Christian? Monday, April 4, 2011

Christian?
 
Reading:Acts 11:25-26, 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
 
Christianity, with a market share of about 34% worldwide, remains the most popular religion globally. The religious landscape in North American is overwhelmingly Christian: about three in four adults identify themselves as Christian; the next largest organized religious groups are Islam and Judaism at about 1%. The percentage of American adults who identify themselves as Christians dropped from 86% in 1990 to 77% in 2001. This is an unprecedented drop of almost 1 percentage point per year. Some may be bothered by this statistic but the real question which could never be shown in a statistic is how many are really Christians? You see… if you notice in verse 26, it does not say that the disciples first called themselves Christians. Rather, they were called Christians by others by a clear observation that they were followers of Christ. We have really become a society of labels. “Christian” has just become something we call ourselves. “If I were to go to church, it would be to a Christian church, so, I would classify myself as a Christian.” But, would we bear that name or title if it meant it would cost us our lives? That’s what it meant for the Christians referenced in this passage of Scripture. It was not a compliment, it was not title… it was a brand.
 
Men, I’m sure that each one of us would consider ourselves to be a “Christian”; but, would others brand you a Christian based on their observation that you are truly a follower of Jesus Christ?
 
How will you stop simply considering yourself a Christian and, instead, live in an observable way to everyone around you today, that you are a follower of Christ? (be specific)
 
REVIEW
 
How were you able to live in an observable way that you are a follower of Christ?
 
 
What impact did that make on your surroundings and your perception of being a Christian?