What Are We Really Saying...

The name Christian represents something. Here is the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions.

¹Chris·tian

noun \ˈkris-chən, ˈkrish-\

Definition of CHRISTIAN

1. a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ b (1) : disciple  (2) : a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906 (3) : a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 1961

2.: the hero in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Origin of CHRISTIAN

Latin christianus, adjective & noun, from Greek christianos, from Christos

First Known Use: 1526

Within the name, there is a bit of another Name, one that we carry with us if we know Him. Christ - the God-man, The Incarnation, The Logos (logos, in Greek, The Word from John 1), God with us, and in us and working through us. My point? Just that when we are known as a Christian, we have opened the door for them to not only listen carefully but to watch us, to evaluate us. People form opinions more so about our Christ than about us. They base their evaluation on their observation of me and you. Let that sink in for a moment. People make judgments of JESUS based on us. Now, take it one step further.
When we enter a restaurant to eat, then leave no tip or a small tip - the staff forms an opinion about Jesus based on our tip and our behavior.
When we pay to see a movie with questionable content, we are not judged on our claim of knowing Christ - we are judged on taking Him with us to that film.
When we put our bodies at risk by our eating or substance abuse we are claiming that Christ honors those poor choices and He does not.
What got me thinking about this again was a blog I read by James Emery White. Here is a quote from the manager of an English pub who said, "Bloody Christians!" He manages the English pub called The Eagle and The Child, the pub where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis used to meet to discuss their writings. The trouble is that Tourist Christians keep stealing the memorabilia off of the counters, shelves, walls and tables.
No wonder we have trouble sharing Christ with people, they have seen too much. Maybe we realize that to do so discredits our Lord, because our lives just don't match up.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "¹⁹ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Deuteronomy 6:5-7  ^"5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." 

Compromise Completes The Devil's Schemes - Live For Him Today.

If you are interested in the whole article about the English pub, go here: Church & Culture Blog