“…and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26

The word, Christian, identifies those who closely associate themselves with Christ. It refers to people who belong to Christ, and who live to be like Christ. In that sense it is a fitting term, if it is true about those who call themselves by it. As we probably all realize however, the word, Christian, has morphed to frequently mean something other than “closely associated with Christ.”

Biblically, the word, Christian, is a noun, referring to people who are closely associated with Christ. It is now much more commonly an adjective or even an adverb—words that modify or describe a noun. This is not always a bad thing, but think of some things that are described as “Christian” that may or may not have any true association with Christ.

I can only imagine how many “Christian” things or activities that Jesus Christ would disavow as having nothing to do with Him—and are even misrepresentations of Him.

There is virtually no possibility that the term Christian can ever be reclaimed for use in it's pure sense; it would be nice if it could be. Maybe for now we can try to use the term only if it is connected to things or actions that are truly—well, Christian.