So now I just need a name. Here is my list of options. I hear that this was the original name Christians went by. I’m not sure if this is true or not but it is also the name of a group that may or may not be a cult. Of course if a whole bunch of people start living the life Jesus called us to then all the “Christians” are bound to call us a cult too so it might be a viable name. That’s not the real name, I’m thinking we pull a Prince and get a nice symbol instead of a name, but it needs to be completely unpronounceable yet simple enough that we can throw it down with our fingers like gang signs. This works really well because people on the outside will have a hard time complaining when they can’t use a name. At first I was thinking the Chi Rho, which is an awesome ancient symbol of Christianity that looks like an X and P overlapping. It is the first two letter of Christ in Greek. The problem is that Chi Rho is pronounceable so the Christians that aren’t Christians will be able to complain about those rotten Chi Rhoers, but they probably have bad accents and so it will sound like they are saying something about stinking Churros, which won’t make any sense. Also, I do like Churros so I’d hate for people to go around besmirching them when they are complaining about me. Wow that is a mouthful, but it does cover the bases, still I wonder if the name might be a bit ironic in that it is founded on not being hateful and yet it is hateful, so … maybe not. All joking aside I really think this is a great name. Back in the day the youth of the Assembly of God were called Christ’s Ambassadors. The youth pastor was a CAP and the district youth director (DYD) was the DCAP. That was all before my time, but the idea is cool. Anyone think it will catch on? They ditched it in the AoG because it was uncool. So these are 4 of my ideas? Who is with me? Anyone else sick of being lumped in with people that give Christians a bad name? What ideas do you have? Wow, great big thanks to Marni for this one. It is so good I had to go and put it in the original post as if I thought it up all by myself. I can’t believe I forgot this one. Of course the major drawback is that everyone would either have to be part of a great band that could pull off the Christian rap to rock transition or stand on a box in the middle of the city with a tat on the their belly that wiggles around like marmalade jelly. I’m willing to make the sacrifice for complete frigintasticalness though.
I still want Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior, and to follow Him with every fiber of my being. I just don’t want to be known as a Christian. I feel dirty and tainted right now because of how I’ve seen Christians act lately. They aren’t acting like Christians are suppose to act, but they won’t put away their title as Christian so it is time to come up with a new name for someone that asks Jesus to be their Lord and Savior and follows Him with every fiber of their being. People that want to scream and yell and seek justice because a bunch of so called Christians physically threatened people they love and verbally assaulted them, but instead read Matthew 5:9 and try to be the peacemaker. People that try to reach out to the same people Jesus would reach out to. People that want to be all that Christ called them to be.Follower of the Way
People formerly known as Christians
Not Bitter and Hateful People that Claim to be Christians
Christ’s Ambassador
Jesus Freak
A Husband, Father, Youth Pastor, Geek, and Jesus Freak
Back from the undead
A real life story of depression
Why we fell for balloon boy and what my son did weekend before last
Before we start I need to say I’m sorry
Topical Tuesday Makes a Come BackAbout the Geek
These are my Experiences. [Read More …]
Sorry Nick. First of all, I am sorry that you were hurt by some of my brothers and sisters. Sometimes they hurt us worse than anyone, because we expect better from them.I am also sorry that I can't endorse any of your other names. You know what will happen. The "others" will only start using the name themselves once it catches on, and you'll have to start all over again.I hope your relationship with these people will be healed by Jesus. God be with you.
Helen,That my plan though. Everyone on the Christian bus jumps over the the new cool name after they have realized that it is so cool and all their complaining won't stop it, then I can go back to being a Christian. Tada.
Whatever name you decide on, sign me up too because I'm right there with ya. That's why on my Facebook "religious preference" I list it as Jesus Freak. I tend to say that on all standardized forms I fill out that ask my religion. Also? I don't tell people I'm a Baptist (except you guys since you aren't Judgy McJudgements) because of the same negative connotations. Sad…
Couldn't have said it better myself. Whatever name you decide on, just continue to love Christ and live Christ, and what you call yourself won't matter a bit. Maybe we should change the name of the so-called Christians who are giving us a bad name in the first place. Wouldn't that be easier? Great post…thanks for writing it!
I've been through some seriously majorly horrendous hurts at the hands of people who call themselves Christians. I've come to realize a couple of things…First, not all people who call themselves Christians actually ARE Christians. Some of them don't have any idea of what Christianity really is; they just have some warped concept of morality, liturgy, or tradition. If they really aren't Christians, you can't expect them to act like Christ.Second, Christ created the church. And as sick as it is, we can't really abandon it. It's His Body. So, instead of abandoning it, it's our charge to nurse it back to health. And if you look really carefully at the people around you, you'll notice that there's a lot of people willing and able to help you do that.Be encouraged Nick! We're in this together! And when we get to Heaven, there won't be any posers.
Marni,I already responded 2u in the blog post proper so … thanks?Angela,I tried calling them losers but that just seems to make it worse. They are pretty committed to the idea that they are Christians and refuse to give up the name.Sarah,Honestly my anger and wish to change what I am called has nothing to do with abandoning the church or not working to fix it, but rather to find a way to explain the difference between me and these unChristians to people that don't understand why "Christians" can be so mean.I know Christ has no abandoned His bride but I also know what Jesus had to say about the time just before His return and about final judgment … I don't want to be in that place so I work at achieving His call.
Agree! I've been dreaming of a new name for myself for a long time. I don't like all the 'boxes/labels' that come with being called a Christian. The symbol idea is kinda cool – like Prince
I'm sorry, Nick. It's bad enough to be part of the Body and be treated badly.It's not until you get into leadership that you really grasp how really horrible and un-Jesus-like people can be.It sucks, and I'm so sorry. Praying.
Maybe the bigger problem is needing to title ourselves according to denominational or religious ideas. It's not being a Christian that's the problem, it's being religious about it–and inflicting our legalistic ideas on others.Maybe we should stop being "religious" altogether. If someone wants to know who we are, can't we just say we aren't religious? We do know and follow Christ, but that doesn't need to make us religious.
…they were first called Christians at Antiioch… notice that lost people named Christians based on the Christ like behavior they saw lived out… a far cry from where we are today wouldn't you say
I don't think it matters what we call ourselves, we just need to focus on living for HIM and pointing the glory His way… I agree with your post though, I am sick of all the people out there that masquerade as Christians…
I'm really liking Follower of the Way. Weren't Christians known as something along those lines before they were known as Christians?
i think we should use Jesus Freak, it fits us so well. i mean God doesn't use the straight lace "Christians" he uses those who he knows he can call on at 2 in the morning to go down to the 7-11 and talk to the guy on the corner and they will be there. i am sick of telling someone i am a Christian and them saying "so your going to push your religion down my throat?" all i want to do is know Jesus is my savior and tell everyone else what he has done for me and them. and that he loves them and that he died for their sins. so i think we should rename "Christians" to JESUS FREAKS.
thesnoopy7,Right now I'm preaching "the Freak Show" in my Youth group. We are owning what they put on us and I'm trying to show them what we are really called to.
Dearly beloved, you observation is right. We are living in a world were the church is becoming worldly and the world becoming “churchly” that we do not know the difference. However as Christ Ambassadors we will stand out and show them what it means to be a Christian. Even if every ‘christian’ is not living right, as Christ Ambassadors we must represent Jesus right.
I think there’s another angle to this. Its not that non-xns just dont get that the ‘real christians’ are all lovey dovey, edgy, and non-judgemental. Its that even if you are non-judgemental, and love everyone equally as Christ loved us, hardened hearts don’t want any of it. Be as Christ[real]Like as you want, that wont draw ppl to him like we, in Christian circles, tend to think. We think – oh, if only he/she knew that God was this or that, then they’d realize its what he/she wants/needs. But thats not true. There is no magic formula. Even Christ himself walking on earth wasn’t accepted or loved by everyone.
I agree, I don’t think my reaction is related to wanting to be accepted, I think we won’t be accepted, moreover we’ll even be hated. I just hate being associated with people who are real jerks. I try to live right, I fail miserably at time, but when people destroy young men and women in the “name of Christ” I’m ready to sign on with putting a mill stone around that person’s neck and tossing them into the sea … you know to help them out since that would be better than what God is going to do. I’m a real helper like that. I have to take a breath and pray for them though, if I’m going to try and live grace I have to try and live grace with everyone.
I just stumbled across this post as I was catching up on your blog and it got my attention… After 53 years of being very antagonistic towards organized religon in general and Christianity specifically, I recently decided to be baptised and join the church of the Latter Day Saints. My baptism is this Saturday, so lately I’ve been a little more interested in discussions of religon and Christianity… I wonder why members of the LDS church are always labeled as Mormon and never as Christian.Why is there such antagonism between other Christian churches and LDS? I have to say that I’m relieved that I’m not going to be lumped in with all of the crazies that call themselves christian.
I love the name “Jesus Freak” for some odd reason…I always call myself a ‘Gay Christian’ since I am gay and a Christian. So if I add “Jesus Freak” with it, I’ll be a Gay Christian-Jesus Freak! I might as well shoot myself in the head, eh? LOL
All kidding aside, as Christians, we should always remind ourselves that we are diverse bunch. We agree on a number of issues, and we disagree on some issues. We throw insults at each other, bully each other (I found out about your website via thechurchofnopeople.com’s article on Why Christians are Pro-Bullying), hurt each other, etc. But we are a family – a dysfunctional one to say the least. Let’s not give up on each other by trying on different names or leaving the family all together. With time and with God’s grace, we’ll come around. We always preach that nothing is impossible with God, right? Let’s put that into practice.
Nick, why do you need a name to represent your beliefs?, there should be no them, or us, we are all made of the same stuff. just follow your heart and do not worry what others are doing or think, that is their life, not yours.
Jamie,
I actually strongly disagree with this. We are not separate. We are one church … one body. So much of the New Testament makes it clear that when one of us screw up it is our responsibility to address the issue. It must be done in love with the heart of restoration. I should write a follow up to this post. It took me a VERY long time to calm down from this but I have been able to talk with some of the people involved and deal with this issue with them and grown closer to them. I couldn’t have done that right away because I would have been responding in my anger over their deeds but I was eventually able to confront them in love.