I was thinking of some posts on being a "Christian" and not liking the name because of the preconceived notions that people have of that. Then I started to think about the name itself, and it's origins. "Little Christ" is what it means, and it started not long after Jesus death and ressurection. But I do not think it was a term of endearment. Christ is the name of an office. Just like king, amir, czar, or emporer. So being a little christ, is like being a little king. I am no king or person of authority, and I do not want to be. So I can't be a christian.
This make me happy. I felt a sort of betrayal by refusing to be called a christian. But when I look at it in this light. It makes complete sense to me.
Jesus the Christ, or Christ Jesus. Just like Queen Elizabeth, or Elizabeth the Queen.
9 comments:
Very interesting post! I'd never thought of the term 'Christian' that way before.
Seriously good point. Maybe Jesus follower IS a better term. Or, all stigmas aside, I like "Jesus freak".
You probably know I'm struggling with that same thing myself, since you're reading my blog. :-)
I'm finding the term "Christ follower" more preferable than "Christian" (maybe because the words that seem to be resonating most with me these days are from people using that terminology), but "follower of Jesus" seems to be what I call myself when I have to be tagged with a label for whatever reason. (I do NOT like labels.)
I'm actually working on a "not a Christian" blog entry myself, but I haven't found the glue yet to stick all the bits and pieces together.
i have been struggling with this word for more than a decade but was admonished by my pastor to hold onto it as it was our heritage and birthrigth. but now... now i just don't care. in fact, truly, there is so much negative baggage associated with that word that i have no problems chucking it out in favor of something fresh and living and completely unlaiden with piles of stinky shit! and whatever that fresh thing is can change monthly, weekly, or daily if you desire. as long as you are inspired anew and pushed ever onward towards this mode of becoming more like The Tremendous Incomprehensible. and if that's what it does for you, then it's okay with me.
and honestly, i think some people may have trouble throwing out something as silly as a word. and ENGLISH word for crying out loud, because for them, perhaps, there is power in the word. there is power in the tradition.
there was another group of god worshippers who felt the same way. they held power in the major religion of the day. right about when jesus showed up the first time. hmmm.
Hey Nate ... I'm here ... had some pc problems and am going through a really busy and pressure filled time ... thanks for missing me :-)
If we are children of God having accepted His gift of salvation by simply receiving Christ ... then we are lovers ... yes of this world ... "For God so loved the world ... that whosoever ... :-)
Christians were first given the name "Christian" in Antioch while Paul(known as Saul then) and Barnabas were teaching at the church there. Acts 11:26 points out that the disciples there were first called Christians. We also find Peter speaking of Christians in 1 Peter 4:16.
I expect you're already aware of this, as it's pretty simple to do a word search on Bible Gateway and discover where the term comes up in scripture. However, what does it mean, literally?
The original Greek word was, transliterated, Christianos. Strong's defines this as "Christian, a follower of Christ". The suffix "ianos" was often used to denote a slave of the individual whose name precedes the suffix. For example, Heatherianos would be a slave of Heather in ancient Greek. Just as such, Christianos would be a slave of Christ. As such, it really doesn't mean small king, but, as was popularly used way back in the day, a slave of The King.
Thank you for the word lesson. I would willingly accept the title christianos. Becuase that is what I have chosen for myself. But, christian, no.
Thanks for stopping by. I love learning in any form possible.
I agree, as you know. There are much better terms than "Christian".
The earliest believers didn't call themselves Christians. If they called themselves anything, it was "followers of The Way" or disciples of the Messiah.
It doesn't matter what title we use for ourselves. "By their fruit you shall know them", not by their label.
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