Comments on: Ain’t No Shame

By: Linkie Goodness #5 « Should Know Better By Now

Linkie Goodness #5 « Should Know Better By Now — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:54:53 +0000

[...] Ain’t no shame in being called a Christian [...]

By: Fikret Böcek

Fikret Böcek — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:30:33 +0000

I am a Christian, a convert from Sunni Islam and now planting a church among Muslims in Asia Minor.
How Muslim or ultra-nationalist extremests understand the word Christian should not determine our usage of the term Christian.
Chase Bowers writes that Hezbollah and others in this part of the world may relate the word ‘Christian’ to the ‘Crusades’ or ‘Madonna’s cross.’ He is right. But if we avoid using the word Christian and use another word instead they think we are a new cult outside of Christianity. Some also think that we are renewing Christian outlook. I even heard some say that we are deceiving them by using another name, other than Christian.
I don’t want Crusades or Madonna or missionaries to determine whether I should use this biblical word ‘Christian.’ It sounds foolish to continue using it. But the message we carry saves Muslims by the grace of God.
fikretbocek at gmail dot com

By: mac

mac — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:29:19 +0000

Michael Adams:

I differentiate myself the same way Christians have for the past 2000 years. We are not the first generation to struggle with nominalism and charlatans…nor will we be the last. Remember, there were self proclaimed Messiahs even as Jesus walked in Israel.

By: Don

Don — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:27:01 +0000

Let me add my “AMEN!” to that!

By: Xavier

Xavier — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:42:03 +0000

Great post Kevin,

A brief response: http://www.xavierpacheco.com/post/Aine28099t-No-Shame-a-Response.aspx

By: Michael Adams

Michael Adams — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:27:15 +0000

Please help…
I have not “ditched” the term Christian, and really have not used Christ follower, but have considered it.
Where I am having issues though, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t, is that I know True sheep, know what Christian means, but when using the term to a goat, and I know it means hypocrite, It means like I was, I had been a professing Christian for well over 40 years, and helped greatly in showing that it meant hypocritical lip service.

Mac, question for you, (not meant to be pointed at you, but an earnest question I struggle with), How do you differentiate, set yourself aside, from comparing yourself to other proclaiming Christians?
How would you keep someone from saying you are a Christian, ah, you must like Joel Osteen, and you must close your eyes at scandals like the Bakers had, and you must also be a fan of Christian faith-healings of Benny Hinn.
Or you are a Church goer on Sunday’s, but on Friday night, you can drink with the best of them?

I grew up calling myself and all my family and most friends Christians, and would argue fiercely with anyone who said different, because I had “head knowledge”.

I feel the term in USA English, has been so twisted, like the term “gay” has, that when you refer to it, it’s meaning in USA has nothing to do with Jesus, except a false claim.

Thanks in advance…

By: mac

mac — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:01:40 +0000

The first I heard someone mention “Christ-Follower” and similar descriptors, I was skeptical of the reason. I understand the need for cultural sensitivity in certain regions of the world, but in North America? I found the users of the term to be a bit arrogant, thinking that the 2000 years of rich history needs to be set aside, or ashamed when they realize that the World scoffs at the Faith and always has.

I also think this follows a trend towards a shallow faith. Yes, Jesus is the greatest revelation of God, but Jesus speaks of the Father and the Holy Spirit as necessary for living the complete life. I have never met Jesus, but the Holy Spirit has revealed Him to me, and I look forward to the day when I lays eyes upon Jesus. I cannot adequately describe the Father, but the Holy Spirit shows me His work and reminds me of how Jesus spoke of doing the Father’s work. I follow Jesus, but only because the Spirit, through scripture and prayer, shows me how to follow and empowers me to do what He sees the Father doing. I am a Christian because I can be no other.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:41:34 +0000

Real belief actually requires “movement”, or action (James 2:20), and neither doctrinal statements or institutional towers are any substition. There is no name that “marks us out as His”, the only thing that sets someone apart from the World is real faith in Christ, not some label…

Have you at all considered that the “baggage” being avoided by those who choose to not use the word “Christian”, might not have anything to do with the core Truths of the Gospel, but rather political or cultural byproducts of religion?

I don’t know about you, but where I live, if you identify yourself as a “Christian”, people do not automatically think, “Oh, so you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God…” They more likely are thinking, “Oh, so you vote Republican”…

In this day and age, in my town, calling oneself a “Christian”, (a “biblical” word that wasn’t actually used by the people who believed in Christ) amounts to little more than an unintentional obfuscation of what it really means to be a servant of Jesus Christ…

By: T Smith

T Smith — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:48:45 +0000

Kevin,

When we are in India working among our forward caste Hindu friends, we usually employ “Yeshu Bakt” or “Yeshu Shishy”, both of which translate to “Follower/Disciple of Jesus.” The term “Christian” in an Indian context carries little–if any–of the substance of the biblical usage. If I call myself a “Christian” when interacting with my Hindu friends, I say nothing whatsoever about myself or my faith, Jesus or religion. This is because they already assume that my entire civilization is “Christian” without regard to what it means in our own American religious context. On the other hand, more often than not, when we use more descriptive terms as our title (like ‘follower of Jesus’), we have opportunity to share the Risen Christ. Due to Indian caste, law and media, the term Christian means a lot more and a lot less than you think.

For the record, if we call ourselves “Christian” in Hindu India, we are saying far less than by using one of the other phrases.

Thanks for the blog.
Blessings.

By: Church Furniture Guy

Church Furniture Guy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:24:05 +0000

Initially I liked the term Christ-follow when it first seemed to pick up popularity. Over time since, I have found the sense of “coolness” to be a growing reason for its use.