We hear a lot today about people identifying in different ways. Most often, we hear of it in discussions of transgender issues, where a man decides to identify as a woman or a woman as a man. We know in those cases that an individual changes their external appearance and maybe changes some of their attitudes and some of their speaking so as to portray a person of the opposite gender. We also know that, regardless of the changes in speech, in physical appearance, or in dress, their genetic makeup remains the same and is unchanged. This got me thinking about a question that is relevant for us today. Do you identify as a Christian?
It’s easy to identify as a Christian.
How might a person identify as a Christian today?Someone might choose to wear a cross around their neck or perhaps as a lapel pin. Someone else might attach a bumper sticker espousing some Christian thought. While another person might simply put the little fish symbol on the back of their car. Of course, they would dress modestly, and they would describe themselves as a Christian when and if asked. To finish, they might ensure that they attend religious services somewhere and that people know that they are a Christian.
But isn’t it possible that this is nothing more than masquerading as a Christian? I mean, couldn’t a person do all of those things and yet not really be a Christian? Could they not be an impostor, someone who dresses the part, but on the inside, much like a person’s genetics, they have never been changed by Christ?
I think you will agree with me that it is easy to identify as a Christian, but it’s a lot harder to actually be a Christian.
Being a real Christian is really hard.
Let me explain what I mean. This verse from Acts 11:26 is the first occurrence in the New Testament of people being called Christians. There are a couple of things to notice from this verse.
For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26)
Barnabas, the mentor of the apostle Paul, was sent to Antioch because word had reached Jerusalem that there were new Christians there. Barnabas encouraged the new Christians to remain faithful while he went to find the apostle Paul. When Paul arrived in Antioch, he spent a full year with the new Christians, teaching them of Jesus Christ and how to be a Christian. Originally, these people were simply called disciples, a word which means a follower or a learner. These people were to be followers of Jesus Christ. That was their intent, and that was the hope of Barnabas and Paul.
Consider a disciple as a follower of Jesus Christ. Then consider what it takes to be a follower of Jesus, not just to identify as a Christian.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
This quote from Jesus is repeated by all three of the Synoptic writers. It is obvious this is important because all three of them recorded it. Let’s break it down with 5 crucial keys for every true Christian.
First, these are the actual words of Jesus. Of course, all Scripture is inspired by God, but in these verses, Jesus himself speaks the words, which adds emphasis and importance to what he says. if one identifies as a Christian, he must follow the words of his master.
Second, these words are addressed to anyone, not just to a unique group, such as the apostles. Sometimes, we think of the church as a hierarchy of people. There are those who are brand-new Christians and they, in our thinking, are at the bottom of the group. And at the top we might find those people that we consider to be super Christians. This passage does not think in those terms. It is addressed to everyone. It is addressed to you, to me, and the newest Christian among us.
Third, these words are addressed to those who would follow him. That is, actual Christians. If a person wants to be like Jesus. He needs to first listen to Jesus and know what is expected of him. I realize there are many people who like to be thought of as a Christian, yet spend very little time getting to know Jesus. That doesn’t make sense to me. If you are a disciple. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you are a Christian and if you are those things then you will seek to know him better every day. Many people don’t want to know more about Jesus is because of the next three commands find in the verse.
Fourth, he must deny himself. What does Jesus mean when he says we must deny ourselves? One Bible scholar says that to deny oneself is to act in a “wholly unselfish manner.” To see self-denial and action. Let us look at how Jesus denied himself. Jesus, who was and is God the Creator (John 1), denied himself the glories and pleasures of heaven. Speaking of Jesus. Paul said it this way: “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).
At the moment of his arrest in Gethsemane, Peter drew a sword and attacked the men coming to arrest Jesus. Jesus gently rebuked him and said, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)? Clearly, he denied himself the pleasures and glory of heaven in order to come to earth to do for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Finally, using our definition, self-denial is acting in a wholly unselfish manner. We can view the crucifixion with greater depth, appreciation, and thankfulness. The beatings, the humiliation, and the slow grueling death on the cross were certainly examples of self-denial. So the question becomes: how far should we go to be a true disciple of Jesus?
Fifth, he must take up his own cross. Immediately after calling his disciples to deny themselves, our Lord adds a particularly personal command: take up your own cross. It’s interesting because at this point in time Jesus has not yet faced the cross. Even though the Lord taught them that he would be betrayed and delivered into the hands of evil men. They either could not or would not believe that their master crucified. Of course, Jesus knew exactly what was coming. So this command to take up your own cross would have great meaning to his followers after his death. And would likely be spurned by those who mearly identify as a Christian.
Even in their confusion. This command is not without meaning. Like most people in the Roman Empire. His disciples would know of crucifixion as a punishment for crime. Perhaps they had witnessed the condemned person carrying his own cross outside the gates of the city where he would be crucified. They understood that Jesus was calling them to a struggle. And it is that same struggle you and I are called to today. In spite of our air conditioning and padded pew, the life of a Christian may not be easy.
Sixth, disciples must follow Jesus wherever he goes. As we said at the beginning of this article, a disciple is a follower. It is not surprising that Jesus calls on his disciples to follow him wherever he goes. If Jesus feeds the hungry, as he did, we too should feed the hungry. If Jesus associated with sinners, which he did. We should also associate with sinners and bring them to a knowledge of the truth of Jesus Christ. If Jesus went to his death, which he did, we too must be willing to die for our Lord. Because the disciple who is found faithful will follow his Lord in the resurrection!
Identifying as a Christian is easy; being a Christian is tough.
So I ask you to wrestle with this question: do you merely identify outwardly as a Christian or have you been changed by being in the presence of Jesus Christ? If you’re simply identifying, could you be pretending? Maybe it’s time to stop pretending actually come to Jesus Christ seeking eternal salvation. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks will you let him in today?
I would be most grateful if you would leave a comment below. Any applause, criticism, thought, or request would be appreciated.
