Culture is constantly
evolving, and language evolves with it. There was a time that gay meant happy
and carefree. The word cool used to refer to temperature and not ones state of
being. This is not good or bad, for the most part. It’s just the way language
develops. The English word, love, has many different meanings. You can love
your spouse, love ice cream, love to fish, etc. The Greeks had a much better
approach when it came to stating affection. They had four different words that
expressed a unique type of feeling for various objects of their affection.
I believe we have reached
the point in our American culture that the word Christian no longer means
what it once did. We now have Christian radio, Christian
dating sites, Christian clothing, and even Christian churches. The
United States is called a Christian nation. There is nothing Christian
about radio, websites, clothing, or nations.
The first use of the term Christian
was used by some folks in Antioch to describe those who were imitating Christ;
living the life that Jesus taught while on earth. The original intent of the
word was not complementary. It was intended as mockery. However, the name
seemed to stick and has been perpetuated through time. But like many words they
reach a place where it is no longer prudent to use them. How many times have
your heard athwart, erelong, inly, puissant, thole, or whilom in the past 10
years? Some words run their course and a more clearly understood word or phrase
takes its place.
For me, “Christian”
has reached that place. To tell another person in America that you are a Christian
is understood to mean that you attend church at some level, you probably don’t
drink much, cheat on your spouse, or steal from your neighbor – probably. That
does not describe the life of someone committed to following Jesus and desiring
to be more like Him each day.
I have started using the
term “disciple” when speaking of a relationship with Christ. That is
what Jesus recruited while He was on earth. He invited people to follow Him, He
then promised to “make” them disciples. Being a disciple
involves commitment to a person, not joining a cause. Being a disciple
is personal to the individual, not something accomplished by a group. Discipleship
becomes a way of life, not a list of things one has to do during their day or
week.
I am not claiming to have
arrived at being a disciple, but changing ones understanding of the goal puts you
on a path that will change your destiny. By changing your speech it keeps your
mind moving in a particular direction. When it’s all said and done do you want
to be regarded as Super Christian or one that spent his/her life for Christ? I
chose the later.
P.S You will not hear me
correct another for their use of “Christian”. This is a personal
conviction that I chose to share with you.
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