Dear Whomever:
I didn’t read your email this morning. The salutation was enough to tell me I wasn’t interested in whatever it is you’re selling/offering/asking for. “Dear Christ-follower,” you wrote. Well, I certainly am a follower of Christ, but . . .
I am a Christian. I know that title is frequently misused, but it’s the title the English-speaking church has used for centuries. The title does not embarrass me; I have spent not one second trying to think of a better one. When I use it, I identify myself not only with Christ, but with his bride. When you eschew that title, you disconnect yourself from thousands of saints who had no interest in worldly relevance. They didn’t care if the world thought they were cool. In fact, they knew the world would always hate them, no matter what.
But, speaking of relevance and cool, calling yourself a Christ-follower doesn’t make you more attractive to the world. It just makes you a different brand of weirdo. That is, unless along with “Christian” you jettison the historic, biblical Christian faith — which is what every “Christ-follower” I have ever encountered has done. In that case, the world may very well love you and join you on your couches surrounded by candles, looking at each other through your oh-so-cool square black glasses resting between your messy hair and scruffy whiskers (<irony>the current uniform of the non-conformist</irony>), having a “conversation” about a fictitious Jesus.
Getting back to identification, I want to be identified with the thousands of faithful saints throughout the history of the church who have loved God and his Word, who have loved my Lord as he is revealed in Scripture. When you call me a “Christ-follower,” you are identifying me with a movement that rejects Scripture, the Christ of the Bible, and the Church, his bride — even if that does not describe you. Please, don’t do that.
I follow Christ; that is true. But I am a Christian.
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2 Comments:
#1 || 10·06·15··05:44 || Victoria
Wow--I love how you put those thoughts into words. I have been forced(non violently of course) into reading Velvet Elvis because someone challenged me that Rob Bell is not heretical. Well I am only to page 23 and can tell you that he is indeed. And he is one of those Christ Followers you are talking about here.
Yep just like you, I am a Christian and glad to be identified as such.
#2 || 10·06·15··08:53 || Daniel
Oh my! My whiskers are often scruffy, and I truly am considering square black glasses for my next pair... Do you see how quickly this stuff insinuates itself into the church!? I wasn't even aware of my emergent leanings!
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