Why Your Christianity is Killing You!

I normally like to warm up the engine before diving right in, but to avoid this article being the size of a small novel, I’m going to jump right into this thing like a schoolgirl at a Double Dutch tournament. Small disclaimer: this is actually going to be logical and make sense! If you are a Bible-thumper who does NOT actually read the Bible, then this article may destroy your theology—and in the process, you may get to know the real Jesus and not the Jesus you’ve seen on TV or in your deep sessions of YouTube church. The purpose of my blog is always to educate, despite how many people (even certain friends) feel about it. With that, let’s get this show on the road.

Defining Christianity is quite easy when you actually use the Bible as the source of information—which makes sense when you really think about it, especially since we’re talking about a strictly biblical term. The term Christian wasn’t used before the Bible and had no meaning outside its biblical usage.

Now, at this point, I want you to stop reading this article for a second and go to the Bible References portion of this blog (at the bottom of this page). Read the Acts 11 excerpt straight from the Bible about the first use of the word Christian and the use of the word believers.

DO NOT READ ANYMORE UNTIL YOU READ THAT EXCERPT

Okay—glad to have you back. I didn’t mean to use bold and yell at you, but when people read articles and listen to preachers without actually reading the Bible, it annoys me to no end! God frankly states that He no longer winks or takes a blind eye to ignorance—nor should He—when we have a Bible readily accessible. Many places throughout the world can only dream of freely reading the Word of God in text form, so if you live somewhere you can do that, please take full advantage of the opportunity.

Two things you may have noticed in the excerpt: (1) everyone was simply called a believer; and (2) when Jesus was walking the earth, every disciple—meaning “disciplined one”—was simply called a believer. The term Christian did not exist when Jesus was alive. People were called believers, and in Hebrew the word for believer also meant doer. For example, if you said you were a believer in Jesus, this also meant that you did the things Jesus said to do. Unlike today—where you can say you are a Christian and not do anything Jesus asks (see John 14:15)—back in biblical times, to say you were a believer in Jesus absolutely meant that you were actively practicing His teachings and following His edicts. If you agreed with Jesus but did NOT practice His edicts or follow His teachings, and someone asked you if you were a believer, you would tell them no. You might add that you agree with Jesus’ doctrine but do not practice it as a believer. That’s very different from today, where the practice is to say yes to Christianity while, at the same time, putting aside Christian doctrine.

So the term Christian was used to describe the actions of believers. People witnessed the effective conversion of non-believers by believers and the amazing work believers were doing, and they compared them to Christ. Just as Christ did certain things, these believers were doing them—so they were called Christ-ian, meaning Christ-like. It would be like calling someone a Platonist if they act according to and subscribe to the thought processes of Plato. Though unlike calling someone a Platonist, being called a Christian would have been an honor—like a commoner being called regal, royal, or presidential. None of us are at the level of Christ, so being given the distinction by peers as Christ-like or Christian is an honor bestowed by those who choose to give it.

It could be perceived, however, as pretty arrogant for someone to describe themselves this way. It would be like walking around telling everyone that you’re awesome: “Hey, man, I am awesome,” or “Hey, girl, I am somewhat of a big deal.” That’s how calling yourself a “Christian” can come across—especially in biblical days. The term reflects someone on the outside saying you are Christ-like, which is—once again—what the term literally means. To go around saying, “Hey everyone, I am Christ-like,” is an overreach.

More importantly, it removes the focus off Christ’s death and puts it onto your life. When someone says that they are a Christian, even other believers expect them to live to a higher standard. The expectation of being Christ-like is pretty high, and if someone claims to be Christ-like, that expectation is now justifiable. By contrast, the term believer says, “I am not important; the person who is important is the One I am believing in.” The term Christian says, “I am Christ-like—look at me,” and when people actually look at us, they quickly realize how truly bodunk crazy and utterly sinful we are (see Isaiah 64:6).

Bible References

Acts 11: The Church in Antioch of Syria

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.

20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.

21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.

24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul.

26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

John 14:15 — Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.”

Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

6 We are all infected and impure with sin.

When we display our righteous deeds,

they are nothing but filthy rags.

Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,

and our sins sweep us away like the wind.