It matters what we’re called

Twit Conway referenced this post from TheResurgence in a comment that warrants our attention.

What’s in a Name?

A friend recently told me about a pastor of a large local church challenging his people to avoid using names such as “Christian” or “church” because of the potentially negative connotation that they bring. This is a growing trend among churches today, yet there are no biblical grounds for the avoidance of using these names.

The Case for Calling

In Ephesians 4:1, Paul writes: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Paul’s charge is one of invitation to live in the manner indicative of your name.

The Greek kaleo which we often translate “to call,” is noted three times in the above passage: parakaleo (“urge”) is a “calling alongside of,” kleseos(“calling”) implies an invitation, while eklesia carries the meanings of “naming” and “designation.” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament) This is just one of numerous cases in Scripture that instruct believers to conduct themselves as their title indicates.

It’s got nothing to do with image

Brammer takes issue with my criticism of using Christ follower instead of Christian, though he seems to agree with me that the reason for the popularity of the term is discomfort with how the culture views us.

He says

I’ve got some bad news, until we live as Christ, the Christian or Christ-Follower image will not change.

Actually, it won’t even then. The world does not like us because it does not like the cross. A sinner’s attitude toward Christians will have absolutely no bearing on the deadness of his or her heart or the Holy Spirit’s power to bring it to life.

Only Christ lived as Christ, and look what his culture did to him.