Recently I read an article where the person said he did not “….want to be called a Christian. Calling myself a Christian associates me with people with whom I don’t want to be associated. It forces on me a filter I can’t control. As soon as I say I’m a Christian, people put me in a category based on their understanding of what a Christian is—and that understanding is often colored by their personal experiences, good or bad. And many (maybe most?) people believe there is more bad than good. I don’t want to chance that.” This person went on to say “I think too many people have made Christianity their religion and the Bible their idol. Rather than following the steps and words of Jesus…”
I agree with many who tout the name ‘Christian’ do not sometimes live as one believes the Bible says a Christian should live. However to say ‘the Bible is an idol to many’ the Psalmist said in Psalm 138:2 ‘…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.’ God has never retracted that statement.
If it wasn’t for the Bible I would not know the Lord Jesus as personal Saviour, regeneration, sanctification, justification, adoption and many more wonderful and precious doctrines. God put His Words down for people to read and come to know Him!
As for the name “Christian”, the Bible tells those of us who claim the name how to live a Christian life, how to treat others, how to die, where we will go when we die and many other things. If some people who say they are a Christian live opposite doesn’t mean I have to drop the name. For example, I am an American and have often been embarrassed by other Americans BUT I still call myself an American. God put Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch there for a purpose so don’t throw the verse or the name out but live up to the name no matter what others have done, are doing and will do which you or I may not agree with!
whatyareckon 