"Should I call you ‘Christian'?" (40)

If I asked you to define what a Christian is, could you do it? Better yet, could you define it correctly? Biblically, is there a correct answer? This isn’t a trick question. In fact, would you be surprised that the Bible has difficulty defining the word Christian?

The Bible only has three references to the word Christian and, honestly, none of them attempt to define it well. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch (Acts 11:26). Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28) If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16).

Now, in the present day, when you think of the word Christian, what images come to mind and what impressions does the world have of us…Christians? Is that really who we are striving to be?

Maybe we should focus on the first reference. The first Christians were disciples. Now, what does a disciple mean? It appears over 250 times and more often than not clearly exposes its characteristics. Can you recall what charges Jesus gave that qualified someone to be his disciple? There are many, for which I hope and plan to revisit in the coming weeks, but I feel called to review discipleship starting with Jesus' first sermon series.

Following the temptations by Satan and calling of the first disciples, Jesus travelled throughout Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing. Large crowds began following him wherever he went. He then went to a mountainside and gave us what we call the Sermon on the Mount. As you read, you will find that everything Jesus says how we should live comes in opposites. For instance, is it the powerful who will inherit the earth? No. According to Jesus, the meek will.

Although I have read this passage countless number of times, I find myself stuck on verse 38. Do not resist an evil person. The greatest of evil and the Prince of darkness, Satan, we are told to resist and he will flee from us (James 4:7). However, with an evil person, we are to remain and not resist. Why? Interestingly, maybe we don’t understand what resist means. I usually think of resist as to refrain or abstain from, which is true, but the primary meaning is to withstand, strive against, or oppose. When someone is coming at you, challenging you, trying to afflict harm upon you, isn’t it your first reaction to stay away from that person or cause harm to them in return? Call it a survival technique but I would suggest it is our sin nature at work to preserve ourself. Even more interesting, a word sentence to define resist put it this way: “They couldn’t resist the chocolates.” If Christ had a box of chocolates, would he have used that kind of picture, as the chocolates being our enemies?

I would suggest that not only does Jesus ask us not to resist our enemies, but almost like he'd rather have us cling to them, like our love for chocolates, that is if you’re a chocolate lover. If you’re not, then make it strawberry shortcake. Our reaction to them should almost be out of sheer love and joy. Jesus says, “if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” So not only have you given him your money and your tunic, you’ve also willingly given him your cloak. You strive to meet your enemies “needs” and offer more back to them in return than they had ever asked for despite the fact their intent was to harm you in the first place.

Living as a disciple is living "oppositely".

Do you want to be called a Christian? I’m afraid it’s easier to be called a Christian than accept the responsibility of being called a disciple of Jesus Christ. However, no matter how difficult I know it will be, I want to be counted as His disciple.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

~Matthew 5:38-42

40 days!