Called Christians

I do not think I deserve to be called a Christian. Most of my believing friends would probably disagree with that statement, but I think it is possible that some of my friends who do not believe in Jesus for eternal life would probably agree with me. To some of my unbelieving friends, I probably do not fit their idea of how a follower of Jesus should live, talk, and act.

And guess whose opinion is more important?

In this matter (as in many others), the opinion of those who do not believe in Jesus for eternal life trumps the opinion of those who do. So, I guess I cannot call myself a Christian.

And as I was thinking about this recently, I realized that this is exactly the point!

The first group of people who were called “Christians” did not claim the title for themselves. Instead, it was a title given to a group of people who not only believed in Jesus, and talked a lot about Him, but also lived like Him in generosity, service, forgiveness, and love. They were “called Christians” (Acts 11:26). I believe that the title “Christian” is like the British honorary title “Sir.” Neither are titles that can be taken; both can only be bestowed.

There are great masses of people today who like Jesus and think He and His teachings are great, but who want nothing to do with those who claim to be His followers, by those who claim to be “Christians.”

However, I firmly believe that if a group of people who believed in Jesus for eternal life, and committed themselves to living and loving like He commanded, a watching world would soon take notice, and declare, “Now here…Here is a group of people that could be called Christians, for here is a group who seems to take Jesus seriously and want to live like Him.”

To me, that would be the greatest honor I could receive in this life. I don’t want to take the name “Christian.” But if I could be called a Christian, now that would be something! If a person who is not a follower of Jesus could look at my life over years of observation and friendship, and say “You are what I imagined followers of Jesus to be like. You are a true Christian” I would consider my life a success.

So who is calling you a Christian? Is it just you and your other “Christian” friends? Do people who are not “Christians” look at your life and say that you just don’t look like the Jesus they read about in Scripture? If so, my guess is that you are claiming a title you have not yet earned.

Don’t call yourself a Christian until someone who is not a Christian calls you one first.