What should we call ourselves? "Christian", or "Christ follower"? Or... ???

[Saint Steven]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

 

[d taylor]

-​

Well it really does not matter what we call ourselves, what matters is what God calls us. Many may apply the name christian to themselves, but yet some of these people are just that. Only Christ followers, but they actually never have trusted in The Christ for God's free gift of Eternal Life and have not become a born again child of God, they are only a follower of The Christ. Similar to a person being a follower of budda, mohammad, etc...

I personally like using just believer in The Christ, because sometimes i am following Jesus, yet many days i do not. I get caught up in the activities of the world.

 

[eleos1954]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

We are children of God ... He is our creator ... our teacher .... our example .... with His help we will learn to walk the narrow path .... it's a lifetime commitment ... and ... we stumble around a lot, but trust that He will finish His work.

Philippians 1:6
King James Bible
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

[Saint Steven]

We are children of God ... He is our creator ... our teacher .... our example .... with His help we will learn to walk the narrow path .... it's a lifetime commitment ... and ... we stumble around a lot, but trust that He will finish His work.

Philippians 1:6
King James Bible
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Is that your recommendation, then?
We should call ourselves "Children of God"?

Question: "Are you a Christian?"
Answer: "No, I am a child of God."

 

[Hmm]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

I googled it and was quite surprised to learn that the word Christian appears in the Bible:

26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 11:26

I always find myself saying "I'm a Christian but...". I'm a Christian but I'm not anti-science (evolution, Big Bang). Or I'm a Christian but I don't believe God ends up torturing non-Christians.

OTOH, I wouldn't like to say I'm a "follower of Christ" instead because that to me sounds like I'm defining myself as something purer and more authentic than the usual Christian, which I don't really like.

So I guess I'll remain a Christian But

 

[eleos1954]

Is that your recommendation, then?
We should call ourselves "Children of God"?

Question: "Are you a Christian?"
Answer: "No, I am a child of God."

Answer .... I am a child of God and believe Jesus Christ is the creator of everything and receive Him as my Lord and savior, followers of Jesus and His precepts are referred to as christians. In that light .... yes .... I am a christian.

 

[GTW27]

It matters not what we call ourselves. It only matters what The Lord calls us "Beloved son & Beloved daughter"

 

[Saint Steven]

I googled it and was quite surprised to learn that the word Christian appears in the Bible:

26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 11:26

Yup.
Notice it says "the disciples were called Christians". Not what they called themselves.
It was actually a term of mockery, as I understand it. Like calling them "little Christs".

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

Yeah, the term itself has been used by non-Christians early on as a kind of pejorative of those in The Way, but I've always found the following verses to be an encouragement of sorts:

​

1 Peter 4:15-17​

​

15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?​

​

 

[Blade]

Christian, Christ follower, follower of Christ, Believer blah blah blah Acts is Christianity.

 

[Jonaitis]

Well, 'Islam' literally means 'submission' as in submission to God. So, you could technically call yourself an Islamic man without following the Islamic religion.

 

[Clare73]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.

Sez who?

Do we bow to every wind?

 

[Ceallaigh]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

Leaving everything behind to travel around doing the work of God, is basically what today's missionaries do.
There are several people mentioned as followers of Christ in the NT who were not missionaries. They had households and civilian jobs.

As for Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV, how did Jesus live before he began his mission? By all accounts, he lived an ordinary life. Which is why the people of his hometown were so agast over what he was saying and proclaiming about himself to them. They had only known him as an ordinary member of their community.

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

Christian” is used 3 times in the New Testament in Acts 11:26 , 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. It is a biblical term used for followers of Christ. The word disciple is only used in the gospels and Acts and never in the epistles. I say call yourself whatever you are comfortable with as a believer, you might prefer believer , follower of Christ, brethren or saint. All which identify one as a Christian.

 

[chevyontheriver]

What to do, what to do... ???

Be called Catholic.

Then you can have the scorn of almost everybody. But then you will be blessed.

 

[YahuahSaves]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I prefer the term "believer" because that's the only thing that's never changed my entire life. I've always believed in the Heavenly Father.

 

[Ceallaigh]

Just don't call me late for dinner!

 

[Saint Steven]

Leaving everything behind to travel around doing the work of God, is basically what today's missionaries do.
There are several people mentioned as followers of Christ in the NT who were not missionaries. They had households and civilian jobs.

As for Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV, how did Jesus live before he began his mission? By all accounts, he lived an ordinary life. Which is why the people of his hometown were so agast over what he was saying and proclaiming about himself to them. They had only known him as an ordinary member of their community.

I like what you are saying about missionaries. And they couldn't go unless they are sent and supported by those with more ordinary lives.

 

[Saint Steven]

... I say call yourself whatever you are comfortable with as a believer, you might prefer believer , follower of Christ, brethren or saint. All which identify one as a Christian.

Aha... saint. I like that one. - LOL

 

[Rajni]

The title "Christian" seems to carry with it many bad connotations.
Many have abandoned the title preferring "Christ follower".

I'm not sure I am totally comfortable with "Christ follower" either.
Because...
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 NIV

Which means what?
Leave everything behind to join a group of homeless people that travel from
town to town healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead?

What to do, what to do... ???

As controversial as it may be, if anyone were to ask, I would refer to myself as a Catholic Universalist and leave it at that.

Beyond that, if one wants to use a term other than "Christian", perhaps "Christocentricist"? Too many syllables, maybe; wouldn't want to try saying that after a few drinks.

But I've gotten to the point where it's pretty much impossible to stuff oneself - or God - into a box, which is likely one reason why the struggle with terminology in this case is real. No words really do one's spirituality any justice, especially as time, and growth, go on...