I’m A What?
Sunday, April 5th, 2009James Duncan recently posted a commentary on what the new term “Christ-Follower” means.
So, in all fairness I disagree with some points.
Point number 1: “It rejects Christianity.”
Duncan firsts overgeneralized that only emergents label themselves with this term. I am a Christ-Follower, but much more. Yes, I agree that it is the “trendy” thing to say now and a good majority of Christians have abandoned the term because they have a warped view that it will change how people perceive them. Well, I’ve got some bad news, until we live as Christ, the Christian or Christ-Follower image will not change. If we are going to go biblical, then we should go by what the early apostles addressed the first people of the faith as, “believers” or “those who believed.”(Acts 1: 15, 2:44, 4:32 15:23, 2 Corinth. 6:15, John 4:41, 1 Peter 2:17 James 2:1 *note references were taken from ESV and NIV translations). Upon believing in His name, the believer would become a follower of Christ (Mat 16:24, 8:22).
Point number 3: “It rejects God’s family”
God does use family terminology to describe the Church. God is our Father, we are Christ’s bride and all believers are brothers and sisters. So lets call each other as God views us as–a family, full of brothers and sisters.
Point number 4: “It rejects grace”
Yes, the term does when it stands alone. When the term is precedes belief it absolutely creates a work-based salvation. When “Christ-Follower” proceeds the statement of faith, it is living out that faith–not attributing your salvation to yourself.
So what am I?
All equivocation aside, I am a believer and follower in my Lord Jesus Christ who is changing me in mind and actions.
Grace and Peace.