How Christians Got Their Name (Kindness Is Key)

While some of the details of how Christians came to be called “Christians” are lost to time, thanks to the work of biblical scholars, there are some things we know.

We know the followers of Jesus did not name themselves but were called “Christians” by others.

We know those others likely did not speak Hebrew for ancient documents show confusion in the use of the title “Christian” – a word Hebrew speakers would have connected with the Hebrew word, “messiah” – and the Latin words for “kind” and “useful” – words in Latin that sound a lot like “Christian.” This kind of confusion, also, led some to another word that meant “slave.”

To be “kind” and “useful” is certainly important to Christians. That people of that time saw Christians as kind and useful is instructive, too, don’t you think? To give the whole of our lives to God in loving obedience and service is not exactly becoming a “slave,” but the apostle Paul did write often of being one for the cause of Christ.

Over time, followers of Christ took to the name Christian because it reflected who they aspired to be. In answer to the call of God, they wanted to be like Christ to the world with the whole of their beings, including sacrificial service that honored God.

Thinking about those ancient Christians and the sacrifices they made to make Christ known makes me want to be a better Christian.

It makes me want to sing and embrace again an old song I learned long ago at youth camp – “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

Makes me want to be better at meaning it, too.

Still in process,

B Guffey