Are You a Christian or a Follower of Christ?

Ever wish being a Christian was easy? The world expects certain things about Christians and the church world expects things out of Christians. What makes it so difficult for most is that the expectations are different for every single person out there of what exactly it means to be a Christian. How are we to handle that kind of pressure? If everyone has different expectations, who is right and who is wrong?

One way to combat the pressure of Christianity in our lives is to stop thinking about it as “Christianity”. While in Israel, I learned that some parts of the world do not really like Americans because we consider ourselves to be a Christian country and yet we support TV shows and movies that are very much “less than Christian”. They think that if we consider that TV stuff to be Christianity, then they want nothing to do with Christianity. So, do you know how they refer to themselves? They say they are followers of Christ.

I love that! Somehow being a follower of Christ puts the focus on Christ and me following Him and not me having to be something: a Christian. I know this is playing around with words. Perhaps, though, we need a fresh perspective in our lives to change how we think: looking at our lives and how we live in a new light.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

A follower of Christ
A person who dedicates his life to Christ
Believing that Jesus is the only way to heaven
Believing that Jesus is the Son of God

What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?

A follower of Christ
A person who dedicates his life to Christ
Believing that Jesus is the only way to heaven
Believing that Jesus is the Son of God

Now that we’ve established they are in fact the same, I want to point out one thing that stands out to me. When I think of a Christian, I think of a group of people. I think this group of people has failed the world and our name now has been tainted. Again, my opinion. I feel we, as Christians, have allowed ourselves to get caught up in hate speech with the world when we are called to love. We see the idea of Christianity as a set of ideals and values.

When I think of a follower of Christ, I think of a singular person more than a group. This follower is choosing for himself to follow Christ and do what God calls him to do. In this way, the follower is focused on Jesus and His desires more than doing what “Christians” would and/or might do. This idea of following is more of a personal relationship.

Why is this important? I think we’ve become lazy in our relationship with Jesus. We live our lives as a “Christian” might live instead of specifically asking Jesus what He’s called us to do in our lives. He might specifically want us to feed the hungry when we are ministering to those in jail. Both are worthy, both of Christian values, but just because it’s a Christian thing to do doesn’t mean it’s the best thing for a certain “follower of Christ” to be doing at this time.

Take today to focus on Jesus, ask Him what He desires of you, and remember that all Christians should be a group of singular “followers of Christ”. When we all take the time to focus on Him and love others as God loves others, we will help to give Christianity its good name back!

Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net/stuartmiles

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