Redefining Christianity
"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." - Acts 11:26
The word “Christian” gets thrown around a lot, especially here in America. To some, being a Christian is just part of their family story. They grew up going to church, raised by Christian parents, and maybe even believe they've been a Christian their entire life because that’s the environment they were raised in.
But here’s the problem, cultural Christianity often tries to redefine what it really means to follow Jesus. People assume they’re saved because they were born into a Christian home or attended a Christian church. But the Bible paints a very different picture of what it means to belong to Jesus.
I once heard an old preacher say, “Being born into a Christian home doesn’t make you a Christian, just like being born in a McDonald’s doesn’t make you a Happy Meal.” It’s a funny analogy, but the truth hits hard. Too many people are banking on their upbringing, their family’s faith, or their good deeds to earn them a spot in Heaven. And that’s because their definition of Christianity was shaped by culture, not by Christ.
It’s important to remember that the term “Christian” wasn’t something Jesus called His followers. It wasn’t even something the church came up with. It was a label given to the disciples by regular townspeople in Antioch. And why did they get that label? Because their lives were so different, so distinct, that everyone around them saw they were followers of Jesus.
If you claim to be a Christian, it’s worth asking yourself why. Is it because you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus and chosen to follow Him, or is it just because you grew up around Christianity? It’s not about a label or a title. It’s about knowing Jesus, loving Him, and letting Him transform you from the inside out.
The word “Christian” gets thrown around a lot, especially here in America. To some, being a Christian is just part of their family story. They grew up going to church, raised by Christian parents, and maybe even believe they've been a Christian their entire life because that’s the environment they were raised in.
But here’s the problem, cultural Christianity often tries to redefine what it really means to follow Jesus. People assume they’re saved because they were born into a Christian home or attended a Christian church. But the Bible paints a very different picture of what it means to belong to Jesus.
I once heard an old preacher say, “Being born into a Christian home doesn’t make you a Christian, just like being born in a McDonald’s doesn’t make you a Happy Meal.” It’s a funny analogy, but the truth hits hard. Too many people are banking on their upbringing, their family’s faith, or their good deeds to earn them a spot in Heaven. And that’s because their definition of Christianity was shaped by culture, not by Christ.
It’s important to remember that the term “Christian” wasn’t something Jesus called His followers. It wasn’t even something the church came up with. It was a label given to the disciples by regular townspeople in Antioch. And why did they get that label? Because their lives were so different, so distinct, that everyone around them saw they were followers of Jesus.
If you claim to be a Christian, it’s worth asking yourself why. Is it because you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus and chosen to follow Him, or is it just because you grew up around Christianity? It’s not about a label or a title. It’s about knowing Jesus, loving Him, and letting Him transform you from the inside out.
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1 Comment
Amen. Well spoken.