Author	Thread: What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?"
nomoreusernamesleft View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 10:05 AM About 20 years ago, 78% of US citizens identified themselves as Christians. Today that number is just over 60%. But what does it mean to be a Christian? The men of Antioch saw the lives of others being completely tranformed where they put away their old characters and started a new life. They were changed and it was obvious to those that knew the men that converted. They were called Christians first at Antioch. Notice they did not call themselves Christians. Also notice that God did not call them Christians. When Paul was given opportunity to plead his case before King Agrippa, he expounded upon the old testament prophets and his own testimony of how his life was tranformed, being born of Christ . "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds" Notice that Paul did not say "I would to God that you would become a "Christian." He was being called a "Christian" by an unbeliever. Then we have Peter discussing the reproach and sufferings that we should count as joy with patience saying that if any man suffer "as a Christian," let him not be ashamed. The term Christian was a reproachful term given to the saints by the unbelievers. If it were not so, then there would be no reason for Peter to tell them to not be ashamed, in the very context of suffering reproach joined with persecution. Those are the only 3 places in the words of God that the word "Christian'" is found. We are told that the word Christian means to be a follower of Christ or a believer of Christ or to be like Christ, but none of those modern definitions match the context where the word is actually used in scripture. And why did not the saints call themselves Christians? Why was it deemed to be reproachful, so much so that God anointed Peter to tell them to suffer that reproach and persecution with patience and not be ashamed? Could it be that the unbelievers were using a word that was reproachful to them? I would suggest that's the only logical conclusion. But why would the word christianos be a reproach? It's a compound word that comes from two root words "Christos" meaning Christ or anointed one and "Ianos" which has a couple of meanings. The most commonly known definition is "follower of" yet there's another, more significant (and dare I say reproachful) definition. Ianos is the name of the Greek god Janus. He was believed to be the god of final endings and new beginnings. The month January is named after Janus and New Year's Eve and New Year's day was the highest celebration of Janus where men would look back at their sins from the year that was ending and they would have a celebration of revelry which usually included debauchery, drunkeness and fornication, because they would expect that at the beginning of the year, Janus would forgive them and they would make a new years resolution (promise) to their god to not sin anymore. And the cycle was perpetual. Yeah, that's where the New Year's celebration originated. Seeing that the men of Antioch were known for worshipping Janus (the god of final endings and new beginnings) it is only reasonable to conclude that when they saw these men come to a final ending of their old lives and start a new beginning, being new creatures in Christ, that they attributed this change to the god that they believed was responsible for their change, as we know that they weren't converted to the faith because the saints were called Christians, they didn't call themselves Christians. I don't know when people began to label themselves Christians, but it's not found in the Bible. What I do know is that most people that call themselves Christians have never been born again, having the Spirit of Christ in them, having put off the old man and have taken on the new man, which is Christ Jesus. What does God call his people that believe in Jesus Christ? Saints, brethren, servants, believers, the church, beloved, peculiar, washed, regenerated, elect, friends, ambassadors, faithful, etc. God never one time labeled his people "Christians." What did the saints call themselves or each other? Saints, brethren, servants, believers, elect, but oddly enough they did not call themselves or ceach other Christians. Definitions of words do change as languages change and most people don't even pickup a dictionary to even know what the words they use actually mean, let alone study out the etymology of the words. Some people make up their own definitions also. Here, on this "Christian" website, there are some words that are in the Bible that are forbidden to be published on this site. So by their own identification as a Christian site, they do not allow some of God's words here, so it can't mean that they are followers of Christ, since Jesus Christ, himself said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. But for the sake of the common use of the term, what does it mean to be a Christian? Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 10:38 AM "What does it mean to be a Christian?" "Have we trials and temptations" comes to mind. "HAVE WE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS" are the words in an old hymn. Of the number changes you write, "About 20 years ago, 78% of US citizens identified themselves as Christians. Today that number is just over 60%." I think some reason for that is the mass number of people they have let in from other countries throughout the years. You let in several million Muslim people from Muslim countries, and it will change the percentages of those professing Christ. We also let in Satanists and Buddhists, so of course the percentages are lower for Christians when we bring in numbers from other countries who are not of Christian inclinations. My response to that and solution for that is that Christians should procreate like rabbits to build up our numbers. We should be like the children of Israel in Egypt and work on those populating the planet. BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY. FILL THE EARTH just like the People of God FILLED EGYPT. 1/2 a child won't do. Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 10:47 AM "TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER" is probably the name of that Old Hymn. Daniel was a praying man. Enoch walked with THE LORD, and THE LORD took him. Godly people like spending their time with God. Nice to walk with God in the Garden. At times, the idea is that God may carry us like the old "Footprints" review on life where we see no footprints at all of our own making. Life is an ups and downs trail. But it is a journey with faith in someone GREATER THAN US and an idea that God wants us around and an idea of something more to life than just what this life has to offer. A greater purpose. A higher calling. Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 10:53 AM Work on those numbers. Work on populating the planet. Got to bring our numbers back up. But procreating ain't for everyone. Some of us will just have to evangelize. Post Reply
nomoreusernamesleft View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 11:02 AM I'm fairly sure the name of that old and timeless hymn is "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 11:21 AM Yes, early believers followed THE WAY and were followers OF THE WAY. "NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME," JESUS SAID. "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME." (JOHN 14:6) Acts 9:2 speaks of "THE WAY" and FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY (Acts 24:14) Anabaptists never called themselves "Anabaptists". Often someone else comes up with our names like our parents. In the Bible, Paul I think this was natural to occur. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:12) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:13) For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? (1 Corinthians 3:4) I think it is okay to be called "Christian". It is more okay being called "Christian" than being called "Lutheran" or "Wesleyan" which is to say "I follow Luther" or "I follow Wesley". The Franciscans follow Francis. All that is okay. But better to follow Christ. No shame in following Christ. No shame in being called "The People of God". No shame in being known by Christ. I think it is an okay label to be called "Christian". Yet, "Not all those who are descended from Israel are Israel." (Romans 9:6) "We will be recognized by our fruit." Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 11:28 AM We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. (1 Corinthians 1:23) Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 11:30 AM My glitch! Thanks for spotting the correct name of that timeless hymn. More glitches from me to come. Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 11:34 AM And not all those circumcised have a circumcised heart. Post Reply
WalkNTalk View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 11:38 AM Are you wanting to call everyone a saint? Pardon for all these extra words. It was a long forum entry. So, I spot answered various portions? Post Reply
nomoreusernamesleft View Profile History	What Does It Mean To Be A "Christian?" Posted : 15 Nov, 2025 11:59 AM No, I'm not wanting to call everyone a saint. Those that have been born again, having the Spirit of Christ in us are called (among many things) saints of God, biblically, because we have been born of God. God calls us saints, believers, elect, brethren, faithful, children, beloved, etc. He does not call us Christians nor do the saints call themselves that. The very word is a reproach to the saints, most likely because it means "anointed one of Janus" If it meant "follower of Christ" then it would not have been a reproach and the saints would have likely called themselves that, but they did not. Post Reply

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