7.01.2001 | CHRISTIAN TERMINOLOGY- "Christian"

Intro...

YOU'RE NO LONGER "COOL" WHEN...

• Your daughter says she got pierced and you look at her ears.
• The pattern on your shorts and couch match.
• You actually ASK for your father's advice.
• When someone mentions SURFING you picture waves and a surfboard.
• You turn down free tickets to a concert because you have to work the next day.
• You bought your first car for the same price you paid for your kid's new running shoes.
• When jogging is something you do to your memory.
• Rocking all night means dozing off in your rocking chair.
• All the cars behind you flash their headlights. (I like going the speed limit…)
  

Being a Christian isn’t always “cool” as Steve pointed out….

If you asked the average person on the street what a Christian was, you’d get some interesting answers. Even we Christians sometimes don’t know how to exactly define it…

To many Christians, a Christian should:

• Go to church regularly, but not fanatically.
• Either be wildly charismatic during worship or be part of the “frozen chosen”
• Be convinced that the correct method of baptism is either full immersion or
  1. You have no chance of joining their church.
  2. You may never get to heaven with only a sprinkling baptism.
• Never touch any form of alcohol (not even communion wine) or they figure those who do drink are on their way to hell packed in a keg.
• Be able to recite for memory all the books of the bible...should be able to find their bible.
• Be able to define “Supralapsarianism” (CCers…) or are lucky if they can
  define “Christian” By all the Jesus Junk at Berean, plaster it all over your car and wear it non-stop or hope that their godly inner qualities speak for themselves.
• Vote Republican or realize there are plenty of good Democrats who “Love the Lord” just as much. Thank God for the victory (like they deserved it more than the Christians on the other team) or thank God for good health and the ability to play.

Being a Xian is complicated huh?

The B & R illustration…..Can we agree on the basic fundamentals of the faith and not stress over denominational differences?

I’ve been humbled many times as people have visited our church. I just want to make sure people are in a good bible teaching church somewhere.

Let’s see what God has to say about being a Xian:
A term first used by the Gentiles (non-Jews) signifying an adherent of Jesus. Acts 11:26 “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” At first, the term Christian was not a good label. After all, they killed Christ. So, throughout the NT, we don’t see a lot of “A Christian is…” more about the life of Christ and letters written to churches encouraging them to live as Christians within their context...and most of that still applies today.

So, what should our standard be for the Christian life? The life of Christ.

Be careful with the WWJD mentality though...Allen Iverson….

Jesus wasn’t the first Christian and we don’t know how he’d react today to our culture. Christ came to divide our petty differences., the ones we have constructed, the ones I mentioned earlier. Galatians 3:26-29 Instead of trying to decide whether you raise your hands in worship, drink a beer on occasion, own a study bible or not or vote democrat…

Matthew 25:34-36 Are we even doing that as Christians?

Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's population.

• Would’nt it be great to say that 3 out of 4 of your friends saw a clear picture of what a Christian is through you?
• Or that 3 out of 4 people became Christians?

A Christian is someone who is “Christ-like.” I think if you use that as a standard you’ll be safe in just about every situation.

Do you want to be Christ-like? Either more or for the first time?

We’ll baptize you today!

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