What does it mean to be "Christian"?

I guess the once-a-week thing isn't working for me.  It's funny, given my inclination to routine and schedule...but I suppose the inspiration to write happens when it happens.

__________________________________________________________

Usually, when it comes to the meaning of words, I stand on those who came before me.  Bible, concordance, dictionary, church tradition, and such like.  Sometimes these sources differ.  It is in those moments, and many others like them, that I am reminded of the unavoidability (is that a word?) of hierarchy (a subject for another day).  Which source rules?

Anyway, the word this post is questioning is on my mind regularly.  Many folks throw it around with seeming careless abandon, all willy-nilly.  It would appear that most of the people I see tossing it around mean something very simple by it - something like "professes to believe in Jesus Christ", or perhaps "remotely associated with, at least tangentially" the same Person.

Of course, many no doubt mean, very sincerely, that they (at least attempt to) follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, as revealed in scripture.  Still others use it as a sort of short-hand way to signal the "safe-ness" of a particular thing or class of things, like for instance "Christian" comedy, or music, etc.  It is also used, ever more of late, to refer to a particular culture - itself a word in desperate need of defining.

Are any of those the correct definition?  Are all of them?  Words often come, over time, to have many different - sometimes even contradictory - meanings.  Language is, after all, at best among us fallen humans, a propositional thing.  I frequently think that it is a miracle that we can even approximately communicate meanings to each other, at all - no less a miracle than Balaam's ass speaking.

I look, first, to the bible for guidance, if available, in all matters.  So, what does it say?

Acts 11:26 | ...And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

You'll notice that it doesn't say "they called themselves", or that they "called really good things", by that Name.  It at least seems to indicate that something in their behavior led others to refer to them using that Word.  As another verse tells us:

Exo. 20:7 | Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

In fact, in the church tradition to which I belong, we attach so much meaning to this Word that we seldom use it to refer to anything in this world, much less our very own sinful selves.  As near as I can tell, we hold to a definition of "to behave like unto" the One whose Name that is.  And, since few truly humble saints would ever be so prideful as to claim their sinful self to be remotely on par with the blessed Savior...well, as I said, we seldom use it and never about self - but rather, perhaps, in reference to another.

We might think so highly of a dear brother- or sister-in-Christ, and their demonstrated devotion to His teachings, that we can claim with all sincerity, that if anyone evidences the love of God manifest in their lives, such a one does.

Please note, I am not assuming ill-intent if you use this name in ways different from me.  I merely assume most of the time you must mean one of the other, less solemn, less holy and sanctified definitions, and I try to humbly and charitably understand what you might actually mean.

But, now, you know what I mean by the word - the heavy weight attached to it in my mind - and why I don't toss it around so lightly.

Couldn't wait a week

My wife and I, as often as we can, like to sit on our (recently beautified) porch together.  Mostly in the early mornings (when I can get her out of bed that early), and late evenings.  We treasure this time (and place) together.  In the mornings it is referred to as Front Porch Coffee (FPC).

As most parents probably do, we talk about our kids - their growth, gains, losses, limitations, potentialities, personality quirks, and relive funny memories with each...we talk about my job, and her work around hearth and home (and homeschooling)...family, friends, and church...groceries, taking out the trash - you name it.

But, the most wonderful discussions we have regard our Lord Jesus Christ.  Of course, since He is the truth, and all in all, every one of our subjects center around Him; but I mean when we are specifically, explicitly, sharing the Gospel with each other.  We are, of course, not only to share it with those who have never heard it, as we are given utterance, and with those who attend His church service, but also with those who know it best - to whom it is the sweetest.

So, as often as I can, I bring up whatever scripture I might be reading or studying about currently, to think it out and to get her thoughts on it.  These are the moments that redeem the time!  These times are not trying to the soul, but unite us as nothing else can.

I write all of that only to get to the point that I can write about what we discussed during this morning's FPC.  I was relating to her my efforts to properly apprehend, comprehend, assimilate, and understand recent upheavalous (is that a word?) events...and how they should correctly be discerned, and integrated into my understanding of God's word.

I won't share all of the details of that conversation - I want to focus on one particular part of it.  A revelation - indeed, verily a vision! - that came to me.  I saw Jesus, standing before Pilate:

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

Here, He stands...accused!  The Great God Himself!  The Creator of all!  Innocent, yet not proclaiming His guiltlessness...  Not answering the charge, in any way.

That spark of revelation?  He could not speak.  Not merely that He didn't speak...but that in truth that he could not.

Oh, He was indeed innocent, and if answering for Himself, he certainly could justly proclaim His innocence of any and all charges.  But, you see, he was not speaking for Himself, but rather for His elect!  His people, whom he came to save.

Oh, He was indeed innocent, but I am not!  He took my guilt.  He was answering for me!  I am guilty!  Shortly after this, He would be nailed to the cross, and upon Him, who knew no sin, would be hung my sins.  Upon Him, perfect before the Father, would be poured out the wrath of God for my guilt!

He took my guilt, and He gave me His righteousness, if I am one of His elect possessions - one of the redeemed.  I can stand and proclaim here and now that I am innocent because He was, is, and shall be.  He could not deny guilt, not because He was guilty, but because I am!  I can stand here justified, not in my flesh, but in His Spirit!  Praise be to the Holy One, my Lord, my Savior, my Elder Brother, Jesus the Christ!  He died, was buried, and rose again!  He lives!

Well, it has been a while...

Ok, so...anything happen in the last 5 years?  Hoo boy.

Obviously, I didn't follow through on my first post's stated intentions - though the idea still rattles around in my head from time-to-time.  A little over half a decade has passed since then...a few things have changed in me, my life, my various communities, and the larger world.

Last night, my wife and I were discussing those changes (as we are often wont to do), and she stated - rather strongly - that I should begin documenting my journey; writing down my perceptions, and subsequent thoughts, about all that is happening to me and how I process the world and its goings-on.  She even thinks there might be other people who would actually want to read them - no seriously, she really thinks that!  I harbor no such illusions, of course.

However, I have learned that writing, as well as speaking, my thoughts "out loud" helps a great deal to make them better.  In fact I would say, as I have learned from others, speaking (and writing) is part of the thinking process.

Now, I have even less time these days than I did five years ago...and I struggle to find necessary quantities of it just to take care of my current responsibilities - without adding blogging to the mix.  For instance, I need to devote far more of my time to study of God's word/Word, visiting church members, upkeep of the church house necessities, etc.  And, of course (oh yeah, I sometimes start and end sentences with prepositions), that is not to even speak of family, farm, and day-job, duties that I have to deal with (<-- see?  a preposition).

So, there are pros and cons, or as we now say in my family "shrimp", to this blogging.  What?  Oh, the shrimp thing.  Well, for that, you'd have to know my family (wife, 3 kids).  You see we really love each other.  We love each other so much, in fact, that we instantly notice even the most minor "mis-speak" one of us commits, immediately run with it, and NEVER forget it.  Most importantly, we never let the offender forget it.  So, yesterday, on the way to Lowe's after church, we were discussing what we had each learned from the sermon(s).  At one point, I was discussing some pros and cons - I don't remember now about what - but instead of pros and cons, I said prons (pronounced prawns - you know, shrimp?), and the rest is now history...

Anyway, blogging has its shrimp.  We'll see which way they lean for me, as to whether I'll actually continue this time around.  For now, I'll see if one-a-week works.

In closing, I'll just make one other commitment, and ask for one from you, should you actually read this:  I will pray for you...and I humbly ask that you pray for me.  God bless!

Brother Ron Colson