I No Longer Identify Myself as a Christian PART 2
My last blog post was focused more specifically on the Gospel because I wanted to emphasize what it is I believe, as well a longing to share the gospel. I wanted to make people think about what it was I was saying, and now I intend to explain more in depth why I am not a christian.
Before you read this, I urge you to pray and ask for a spirit of understanding. Let the Holy spirit speak to you through this.
Have you ever wondered where the term Christian actually came from? Something that you may not know, is that the disciples of Christ were actually first called Christians in Acts 11: 26. It was not a name created by the brethren themselves, but made by the people of Antioch in contempt for the church. The disciples of Christ never used this name for themselves, they often referred to themselves as brethren, or saints. Peter used the name christian in 1 Peter 4:16. But he is only referring to it because people were accused by Jews and gentiles, there crime was being a christian, a word made by them, not by the disciples. Paul says do not be ashamed of the Gospel, and to Give God the glory for your persecution. Later the name was embraced by disciples, and they accepted it as a title (This came after the bible. The word christian is used three times in the new testament, and I have said two of them.)
The name christian is not of Christ. Christian is merely a nickname, it is in no way a piece of my relationship. The nickname christian meaning is no longer even the same as it once was. Today it ranges from taking one day out of your year to attend a church, or doing special works in order to appease a guilt inside that is there from a distorted half knowledge of who Christ is. In the origination of the nickname, I would’ve accepted the use gladly, because it was a form of persecution, name calling. I would only have received it by living out my faith and people seeing that and getting scared. Now I just have to have a bible verse as a bumper sticker, and I am good.
I accept the responsibility that Christ has called me to in my life. I want to leave my comfort zone, I want to go out and serve my God who has provided me with eternity. I’m done with the American lies that have been set before me. I’ve been conversing with people who’ve done door to door ministry in African villages. Villages where speaking the name of Christ gets you a one way trip to being burned by the stake. I have seen with my eyes the pain, suffering and hurt in the communities around me. But we as “christians” don’t have the guts to speak to our neighbors. I’m not saying I’m perfect, in fact, writing this I feel some major conviction in my heart, because I don’t know the name of my neighbors three doors down from me. But I am even more tired of the American lie that I can’t talk about this. I might offend some of my readers, and guess what, That’s OK.
We are called TO SPEAK LIFE.
Instead, we hide behind the name christian. Your faith is not a ticket to heaven. It is not a one time prayer and your done. I have heard this so many times, “Don’t make people question their salvation.” Well WHY NOT? If you have experienced the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, then you should know. Besides, it has never been about going to heaven. So yes, I want you to question if you are a disciple of Christ, but don’t hide behind the title of christian, because that is not what a relationship with Christ is.
I see it so much today, I am not judging, because I am just as much of a sinner. I see people living under the name christian who stick to it right up until society doesn’t agree. Look at the bible, look at the words of Jesus. Let the Spirit speak to you, because it will if it is in you (that is material for an upcoming blog post). Just because society says that adultering, abortion, and homosexuality are okay, that does not make it true. I’m not being intolerant, or close minded, or mean, I am listening to words of God, in love and adoration. If you say that you are a christian and your beliefs, don’t line up with Christ, than in prayerful consideration, bring that to Him. If you oppose those ideals, if you oppose the words of God, then you oppose God himself.
Time to get biblical. The bible, the word of God, that is what my faith is based on. So it is where I should build the foundation of my beliefs, my actions, and my words. I will start in Luke 14 verse 26. I would just type up the bible verses, but I think you guys can open yours up to see for yourself, these aren’t my words in the first place.
The Greek word miséo literally means to hate. That is not an error in translation. What he is saying here is that if a person’s thinking does not line up with him, we are called to hate that way of thinking, and through that, that person. We are to put no one above God, no one. Agreeing with someone over the word of God is idolatry, it’s the love of that person or ideal more than God himself. To examine a biblical example of this, we can look at Mark 8: 31-33. Peter’s worldly thinking did not line up with God’s plan, and he rebuked Jesus. How does Jesus reply to it? “GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!”
Back to Luke 14. verse 27 explains another requirement of a disciple. It describes the symbol of death. In modern terms, he is saying pick up you electric chair, pick up your water boarding, pick up you flames and follow me. The cross is not a piece of JEWELRY. It is the bloody symbol of death in the times of Rome. Jesus was not the only person killed on a cross, people were butchered, and the cross is a symbol of torture! as a disciple of Christ, persecution will come from people because they hated Christ first.
In Luke 14 verse 33, it addresses something that we look over a lot today. No possession should be above God. Never in the bible does it say that we are called to be comfortable. The jobs we get aren’t for money, GOD WILL PROVIDE. The purpose of a job is to spread the word of God to the broken, those who need it. If you feel like you are called to a promotion, ask yourself, how does this fit into God’s ministry. It was never about a house, or a car, or anything else. Ecclesiastes chapter one and two make it pretty clear how much possessions are worth.
We might have earthly jobs, but it’s time to remember that Matthew 28 verse 16 is what our real job is. Being a christian does not make you automatically lined up with Christ, it does not mean you have the relationship. If you believe in the power of the Jesus Christ, it should be reflected in your life. Look at your legacy, what fruits have your life left? As a christian, in today’s standards, you can live your life without accomplishing things in the kingdom. So I don’t want to be a Christian. I am not a title made up by people who didn’t understand Christ. I am a disciple of Christ. I will try my best to live like it. I will fall, I will make mistakes, but that is okay. I have my savior Christ. I will live like an apprentice of his.
I write my posts through prayer and conversation with the Holy Spirit in my heart. I try hard to back my words with biblical evidence.
Once again, If I have offended any of you, or you have questions about this post, I encourage you to email me.
