293
August, 1937
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
What Is It T o Be a Christian?
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By W . G R A H A M SC RO G G IE Edinburgh, Scotland
The designation trembled on the lips of Jesus when He said: “Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward” (Mk. 9:41). “ Because ye belong to Christ’ just means, “ because ye are Christians.” And the Apostle Paul is to the same purpose when he says— “ Christ the firstfruits; after ward they that are Christs” —that is, Christians —“ at his coming” (1 Cor. 15:23). The Jews called Christ’s followers Gali leans or Nazarenes, and among themselves His followers were known as disciples, be lievers, brethren, and SAINTS; but it was left to pagans to give them the name which more simply and comprehensively than any other describes them. That heathen jest has become a spiritual joy, and Antioch’s gossip has become the church’s glory. But, let us observe, the heathen gave these people the name only, and not their character, and it is with their character that we are concerned in the inquiry—What is it to be a Christian? R ightly U nderstanding C hrist and H is W ork T o say that a Christian is a follower of Christ compels us to go further back, and ask, Who is this Christ whom Christians follow? If we misinterpret Him, our under standing of Christians and Christianity can not but be inadequate, or wrong. Now, for our knowledge of Christ we are dependent upon the 'New Testament and are shut up to that presentation of Him which there dominates, Christ’s claims for Himself, and His own interpretation of His mission, are the things that matter here. As to His Person, He claimed to have come from God, as none other had ever come; and He claimed to be the Son of God, as none other ever was. And as to His mission, He declared that He had come to give His life a ransom for many. He never interpreted His work away from the idea of sacrifice, and of vicarious sacrifice. “This is my blood of the covenant,” He said, “which is poured out for many unto remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28, R. V.). And again, “ I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself. But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die” (John 12:32, R. V.). And again, “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he” (John 8:28). From these and many similar passages, we see that that which dominates Christ’s mission is not His teaching, but His sacri fice, not His life, but His death. The In carnation made that sacrifice possible, and the sinless life made it worthy, but it was for the sacrifice itself that He came. Jesus [ Continued on page 298]
"The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). W HO can estimate the power of words? They are living things, with hands and feet. A knowledge of the meaning of words, and a proper use of them, will make a man or woman a power to be reckoned with. Of course, if one’s knowledge of a word’s meaning is faulty, his use of it cannot be correct, and it is to be feared that for this reason many important words have largely lost their power. Among such is the word “ Chris tian” ; and thus I shall endeavor briefly to answer the question, What is it to be a Christianf That the inquiry is by no means superfluous, reflection for a moment or two will show. “ Christian” is often used as the opposite of “heathen” ; sometimes it is made to mean a civilized person, or one belonging to what is called a Christian country; also baptized persons and those born of Chris tian parents are called “ Christians,” as are all members of Christian churches. But are they all Christians who are not heathen? Are all civilized persons Chris tians? Are all Britishers Christians? Are all baptized persons—infants or adults— Christians? Are all the children of Chris tian parents Christians? Are all the mem bers of Christian churches really Christians? We have only to ask these questions to realize how inadequate, not to say mislead ing, are these uses of the word to indicate its meaning, and thus, even at this late date, it is not unnecessary to ask, “W H A T IS IT TO BE A CHRISTIAN?” The declaration, “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch,” takes us to the origin of the word; and here there are particulars of considerable importance that should receive our attention. First, this name was intended to dis tinguish those to whom it was applied from the Jews and their religion. Second, it was a name given to these [Not long ago, Dr. Scroggie visited the United States for Bible conferences under the auspices of the World Dominion Move ment, and delivered a number of addresses in the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Linger ing still is the fragrance of his pulpit min istry; and through such messages as this article, and its sequel which is ready for early publication in T he K ing ’ s B usiness , as well ¿is through his books (please see page 319), the benefits of his scholarship and deep devotion to Christ are extended to countless lives .— E ditor .] W hat the N ame M eant in the A ncient W orld
W. Graham Scroggie people by others, by Gentile heathen, the “idle and witty inhabitants of Antioch,” who “were famous in all antiquity for the invention of nicknames.” Third, this wit or sarcasm of the An- tiocheans unsuspectingly hit upon what was most characteristic of the people to whom they referred, namely that they were Christs people, or followers of Christ, as Herodians were followers of Herod, and as Moham medans are followers of Mohammed. Fourth, thus early even these heathen recognized that this sect was “no mere variety of Judaism,” but a society with a universal mission, with a message to Jews and Gentiles alike. The appellation occurs only three times in the New Testament, and in each case it is the word of ungodly Gentiles. The first occurrence is in our text. The second is where Agrippa says contemptuously to Paul: “With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian” (Acts 26:28, R. V .). And the third is where Peter, referring to slaves who are illtreated by their heathen masters, simply because they are Christians (1 Pet. 4:16), says: “ If any man suffef as a Christian, let him not be ashamed.” Now from Tacitus and Ignatius we learn that this name of opprobium early became the chief designation of Christ’s followers, superseding all other names. Chrysostom, addressing the citizens of Antioch, where the word originated, says, “ As Peter was the first to preach the Christ, so was this city the first to be crowned with the name of Christian as with a diadem of wondrous beauty.”
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