Comments on: ‘Christian’ vs. ‘Christ-Follower’ – What’s the point?

By: Scott F

Scott F — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:00:58 +0000

I stopped describing myself as a “Christian” for a couple of reasons. First, as already stated, it has become a meaningless term. But perhaps more importantly, I believe it actually confuses the gospel message, especially with regards to Jews. Evangelicalism generally equates “becoming a Christian” with spiritual rebirth. Does a Jewish person need to “become a Christian” in order to enter the kingdom of God? Not according to Scripture. A Jew must embrace the Messiah and be born-again, like everyone else, but he/she can do this and remain a Jew.

For me, losing the term is one step in shedding “Christendom’s” long and nasty anti-semitic history.

By: CRN.Info and Analysis

CRN.Info and Analysis — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:28:55 +0000

[...] First, I wonder why this has become an issue again.Â I blogged on this subject more than three months ago when the videos were already two months old (years ago in internet-time).Â It seems to be just a continuation of looking for reasons to be divisive. [...]

By: Chris L.

Chris L. — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 02:04:03 +0000

Excellent, Henry! None of those (and you could have probably found more!) are offensive to me…

Have a Merry Christmas!

Grace & Peace,

Chris

By: Henry Frueh

Henry Frueh — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:58:36 +0000

I like “believing follower” but what exactly is the point? Some of the watchdog blogs find a fight in every corner which renders their credibility useless. And now they see using the term Christ follower as part of some grand demonic scheme? Sometimes these meaningless arguments can suck the Spiritual breath out of the room.

signed,

A believer, a Christian, a Christ follower, a believing follower, a fundamentalist, an Arminian, a Baptist, an orthodoxian, a brother in Christ, a part of the body of Christ, a sinner saved by grace, a child of God, a born again believer, a disciple, a saint, a yokefellow, a soldier, a servant, a bondslave, (you may remove all the terms that are offensive to you)

Rick

By: Chris L.

Chris L. — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:55:09 +0000

Good point, Brendt – you put your finger on my misgivings. When it’s used as a comparitive (either way) label, niether is useful. It is the comparison that drives the attitude. Even before Bell’s VE quote, I’ve always been uncomfortable with things having the ‘Christian’ label – it is far too close to gnostacism that way…

By: brendt

brendt — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:41:19 +0000

I really don’t think it’s the label that creates the barrier. In fact, these videos illustrate that point. It’s the holier-than-thou or hipper-than-thou attitude that creates the barrier. And then it’s the attitude that generates the label.

If it was the label, then I wouldn’t want to be a Christian or a Christ-follower, because both of these guys are jerks in their own way.

Besides, I’m proud of being a ‘tavern lackey‘ — don’t take that away from me.

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:29:58 +0000

I think that any label (especially one which was given to people as an insult) that creates a barrier needs to be done away with. I refuse to limit God’s power because of an antiquated term that doesn’t accurately define who or what we are.