Who is a Christian? While there are many who claim to be a Christian and claim that others are not, what does the Bible say and how do Christ and His Apostles tell us how to identify those who are His followers.
There are few references (1 Peter 4:16 and Acts 26:28) in the New Testament to “Christian;” however, there are more references to how we might identify a disciple and friend of Christ (John 8:31, John 13:35, John 15:14) with a few additional clues which may be helpful (Matthew 7:16-20).
We’ll examine and discuss this issues here and try to sort out definitions of men added to and sometimes even distorting the truth, from the authoritarian words of Christ and His Disciples.
There is a significant debate about the Hellenism of Christianity and whether doctrines were altered over time; however that is not the point of the discussion. The discussion here is not about the nature of God and what one person believes in contrast to another; but what, if we believe the Bible, Christ and His apostles said were the ways to know if someone was His disciple, friend, or a prophet. Wouldn't anything more, without divine authorization, be adding to scripture?
So what do the aforementioned scriptures state?
The first scriptures do not do a very good job of explaining what a Christian is except that perhaps, like many other in the world a Christian may suffer; but in the first example, perhaps in the cause of Christianity. 1 Peter 4:16 states : Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
The second is from a favorite story in the New Testament where Paul is attempting to teach King Agrippa and the faithless Agrippa responds: Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28). While "Christian" is mentioned, neither of these scriptures do a very good job of explaining what a Christian is.
The next scriptures tell us how to know if someone is His disciple: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"
What does it mean to continue in His word? Does continuing in His word mean to live and keep His commandments?
John 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
John 14:15
¶If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 14:21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
What else do the scriptures say about knowing who His disciples are: :By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35
This seems pretty clear to me with the exception that some today define love differently than is apparent in the scriptures; however, I won't go into that further; though the reader is free to discuss this in the comments section.
In John 15:14 the Savior takes a little different approach which ties us back to some of the previous scriptures: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." Perhaps it is not enough to believe alone.
And the last scripture mentioned above is from Matthew 7:16-20 and tells us that we "shall know them by their fruits." While this refers specifically to prophets, and even more directly to false prophets, does this not also refer to all who confess to follow Him? What are the fruits you might expect of someone who professes to follow Christ?
1 comment:
You did a good job of defining a Christian. I don't think that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints need to worry about comments like the news person said. It is one by one that we show that we are Christians. I work with a person that together we comment on another person who used to work with us that by the world standards would be labeled a Christian and elegible for funds from the Christian right, but we don't believe he acts very much like a Christian. One teacher was going to ask him for help for a reference from the Bible. I told her that I could help her. I found the reference for her and started to explain the reference for her, she cut me off. She only wanted the reference, not the explaination. It surprised her that I could supply the reference for her. It is little steps like that that will make the difference.
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