Follow the LEADER

There are over a billion people professing to be Christians to one degree or another and everyone has a different idea of what it takes to get it right. It appears the only common denominator of what qualifies one as being “Christian” is the person of Jesus at the center of their religion, traditions, and beliefs – of which there are countless variations.

In the process of looking into this, I wondered what the facts were.  What defines a Christian and am I one – or do I even want to be one?

An ancient highway created by migrating animals, used by the first human inhabitants
and then used by white explorers and settlers in North America - The Natchez Trace.
Once considered a highway - it is too narrow and too difficult to handle modern traffic. 

The next question - what is the Biblical meaning of the term “Christian”?   Some would think that is a very broad meaning but actually it is much like going through a very narrow gate that gives us access to a very difficult path – not nearly as wide and easy as I had thought it would be.

The actual meaning is “a follower of Christ”.  It was first used by non-believers in Antioch as they referred to the disciples as “followers of Christ” – hence the word, “Christian”.  The first disciples were originally of the Jewish faith but were drawn into a new dynamic when they accepted their Leader as their long awaited Messiah and the Son of God. With a little research I found that “followers of Christ” is exactly what they were. I counted twenty six times in the Gospels where Jesus Christ told certain individuals to follow him. Those that did became His disciples. Then I recalled how Israel followed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night through the wilderness. I also remembered reading that the resurrected saints shall follow Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, where He will establish His kingdom and replace Satan as the governor of the world. 

What it means to follow Him is that one must learn from Him what He taught, do the things that He did, and be the type of person that He was.

Christian does not mean just a “believer in Christ” – for even the demons know He exists, but they certainly do not follow Him.   It does not mean “worshiper of Christ” because we can give Him all glory, and all honor, and still not learn what He taught, do what He said, or be as He was. 

Here are three questions; both are answered in one scripture passage. (1.) Can I do wonderful and religious things but still not be following Christ?  (2.) Will my good deeds be credited to me if I am not following Christ? And (3.), is obedience to His commandments required to be counted as one of His followers?

I find this to be a sobering answer… “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ^And  then I (Jesus) will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”   _{Matthew 7:22-23}