Where Did the Word “Christianity” Come From?
In the Bible, the name or label ‘Christian’ only appears three times in the New Testament: in Acts 11:25-26, “Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 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 in Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. This term was universally chosen among theologians, and in Rome, it was coined as a derogatory term used to stigmatize or discredit followers of Christ. It was a way to say, ‘We don’t associate with Christians.’
Now, the label ‘Christian’ is commonly used as a way to self-identify as a follower of Jesus. For some, identifying as a Christian is like a badge of honor. Others, not so much.
Why Did Christians Adopt This Term?
Christians are referred to as God’s chosen. We are his people. He is for us, and he has blessed us. We have this favor in our lives, and as Peter states in 1 Peter 4:16, we should not have a problem calling ourselves Christians: “But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!”
Despite this, there are those out there who do not want to be labeled Christians because the label can come with a negative connotation. The truth is labels often come with baggage. Typically, people who refer to themselves as followers of Christ instead of Christians are doing it because they do not want to be identified with those who call themselves Christians yet don’t represent Jesus well.
Pastor Matt points out that this can be an arrogant perspective and opposing mindset to Romans 12:16: “Live in harmony with each other.”
Purpose Over Pride
Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! The details of each individual’s belief may not be the same, but in the end, if you follow Jesus, then you are a Christian. It’s normal to be a little self-conscious about how people may view you when they find out you are Christian, but we should be wearing it like a badge of honor.
This is who we are, and we should not be ashamed of it. There will always be misrepresentation, but that doesn’t mean you should deny Christianity as a whole. Everyone else is labeling themselves in gender, sexual preferences, and many other areas, so why shouldn’t we? We are Christians. There is no shame in it, so let us make it known.
