The Connotation of 'Christian'

Scripture: Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26

Observation: While it is difficult to tell based on the timeline of Acts, Barnabas' preaching in Antioch is likely ~12 years after Jesus' resurrection. This accounts for the time of the church being established in Jerusalem before it was scattered (3 years), then the events of the scattered apostles, conversion of Saul, and his time of learning. It says Barnabas and Saul spent at least another year in Antioch. (Wikipedia says Barnabas returned from Antioch to Jerusalem in 44 AD.)

It was here - in modern Turkey - the word "Christian" was born. Prior to that, believers were referred to by phrases like "followers of The Way". It took a decade for someone to decide to "classify" them. Other people groups were classified - Jews, Romans, Greeks, Hellenists, Gentiles - and these classifications usually revolved around a nationality.

By labeling the believers Christians, the residents of Antioch have bestowed a status on the Church. That status, it seems, is double-edged. On the positive side, it gives the Church a standing as a people-group. It indicates it is large enough to require acknowledgment as a collective set of people with their own culture. On the negative side, it allows other to use a single word to establish a collective definition of the Church. Words like "roman" had a connotation to it, and now "Christian" can connote a meaning about believers. Individuals can be described by the stereotypes of the whole.

Application: Our modern challenge with this is that we - Christians - lost control of defining that stereotype of our own name. At one time, Christian would have meant someone who loves others. Now, in American culture it is more likely to be used as a slur for someone who is perceived to be intolerant of certain lifestyles.

I mean ... I guess it could be worse ... it could be used to connote a soldier killing over foreign land control (hello, Crusades) ... or it could refer to someone who tortures others to force public confessions of sin (no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!). Intolerant isn't the worst thing I've been called (and neither is "conservative" by the way).

And this does speak to what I have been thinking about - a topic I heard Rick Warren talk about - which is 'source of authority'. What Christian REALLY means is this: I have decided that Jesus is my source of authority, as defined by the word of God in the bible, in determining my opinion and position on all matters. That means my 'source of authority' is NOT ... culture, friends, tradition, political leaders, my parents, my spouse or even ... myself.

I am a Christian. Jesus is my source of authority. That will put me in conflict with culture, popular opinion, tradition, other individuals, and even my own desires. So be it.

Prayer: Lord, you are my guide, my Lord, my master. Jesus is not just my savior, but my authority. I have prayed to you about my fear, but my fear is only an emotion to be put aside. You are my master, and I have granted you authority in my life. I thank you for the right you gave me, out of your great love, to make that choice of my own free will. I have and do so choose to follow you, Jesus. Amen.