What Does It Mean to be a Christian?

Yesterday, I preached at Connections about what it means, according to the Bible, to be a Christian - a follower of Christ. For those of you who weren't there, here's a brief summary:

The word "Christian" means "follower of Christ," and in the Jewish context in which Jesus was born and carried out His ministry, when a rabbi like Jesus said to you "Follow me," what he meant was "come learn to be like me." To be "following" your rabbi meant that you were seeking to become just like him.

Most Christians today, according to John Ortberg, are "Users" of Christ, and not true Followers of Christ. We're using Jesus to meet the minimum requirement necessary to gain admittance into Heaven upon death, or we're also using Him in order to gain blessings here and now. Meanwhile, we look very little like Christ. Statistically speaking, we are addicted to alcohol, get divorced, have affairs, cheat on the job, and sin at the same rate as non-Christians. We continue to be rude, angry, selfish, greedy, prideful.... mostly, we're untransformed, and we excuse it by putting bumper stickers that say "I'm not perfect, just forgiven."

We act like we think that Jesus didn't really intend for us to do all of the things He said to do, and we ignore statements like "If you love Me, you will obey My commands," or "Go into every nation....teaching them to obey everything I have commanded," or "For we were created...to do good works," or numerous other passages that talk about us being transformed at our very core, and that this kind of transformation leads to changes in our actions and thoughts.

Finally, I talked about how this transformation is something that God does in us (Philippians 2:13), but it's also something in which we participate and exert effort (Luke 13:23-24, 2 Peter 1:3-11). Through the disciplines of prayer, study, meditation, fasting, solitude, silence, service, etc., we place ourselves in submission before God so that He can do His transforming work in us.

So..."Christian" = "Follower of Christ" = becoming like Christ in what we think, say, and do. This is something in which we participate, but that, ultimately, God brings about.

Here are my questions:

Do you really think that Jesus really did intend for us to do all of the things that He said to do?

Do you think that you really can do all of the things that He said to do (as He changes you)?

Do you think that you can become like Christ?

Do you think this is really necessary or all that important? If not, why not?

Posted on Monday, October 27, 2008 by Chris Branscome

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6 comments (Add your own)

1. Mary Canada wrote:: I do believe that Jesus did intend for us to do all of the things that he said to do, why else would he have said it. I believe that through prayer and learning more about all that we are expected to do, we can put forth a more informed effort to accomplish the goals through GRACE. We are all sinful, why else would God have sent his Son Jesus to die for us, but we can put forth an effort to be more Christ like. Satan is always there tempting us to do the wrong thing, but we have to avoid that by staying in the word, being involved in church and with our community of believers, being held accountable for our actions. I do try to be Christ like, but good old satan is always popping in and messing me up. Even when I don't do or say the action, it can still pop into my brain. That is why GRACE is so important because we can not do it alone. It is absolutely necessary to try, or like anything else, you will be just like everyone else and your light will not shine. No one will notice that you are different or that you are even trying to be different. The highest compliment that I was ever paid was when a stranger said to me,"You must be a Christian because of the way you treated me."
October 28, 2008 @ 9:35 PM
2. Chris wrote:: That's a really great way of putting it: "we can put forth a more informed effort to accomplish the goals (of becoming like Christ) through Grace." And yes, that's a high compliment!
October 29, 2008 @ 11:04 AM
3. Verlyn wrote:: Yes, I believe God did intend for us to do all the things he said. Just like we expect our children to do what we say. It is a method used to teach them to be better people; just as God is trying to teach us how to be His children. We can never be perfect and do everything that he says. Just like our own children do not always listen 100% to what we are trying to teach them. But, God loved us so much that through the grace offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be made perfect. Just like we, as parents, are pleased when are children accually listen and do something that we taught them, just imagine how God must feel when we try to do what he has taught us. We should daily try to honor and please God. Can't you just imagine Him smiling down on us when we do or at least try to do His will?
It also takes a relationship in order to know God's will and then to try to do it. So through the process, we should be getting closer to God. (This also works with our children, it takes a relationship for the children to know your loving will for them and then for them to actively try to do it) The more you come to know and love the Lord, the more you will seek to do His will.
October 29, 2008 @ 11:35 AM
4. Mary Canada wrote:: Tonight I went to see a movie called "Fireproof". WOW!!!! It was the best christian movie I have seen in a very long time. It is about marriage, addiction, divorce, grace, forgiveness, love , and a whole lot more. This is appropriate for all ages of married couples. It has so many topics that we as christians struggle with daily and the focus on how we can be better spouses. The couple in the movie are young, maybe early 30's, but it also deals with an older couple and how easily you can be deceived by appearances. I don't want to give anymore information for fear of ruining it for everyone, but it is a MUST see. Also, take plenty of tissue because even the men will have a few tears. This one is better than Facing the Giants.
October 29, 2008 @ 10:38 PM
5. Chris wrote:: I've heard good things about this movie, specifically that it's a fairly realistic portrayal of life as a Christian, that they're not portrayed as being happy and struggle free all the time.
October 29, 2008 @ 11:02 PM
6. Mary Canada wrote:: Actually, the couple are not Christians at all, in the beginning. That was what was so powerful. It is more of a witness to how Christ can change your life and your marriage if you will invite Him in and not resist His tugging on your heart strings. There is one actor in the movie who shares his "story" with the lead actor at work and because they are friends, he frequently talks about how Christ has changed his life and his marriage. The lead guy doesn't want to hear about any "Jesus stuff'. There is alot of witnessing throughout the entire movie and the main actor breaking and inviting Christ into his life. This is the most powerful movie that I've ever seen because it shows how a person can change and repent and handle all struggles through the power of God's love. You've just GOT to see it.
October 30, 2008 @ 7:18 PM

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