Been Called a Christian Lately?

I was reading a bit today in Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, who is pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. It is pretty telling when you get nailed a couple of times in the forward (Written by Chris Tomlin). Chris cites the scripture passage in Acts 11:26 where believers were first called Christians in Antioch. They were given the name by people who had watched them. Tomlin wonders if anyone could be identified today as a Christian because it was obvious by their actions.

“Christian.” A literal definition I am told means “little Christ.” We don’t know if the people of Antioch meant the term as a compliment or a pejorative — yea or yuck. But still, the believers got the name because they looked like Jesus would have looked.

I wonder if any of us have ever been approached by someone who had observed our lives, either long or short term, who said something like: “I’ve been watching you. You must be a Christian.” I don’t think I have. That is convicting. Part of the church problem is that we church people look, act, smell, think, live the way everyone else does. Sadly, we think that is how it is supposed to be.