Label Me….No Thanks….

I want to talk about something that has riddled my heart for some time now. I was kind of hesitant to talk to you all about it because I didn’t know how it would go over with you but as always you are entitled to your own opinion.

Just keep in mind, when God gives me a message I will deliver it…..
Just as it states in the Word of God about in the last days 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Today I tell you, I can see it more than ever. The people who claim they live for Christ and are believers are living in ways that just don’t show His character or a symbol of His Love….

” I mean come on, that is Who He is right” ( LOVE)?
It’s so sad how so many people say they love Him and follow Him, but it’s hard to see a replica of Him in them or see no outward evidence of that love in them, that many claim to have.
Christian / Christianity – what is it, what were you taught?
There should be no reason in the world why most of us that say we love Christ should have bad dispositions, because that is not who He is.
We should want to help raise up our fellow brother or sister and not tear them down..
Now don’t get me wrong, I know that every Believer is not that way and no one is perfect but, one Believer should be able to know another by their Spirit and their walk of love at least.
There should be no reason in the world why we should stick our noses up at anyone, or look down upon anyone no matter who they are, Believer or not….

There should be no reason in the world why we should deny anyone a meal if they are asking you for one, yet alone something to drink, Believer or not….
And, we wonder why {followers of Christ, ” or” Christians] have been labeled under a title, the title of {Religion}. That they only have enough for themselves, and turn away when they see another in need! It’s because we don’t stick out anymore.

Being a follower of Christ, is a title all in itself, so why allow people to label you and place you in that man given category as Christian?
Well, let me tell you why….. Could it be for the simple fact that you want to fit in and belong to a world you were told not to be conformed to? Or, could it be that you just don’t care and you want to be a people pleaser rather than a God pleaser?

Regardless of what the reason is we have to take a stand, and that stand should be in Jesus! And what He stood for, when He was on this earth, and that was not One being placed under a label.
Jesus didn’t have the label as Christian, He was always called to those who knew Him (Son Of The Living God).
That label of CHRISTIANITY/CHRISTIAN. Did the Lord our Savior give us, His followers that name? And yes, that word is in the bible more than one time and harped on, because of (1 Pet 4:16) If you suffer as a Christian. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

The reason that Peter said that was because he knew (Christian) was the name they were known as, not because it was a name given to the disciples by Jesus……… So where did that name derive from? If it didn’t come from Him……..

So, what does He call us? Let’s take a look and see.

In (John 8:31) He says we are His DISCIPLES, if we continue in His Word. And, that we are to go make DISCIPLES of all nations {Matt, 28:19-20}

The name “Christians” (meant) those of that “Jesus party”! The ones that walked with Him and those taught by Him.

As I studied and found out…..That when that name “Christian” was spoken in the presence of the people of high-ranking, they would gesture in a somewhat flippantly manner of the hand – to suggest a dismissive wave as to say “those little Christ’s”, and the ending letters of [ian] actually meant [belonging to the party of].

So, in turn, “Christians” (meant) those of the “Jesus party” – in fact, meant that those people who were preaching that “faith and getting saved message” – the unbelieving ( High Ranking) members were unfamiliar with, something outside of their own religion, so they had to name it, and they named Christ followers (Christians)!!

Jesus followers went to Antioch and began breaking down barriers and it started to upset those high-ranking officials, those of power, in the Greek society…. [why] because people from all parts of the city Jews and Gentiles alike were all suddenly coming together as ONE… and BELIEVING in that ONE name JESUS, and were no longer being seen as different….

Those Christian people were redefining unity and oneness in an astronomical way! So much so, that a new group name was needed to categorize what was going on and who was the cause of it.

Now that was influence! Wouldn’t you say?

Now knowing why, the Antioch society gave those that followed Christ the name Christian. I now understand why that name carried so much baggage and was the only “quote on quote” group of people who never fit into any of the other Jewish beliefs or groups that the Jewish Greek culture believed in.

That label “Christian” was a loaded one, and one that was never given to the followers of Jesus by Himself, or by His followers, but given to them by men who did not understand their movement of Love, Faith, Oneness, Unity and Baptismal.

The high ranked officials were there to only make a mockery out of a new movement, a better movement, and the only one that would count and carry on for a lifetime.

We, as the followers of Christ, are supposed to be the ones redefining and making better, that “Christian” label, solely based on the reputation we give it, not by the reputation we don’t give it! By tarnishing it with dishonor and disrespect.

Once upon a time, that “man giving name“ {Christian} carried some weight and brought about a lot of attention from generation to generation, it had meaning… but, not anymore! But why not anymore?

Why doesn’t the name Christian mean anything anymore other than, “those judgmental unloving fault-finding people”, instead of what it once used to mean [ those Christ walking and talking people who are different from the norm and making a difference in the world……….

And, I respond, “because Christians look too much like the world and don’t stand out anymore”.

When someone other than a follower of Jesus Christ heard that name Christian being spoken, they would ask questions and be inquisitive to know more about it.

But today there is no longer any inquiring about it.

The “Christians” are the ones who are supposed to represent to others who He is – with Power, and Love, just like He did, when He walked this earth.

We as believers are supposed to look different and move different from others………

We are even supposed to sound different and even smell different to others.

And today, right now in this present day and age we don’t.

We are hard to pin point, because the love walk isn’t there, the hospitality isn’t there, our stand for Jesus and what He taught is not there.

{Why} because we are not standing in our rightful place, right in front of Him with our arms and hands stretched forth before Him, to receive that Power, and Fruit, and Gifts! So we can heal -deliver – and set free – all those in bondage! Amen…..

People no longer give Him the time, so they can recieve it.

So, what about those that are true die-hard, ride or die, 100% sold out soul seekers for Jesus?

Where does that leave us?

As hard as this may sound to some, TRUTH IS TRUTH and Christianity as well as that name Christian no longer stands out or carries the significance it once did…….

Come on Believers, Followers, and Disciples! We have got to do better being the representation of Jesus Christ, so that Gods Power can fill this earth. Amen!

Be Blessed….