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Perhaps no other word is as misapplied and abused as is the word
Christianity. The root word – Christian – first appears in the New
Testament in Acts 11:26. It only appears three times in the entirety of
Scripture! The application in each reference is concise and pointed;
however, the term Christianity has since been generalized to describe almost
anything that is religious. It is often erroneously used as an adjective
(Christian schools, Christian charities, etc.) but is actually a noun,
delineating a certain classification of people. Merriam-Webster's
dictionary gives the following as a standard definition: "The religions
derived from Jesus Christ." But the term is much more specific and
meaningful when used in its originally intended sense. Christianity is the
permeating lifestyle that results from one's relationship to Christ.
Those who embrace Christianity exemplify a definite relationship to the
object of the religion – Jesus Christ. The first people to wear this name
lived in the ancient city of Antioch and were citizens of a spiritual
kingdom known as the church of Christ, which was established after the
reported resurrection of their crucified Messiah. Their induction into this
organization came about through their believing the teachings of Christ to
the point of heeding them in repentance and baptism. The thesis of the
Christian movement is the New Testament, which clearly states that those who
are baptized upon their faith are added to the church. This suggests that
to be added to the church through baptism also includes being placed into a
new relationship with Christ that was not enjoyed before that point.
Furthermore, church, a connected term, means "the called out." According to
the Bible text, those who are in the church have been called out of the
world into a new relationship with Christ. Simply attending church services
or ritualistically engaging in the acts associated with Christianity does
not give us the right to wear this name. Only those who sustain a spiritual
relationship to Christ can claim the identity of a Christian.
Another marked feature of the system of Christianity and its adherents is
its strict discipline of commitment. Faithful observance of the religion
calls upon one to be wholly committed. In his epistle, the apostle Paul
said, "If any suffer as a Christian..." (1 Peter 4:16). Additional
references are made in the New testament to the certainty of adversity and
trial coming upon true followers of the movement. The familiar saying
concerning a ham and egg breakfast comes to one's mind: the chicken was
involved, but the pig was committed. When John documented the apocalyptic
vision he received on the Isle of Patmos, he prefaced the warning of coming
persecution by saying that the only way Christians would receive the object
and reward of their faith was to be faithful even to the point of martyrdom
(Revelation 2:10). First-century Christians were known for their unwavering
dedication to their cause. Countless members of the early church spilled
their blood in allegiance to the faith they had embraced. This is quite a
contrast to the modern masses that claim to wear the same name but casually
attend worship on "Easter Sunday" and think little about spiritual things at
other times. Christianity is not a little niche in one's life that needs to
be filled on Sunday but rather the pervading thought and influence of life.
With all of that said, the greatest defining synonym for Christianity is
discipleship. The primary reference in the Scriptures to the name Christian
defines it as being a disciple. Disciple means a student and follower of
another person and their ideology. A great distinction is to be made
between learning about an individual and actually learning from and
following him. For example, a man may be intrigued by a study of the life
of Adolph Hitler. He may choose to learn about his past and what formed his
psychological framework, leading to the atrocious acts he committed.
However, this certainly does not make him a disciple of Hitler. To be a
disciple, one must adhere to another's doctrine or teaching. This divides
the sheep from the goats in Christianity. Someone may quote impressive
amounts of Scripture. He may be able to articulate and well-defend the
various doctrines that surround Christianity, but he is not a Christian
until he employs those Scriptures and teachings to his daily life. Christ
himself said, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up
his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).
With a multitude of theologies present in the world today, the lines that
set apart Christianity from other religions are becoming blurred.
Christianity differs from all other systems of belief in that it is grounded
wholly in the New Testament. Christ, its founder, invites every man to come
unto him and resign his heart and will to his reign and rule. In so doing,
he is privileged to wear this notable name. One must understand that though
the world speaks of Christianity in an abstract fashion, it is actually a
type of lifestyle that is defined by some very specific demands and
expectations. So much so that Christ said that many who think they can lay
claim to the name Christian in reality cannot: "Not every one that saith
unto me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth
the will of my Father which is in heaven" Matthew 7:21).
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