Acts 11:19-26 (NASB)
¹⁹ So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.
²⁰ But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
²² The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
²³ Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
²⁴ for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
²⁵ And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;
²⁶ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

First of all, we find that the stoning of Stephen (Acts seven) caused the gospel to be spread—yes, suffering and persecution caused the church to scatter. After Stephen was stoned, it became apparent that followers of Christ could die for their faith. (This makes we wonder why we so often conclude today that God’s will would never include “suffering” for His followers—why do we think this?) As a consequence of this scattering, we find a church growing in Antioch. How did a large number of people turn to the Lord? Verse 21 explains that the “hand of the Lord was with them.” How did the church in Jerusalem respond when they heard God was moving in Antioch? They sent a great encourager, Barnabas. What does Barnabas do? When Barnabas saw the grace of God, He encouraged them with a resolute heart to remain true to the Lord.

Then we find Paul and Barnabas teaching the church in Antioch for a year, where the disciples were first called Christians.

So what do you think the term Christian meant back when they first used it? Let’s compare it to what it means in some circles today. Today, to some, it means someone who lives in the United States. It can also mean someone who attends church. It means a group of folks who seek out others like them to meet together. It means someone who studies the Bible. No, brothers and sisters, when these Antioch believers were first called Christians; it described those who were like Christ or those who followed after Christ, no matter the cost.

Dear brother and sister, this is one definition we must get right. Even so, this is one definition the enemy loves to redefine. So, today, I want to challenge us to check our thinking. Let’s make sure that our definition of Christian lines up with the Bible’s definition of Christian.

We only have time for a few points to discuss.

First, do you have a passion or love for God? And second, do you have a passion and love for people? And third, do these passions drive your life? These are not exhaustive, of course, but they are important.

Remember what Jesus said when the Scribe asked Him what was the most important command?

Mark 12:28-31 (NASB)
²⁸ One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?"
²⁹ Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God is one Lord ;
³⁰ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul , and with all your mind, and with all your strength .'
³¹ "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself .' There is no other commandment greater than these."

These are good questions to answer, because sometimes our mind does not connect with our heart. Friends, what is in our hearts drives our lives. We may think we truly love God and truly love people, but if we do not live like we do, then we do not truly love. Another way to say this is that we live what we truly believe, not just what we think we believe.

So, to help us think this through, let me offer a few thoughts. This means that if we truly love God and people, we will be ready to give our lives to be spent for the gospel. It means that we will pray. Yes, pray. Because if we love God and if we love people, we will be compelled to pray for their salvation—that they will know God for eternity. Why, you ask? We pray because we are utterly incapable to affect a person’s heart. Only God can do this. The more we pray—the more we rely on God. The less we pray—the more we rely on ourselves.

As I see it, if we truly love God and people, our driving passion will not be to seek and secure comfort or comfortable living. We will, however, offer the Father our lives to be spent as He determines.

Father, You know how we live. You know are hearts. Please convict us of any redefining we may be a part of, whether it is individual or corporate. Help us to truly worship you in Spirit and truth. Help us to be true Christians, like the very first so-called Christians in Antioch. Father, take our lives and spend our lives on Your purposes for Your glory! In Jesus name we pray, amen. 

Compelled to pray and desperate for God, Steve