In yet another “get on the band wagon” move, many of us in the evangelical church have become uncomfortable with the use of the term “Christian” as our self-description.  As the above series of videos point out, “Christian” has become synonymous with false piety, judgmentalism, and a general attitude of isolationism from the “real” world.  As a result, the “cutting edge” among us have decided to minimize the term “Christian” as a way we describe ourselves, and instead adopt the term “Christ follower” as our epithet of choice.  Evangelicals are hoping that the new terminology will help the world see us in  a new, different, and positive way.

Let’s think carefully about the shift in terminology, though.  The term Chrsitian is derived from Acts chapter 11.  Many have translated it “little Christ.”  In other words, the early members of the Church strove to imitate Christ to such an extreme that they were considered by those around them to be little impersonators of Jesus.  Let’s not forget that the term Christian is not necessarliy a positive one.  Instead, it was the religiously pious way of calling these people a bunch of “posers” (if I may borrow the late eighties, Nash skateboarding term).  From its inception, the term “Christian” was not a term of positive connotation to those outside the faith.  Why do we as neo-evangelicals assume that the world is going to have anything other than a negative view of us?  After all, as far as most of them are concerned, we believe in a fairy tale about a magic man who was born to a virgin.  It seems to me absurd to assume that, as long as we hold to the core doctrines of the faith, any quick sidelining of our name isn’t going to change the silliness of our belief system to non-believers.

Now, let’s consider the term “Christ follower.”  As I read the Gospels, I notice that Christ had a lot of followers.  He fed five thousand of them at once, he met with 500 of them after his Resurrection.  Just a week before the Passion, hundreds lay palm branches before Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. People came and followed Christ around to see the signs and wonders that he performed, but at the end of Jesus’ life, where were the “Christ followers?”  Even the most ardent followers, Christ’s disciples, were scarce at the Crucifixion; one of them even cursed God’s name when asked if he knew Jesus.  Which type of person should I try to be, then-a follower, or an imitator?  It seems to me, that as long as I strive to be like Christ with every ounce of my being, I’d rather be called a “Christian” than just a “Christ Follower.”

It is sad that most “Christians” do not live up to their name.  However, I just don’t see the point in abandonng this Biblical description of ourselves.  Instead of changing ourselves so that the name of Christ might be better glorified, we’ve decided to change our name so that we won’t be connected to “those” people.  I just don’t see the goodness in it.

What do you think?  Are you content to be a “Christ follower,” or would you rather be a “Christian?”