WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? – PART I

I was baptized within an hour of my birth as I was a ‘sickly’ new-born and I was not expected to live. . .surprise! I remember when I was six years old asking: ‘What is a Christian?’ I have been holding this question ever since. About 8 days ago I was having breakfast at one of my favorite breakfast places and nearby there was a gathering of six men. As I listened in it became clear that this was a regular gathering; a ‘Bible Study Group.’ I heard the question: ‘What is a Christian?’ My focus shifted to listening intently for this is the question I have held for so many years. What stunned me was that for the next forty minutes or so NOT ONE TIME did anyone of them mention Jesus; they spent their time quoting the Old Testament as ‘guidelines’ for being a good Christian. When I left they were still talking and they might well have shifted their focus to Jesus the Christ; but for forty minutes they had not come close. So since then I have been consciously holding this question: ‘What is a Christian?’ Given this, a few days ago I decided to write a bit as I continue my own searching and seeking as I hold this question in my heart and soul. I pulled out an old journal as I decided to begin with the word ‘Christ.’ Following is an edited version of what I had written many years ago.

The word Christ, Christos, the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messias, means “anointed.” According to the Old Law, priests (Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 4:3), kings (1 Samuel 10:1; 24:7), and prophets (Isaiah 61:1) were supposed to be anointed for their respective offices; now, the Christ, or the Messias, combined this threefold dignity in His Person. It is not surprising, therefore, that for centuries the Jews had referred to their expected Deliverer as “the Anointed”; perhaps this designation alludes to Isaias 61:1, and Daniel 9:24-26, or even to Psalms 2:2; 19:7; 44:8. Thus the term Christ or Messias was a title rather than a proper name. The evangelists recognize the same truth; excepting Matthew 1:1, 1:18; Mark 1:1; John 1:17; 17:3; 9:22; Mark 9:40; Luke 2:11; 22:2, the word Christ is always preceded by the article.

Only after the Resurrection did the title gradually pass into a proper name, and the expression Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus became only one designation. But at this stage the Greeks and Romans understood little or nothing about the import of the word anointed; to them it did not convey any sacred conception. Hence they substituted Chrestus, or “excellent”, for Christus or “anointed”, and Chrestians instead of “Christians.” The pagans made little or no effort to learn anything accurate about Christ and the Christians; The Roman historian Suetonius, for instance, ascribes the expulsion of the Jews from Rome under Claudius to the constant instigation of sedition by Chrestus, whom he conceives as acting in Rome the part of a leader of insurgents.

The use of the definite article before the word Christ and its gradual development into a proper name show the Christians identified the bearer with the promised Messias of the Jews. He combined in His person the offices of prophet (John 6:14; Matthew 13:57; Luke 13:33; 24:19) of king (Luke 23:2; Acts 17:7; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Apocalypse 15:3), and of priest (Hebrews 2:17; etc.); he fulfilled all the Messianic predictions in a fuller and a higher sense than had been given them by the teachers of the Synagogue. So Christians became known as the followers of Jesus Christ, or Christ Jesus, or Jesus the Christ. So what are some of the indicators that one is a follower of Jesus the Christ? What is a Christian?