Christian vs. Christ Follower
July 10, 2007
Lately I have really just been reading through the accounts of Christ’s life and teachings. Sometimes I feel that people today -if He were living amongst us physically- would have such a problem with Him hanging out with the lost and hurting and reaching them where they “live”. I mean would Jesus spend more time at the bar down the street or in our church? Would we have a problem with that? People did back in His day and called Him a friend of sinners! If we go to our parks to reach the lost, would it be o.k. to step into a bar to witness to a stranger? Hmmm.
I think the term “Christian” today may have a negative connotation to the world with all the scandals, and extremists, and preachers that have drug the name of Christ through the mud. Is “Christ follower” a better term to describe a believer now? Yeah I know that the term “Christian” actually translated is something like “a follower of Christ” but I think if you asked 100 random people what a Christian is, I think you may get a lot more definitions and views. Some answers would I’m sure make you sad. Sad that this is what it’s come to.
Jesus many times just walked up to somebody and said “Follow Me” and they dropped what they were doing and did it. Sometimes I wish Jesus would appear to each believer just once in their life, like in John 20:19, just to make sure they were focused on what really matters in life.
July 11, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Great video. I know from NYGO and also a man Ken, Jerome and I talked with yesterday that many people just have a bad taste in their mouths for religion. the dont want a man made religion. They want something so much more. Was Jesus considered to be religious in His day? Did the religious of His day approve of His actions. Wow, Ron we gotta be careful, we are asking some questions that people dont like. A bar? That’s an evil place…or is it a place thats being used for evil? See my blog post “Computers-I think they are evil” for my thoughts on that. Thinking Deeper.
August 16, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Offensive video.
This young woman isn’t “Christian”… she’s “a Christian”. I find the idea that she’s representative of our rich tradition of Christianity very silly. She’s a stereotype… not symbolic of “Christian”. The “Follower of Christ” movement comes across as elitist, if they wish to draw some division between themselves and others by their chosen label. It’s as sickening as the designer jeans wars of the 80’s.
“I don’t wear jeans… I wear Calvins.”
There’s some flawed thinking here, too, much like that in the third party political mindset of the U.S. Rather than make the mistake of creating divisions, stepping on tradition and ignoring the power in the best of an established group, we should work within our numbers to improve and build on what already works. Don’t highlight and minister to the “un-Christlike” as “Christian”. Highlight them and minister to them as a better Christian in the making.
When I was in college, two missionaries came to my door and asked to pray with me. I let them in and we talked. They tricked me into saying something in particular about about my beliefs, and then then lectured me in a “gotcha” fashion about how I was somehow insufficient in my relationship with Christ. They couldn’t have done any better in losing my interest in their message. They showed me how I was lesser, and how they knew best… or worded it better. Word games. This is the threat in the “follower of Christ” label. The idea that pulling on a label is required before a Christian has his or her thinking straight.
The message shared by the “Christ follower” in the video is sound. Stick with that, rather than being so worried about those who think differently than yourself. There are “Christians” who would offer the young woman in the video the same words of advice.
October 21, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Lets not get it like Christians are the bad ones and Christ followers the good ones (or the opposite). I dont think its about labels but about the inside. As for me if “Christians” are “Christ followers” and “Christ followers” are real followers everyone can keep the labels they prefer. I think “Christ follower” maybe represents a bit better the aim (in the end i think Jesus came to make followers and not stick labels on everyone). Lets just see if we think it like that guy or like the girl no matter what their label is (p.s in my opinion the guy has better ideas
)
May 31, 2009 at 11:42 am
I have just finished my freshman year of college and I know this is the time in my life where I am really finding myself. Especially where God fits into me. Well I did not grow up in the church and have really only ever been to one, but when I left home I for school I needed to find a church. Now I can actually say I dislike church. Mainly for the people there, as I walked into each and every one only a few people ever greeted me. And less than half continued to talk to me after they found out I was a college kid. I don’t understand how “Christians” can do that to people. They are supposed to show Christ’s love not kick someone when they are down. And the same goes at school. People called “Christians” go out and party all the time. So what is the is difference?
I am seeing that “Christ-Followers” show that love and though they screw up, they stand up again and again. And that “Christians” is a title to people who want to be seen as good people. I am sorry if this offends anyone. But I am not only speaking for me I know many College Kids who feel the same way. They cannot walk into any chuch without the lofty glances of the rightous. I hear people say all the time I want to make a difference. Well just talk and get to know a college kid, they will spread the word and caring is the best way to show love, Christ’s love.