The Book of Acts records that the followers of Jesus Christ were “first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Why was this moment so important to include in the Scriptures? Is the name really all that important?
The Lord’s church was founded in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Peter gave the first sermon of Christ’s New Testament and over 3,000 souls were added to the church that day. But, once they were added to the church, what did these people call themselves? Throughout the Scriptures we can see different names being used. They were known as the disciples of Jesus (Matt. 27:57), the Way (Acts 9:2), the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22), the church of Christ (Rom. 16:16), and others. Each of these names explains a different aspect of the Lord’s church. But, in Isaiah 62:2-3, it was prophesied that the church would be known by one particular name. “The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendour in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
The name “Christian” is only found three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:6), but it became the most common name for members of Christ’s church. The word “Christian” (Greek Christianos) consists of the Greek word for “Christ” or “Messiah” (Christos) and has a Latin ending, “ianus,” meaning “belonging to or identified by.”
Prior to Antioch, Christians were seen by outsiders as just another sect of the Jews, like the Pharisees or Sadducees. But from that point, it became clearer and clearer to the world that this group of believers was entirely different. They were a unique religion, founded by Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
By being called christians, we bear the name of Jesus Christ, the most precious name on earth. We cannot take His name lightly. The Bible says, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:10). His name is “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). In the name “christian,” we declare that we belong to Christ and that He is our Lord. And, if Christ is our Lord, then our teachings and practices must reflect that. They must come from Christ. That is why this name was given to His followers—because they mirrored their Lord. If we bear His name, we also must be mirrors of Jesus.
If we understand the importance of the name “christian,” then we must realize that we have an obligation to live up to that name. We are not Catholics, Lutherans, or Calvinists. We are christians. So, we must reflect His will alone.
The “church” of Christ with a Little “c”
Have you seen sometimes when a church of Christ uses a lowercase “c” (as in “church of Christ”) instead of an uppercase “C” (as in “Church of Christ”)? Why do they do that? Are they just trying to be weird?
There may be differing reasons why some congregations do this, so I will not attempt to give every explanation for such usage. But consider this one thought. Often an uppercase letter is used to designate a title for something—we capitalize the names of restaurants, the names of song titles, the titles for positions that individuals hold in organizations, etc. Notice that we are capitalizing “titles.” Does the church have a “title”?
As one reads through Scripture, he will find that God does not give a “title” for His church. The word “church” itself is not a title but a descriptive term that emphasizes an assembly of called out people. The church is referred to as “the churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16), “the church of God” (1 Cor. 1:2), “the church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15), “the church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23). Note carefully that these are not titles that God was instructing to put on signs, letterhead and business cards. These are designations that emphasize the origin, identity and ownership of this church.
Consider also that the word “church” is used interchangeably with other descriptive terms. The church is called “the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12; cf. 1:22-23), “the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3; cf. Matt. 16:18-19), “the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13), “the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:15), “the flock of God” (1 Pet. 5:2; cf. Acts 20:28), etc. Those are other designations that God uses for the church, but those words are not capitalized because they are not titles but descriptions of the same entity. Just as the designations of “husband,” “father,” “grandfather,” “accountant,” “sports fan” are all used to describe one man (but are not capitalized), so the words “church,” “body,” “kingdom,” “house,” “family,” “flock” are used to describe one entity (but are not capitalized).
The names of denominational groups are capitalized because they are titles given to those groups by the ones who originated and organized them. Jesus Christ, the one who originated and organized His church, never gave a title that it was to wear. Instead, God uses words that have specific meanings to explain His will and His plan for us.
The “church of Christ” belongs to Christ! It is not wrong to capitalize “Church,” if someone so chooses, but using the lowercase “c” is intended to use the word in the way that it is used in the New Testament and to focus on the meaning of the word rather than seeing “Church of Christ” as a title.
Lesson is brought to you by; Bro Petras
