What It Means

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26 KJV)

The disciples were called Christians – they did not tell people they were Christians, though they did tell everyone they met that they believed Jesus was the Messiah (a Hebrew word), which is Christ in Greek. We think of Jesus Christ as His name, though it is His name and His title. The disciples and members of that Antioch church were labeled as followers of the Messiah.

“Christian” has a slightly different connotation today. The label is applied to someone who has an affiliation with a denomination whose statement of beliefs includes references to Christ. Such membership applies the label Christian, whether the source of the word or its application to our lives is understood.

In our congregation, membership is requested in a public statement by an individual that they have accepted Jesus as their savior and have either indicated obedience by having been baptized or requesting baptism. Some do this and seldom attend any other service.

That obedience thing goes beyond baptism, and is very important when calling one’s self a Christian. It is a very serious promise made in accepting Jesus as savior, but being a Christian is not a one-time event. Jimmy Carter put it into words in a devotional:

When we place our faith in Christ, we declare, in effect, “I promise that in accepting Jesus as my Savior, I will use Christ’s works and actions to guide my life.  I’ll try to pattern my own existence after the example he set.  I will endeavor to keep God’s commandments, as Jesus did.”

That is a huge challenge by imperfect people to a perfect God. And, we will stumble along the way. It is absolutely necessary to learn more about Jesus to know what His example is. It is absolutely necessary to know God’s commandments before we can keep them. Getting one’s name on a church’s membership list does not provide those necessities – it takes personal commitment to keep this promise.

When we accept employment, we make a commitment to show up and complete our work. If we do not, our employment is terminated. As our example, Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath:

And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. (Luke 4:31-32 KJV)

His disciples were, too:

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. (Acts 13:14 KJV)

God’s inspired word tells us:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

So, my bottom line to those who say it is not necessary to attend services to be a Christian is:  You are wrong and sending the wrong message to non-believers.

Attending worship services, reading God’s word, discussing and sharing are examples Jesus set for all of us. Obedience should include following His example. More tomorrow.