Christian Requirements What is a Christian? The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.—Acts 11:26 Carl Hagensick Followers of Jesus were called by many names. Dr. R. A. Torrey in his New Topical Texbook lists scores of titles for those who sought to walk in the footsteps of their Master, names such as Believers, Children of the Day, Children of Light, and Heirs of God. But no name has been more enduring than that of "Christian." While Acts 11:26 is definite in stating that this name originated in Antioch, we are not told who it was that first used this name. Some have suggested it was given as a name of derision by their enemies, others that it was a title they assumed themselves. One of the ancient manuscripts, the Codex Bezae, suggests that the apostle Paul originated the name and renders verses 25 and 26 as, "Hearing that Saul was at Tarsus, he departed, seeking for him; and having found him, he besought him to come to Antioch; who, when they were come, assembled with the church a whole year, and instructed a great number; and there they first called the disciples at Antioch Christians." Charles Taze Russell makes a valuable point concerning this appellation: "The name `Christian’ was first applied to the Lord’s followers at Antioch. Such a name would not be given to them by the Jews, nor in any place where Judaism was paramount, because the Greek word Christ is the equivalent to the Hebrew word Messiah. And the Jews would be the last in any sense of the word to intimate that Jesus was the Messiah, or that his followers were Christians or Messiahans. We do not read that Christians first assumed this name at Antioch, but that they were first called it by others. Would that the custom had continued to prevail, and that still the only name by which the Lord’s followers throughout the world would be known would be his name! Dr. A. McClaren correctly suggests, `If the men at Antioch had called Christ’s followers `Jesuits’ that would have meant the followers of the mere man. They did not know how much deeper they had gone when they said, not `followers of Jesus’ but `followers of Christ’; for it was not Jesus the man, but Jesus Christ, the man with his office, that makes the center and bond of the Christian church’" (Reprints, p. 4358). The force of this observation is strong: it is not the man Jesus (perfect and important though he was) but the office of the Messiah that is central to the Christian. "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more" (2 Corinthians 5:16). Not only does the Christian follow Christ, he is part of Christ. "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12). This integration of the body members with their head also intertwines them with each other. "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5). Thus there is a mutual interdependency of every individual with every other individual. Every member of that body supplies some certain element which every other member needs. "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). This "compacting," or "knitting together," comes from one source—the acceptance of the Master as the head of this "Messiah" group. Paul writes of some who do not follow the headship of their Lord, saying: "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God" (Colossians 2:19). The Christian’s Call The cost of discipleship is high. It is not for everybody. It was never meant for everybody. "No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he who is called of God, as was Aaron" (Hebrews 5:4). The responsibility to make this selection does not even rely with Jesus, but with God himself. Jesus said in his last public prayer he spoke of his disciples as those which God had given him (John 17:9). This call is not through a vocal cry, but through a heart tug. It is the reaction of a soul thankful for redemption. Paul describes it in these words, "He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). Such as have this appreciation are urged to present their all as a living sacrifice. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1,2). Jesus also made just such a commitment. "Lo, I come," he said, "to do thy will, O God" (Hebrews 10:9). Because the natural mind does not understand the things of the spirit (1Corinthians 2:11-16), this Christian growth must come by means of a mental transformation. This transformation, or change of mind set, only comes about through a diligent search for the will of God in his word, the holy Scriptures. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Such an earnest searching of God’s word will be fruitful, revealing the mind and will of God for the supplicant. Jesus phrased it in these words, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). However, study alone does not make a true Christian. The principles learned through a constant search must be applied. The admonition in James 1:22 is to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only." In Jesus’ last message to the church he urged much the same, saying, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Three Important Steps The first step, then, in becoming a Christian is to recognize that without his aid we can do nothing. This step is merely the recognition that we are "shapen in iniquity," and that it was "in sin" that we were conceived (Psalm 51:5). It is not only in hearing, but in "receiving" him that there is power to become a son of God (John 1:12). This step, however, must be quickly followed by the second step of a desire to hear his words, and not only hear, but have them "abide in us." This requires study of his life and character with a desire to emulate the same. The third step is obedience, not a grudging compliance, but the enthusiasm Jesus had when he quoted the psalmist, "I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8). Someone has well illustrated the effect of these steps in this way. Let the three letters "IAN" stand for "I Am Nothing." Put them before the word "Christ" and we have "ianChrist" —gibberish, truly "nothing." But place them after "Christ" as his follower, and we have "Christian." The same truth is illustrated by realizing that the numeric value of nothing is zero. It has no value in and of itself, but it does have value if it follows another number, such as a 1 representing Jesus (producing a ten). A true Christian must always seek to follow, never precede, his Master. Fruit Bearing The object of followers, true Christians, is to "bear much fruit" (John 15:8). This fruitage is described as appearing in various forms: "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22, 23). The true disciple, then, must learn to demonstrate these traits of character:
Christian Requirements The requirements for true discipleship are high. Jesus said, "strait [difficult] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14). For this reason he recommends that this way of life not be entered hastily, but that the candidate first count the cost before embarking on this journey (Luke 14:28). Three of these requirements are specified in Luke 9:23, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." These requirements can be compared and contrasted with three elements Jehovah desired in his covenant people of Israel: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8).
While the Israelite of old was "to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God," the Christian is to take the next step and "to love justice, to do mercy, and follow Jesus’ example of carrying out the spirit of God’s laws." The Object of Being a Christian While there may be many objects for one becoming a Christian, two stand out in sharp relief. One pertains to this life, and one to the life to come. The apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 4:9 that the true believer is "a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." In a somewhat similar vein, Paul also writes "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men" (2 Corinthians 3:2). A popular adage is a truism when it says "we are the only Bible many will ever read." Christians must follow the apostle’s advice to Timothy to "be an example of the believers" (1 Timothy 4:12). But it is not only as an example, but for a future work that Christians are being trained. Their life now prepares them to be kings and priests with Christ Jesus in the future. "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:11, 12). They are to be "priests of God and of Christ" and "shall reign with him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:6). Jesus’ qualification as the "high priest of our profession" was to gather sympathy for those who endured similar experiences so as to properly assist them to further godliness (Hebrews 2:17,18; 4:14-16). It is for this reason that the members of the church of Christ only have such experiences as are "common to man" (1 Corinthians 10:13). "To Us the Scriptures Clearly Teach," a statement of our beliefs found on the inside cover of every issue of this journal, puts it succinctly: "That the present mission of the Church is the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service; to develop in herself every grace; to be God’s witness to the world; and to prepare to be kings and priests in the next age.—Ephesians 4:12; Matthew 24:14; Revelation 1:6; 20:6." These are the objectives which should make each of us strive to live so as to merit the title "Christian." A proverb of our century asks the searching question, "If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" May the lives of each of us produce such evidence. |