Scripture
25Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) Acts 11:25-26
Observation
• They had been called disciples (Acts 1:15)
• They had been called saints (Acts 9:13)
• They had been called believers (Acts 5:14)
• They had been called brothers (Acts 6:3)
• They had been called witnesses (Acts 5:32)
• They had been called followers of the Way (Acts 9:2)
• They would be called Nazarenes (Acts 24:5)
• Now they would be called Christians (Duzik)
To be called a Christian, literally “the party of Jesus” or “Christ-ones” was not not originally meant as a compliment. According to Biblical Commentator Duzik, the moniker was actually meant to mock the Christians. “Antioch was famous for its readiness to jeer and call names; it was known by its witty epigrams.” Here were these followers of Jesus 300 miles away from their headquarters in Jerusalem and they talked and acted as if Jesus were still alive and they followed him like a soldier follows the command of their general. In fact, this was probably part of the joke. “Soldiers under particular generals in the Roman army identifed themselves by their general’s name by adding ian to the end. A soldier under Caesar would call himself a Caesarian. Soldiers under Jesus Christ could be called Christians.” The Christians in Antioch took this association as a badge of honor and the name stuck.
Application
Just as when the religious leaders in Acts 4 said to Peter and John that it was obvious these unlearned men had been with Jesus, I want it to be obvious to those around me that I’m marching to the orders of a different authority. Literally, as I was writing this a man walked over and joked that it’s way too early for this kind of seriousness as he looked at us all spending time with Jesus at Life Group. I laughed and told him we are having a Bible study and he’s welcome to join. He walked away saying, “now it makes sense” in a bit of a condescending tone. As we enter this election year that has already divided our nation, regardless of which political party a Christian belongs to we must remember we are to be known by our love as the party of Jesus. I want people to know that I stand with the Jews and their right to defend themselves from the Hamas terrorists. I also stand in prayer with the innocent Palestinians who are being used as human shields by these ones they elected. I stand for the right to life of the unborn who cannot speak for themselves. I also pray for those who think abortion is just a medical procedure that is removing an unwanted tissue mass for they have been greatly deceived. I stand for the Biblical definition of marriage as between a man and a women. I also seek to find ways to express God’s heart to those who feel 300 miles away from this basic truth in how they define themselves and find identity in perversion that brings confusion. I am in the party of Jesus and that automatically means I won’t be liked by either political side because I’m not extreme enough. That’s ok because I am a citizen of a different kingdom and I follow a different set of values. I am a Jesus Person which means I will be mocked and misunderstood by the very people I’m seeking to love. The proof that these were indeed disciples of Jesus is that they were known for their generosity in a time of famine and poverty (Acts 11:27-30). They will know we are Christians, Christ ones, Jesus people, of the party of Jesus by our love!
Prayer
The world was divided before. Then Covid hit and everyone became more extreme and entrenched in their stances against one another. Now, in the heat of this war in the Middle East and the election cycle I want to be known as one who has been with Jesus. How? By actually being with You Jesus. Help me to see through the fog of war at what really matters most. No friendly fire from me. My goal cannot be to be liked and blend in because the party of Jesus was to stand out as those who give and serve and love even our enemies.
Comments