What Does it Mean to Be a Christian?

     Not long ago, I had an exchange with the host of a YouTube channel that I occasionally watch within a comment stream. This particular person left the Church and went through a process of deconstruction where she had to re-examine everything she had been taught and believed. There's a few things I really respect about her. The first is her command of Scripture. She knows the Scriptures better than most church going Bible Baptists, and can quote them at will without hesitation. The second is her willingness to listen and invite just about anyone onto her show without judgment regarding what they say or teach. The third thing is her emphasis on the commands to love as are taught in the Scriptures. Another thing I tremendously respect is that she considers herself a disciple of Jesus Christ.
     Thing of it is, she would be considered New Age by just about everyone, including herself. She often has Near Death Experiencers on her show, people who claim reincarnation, channelers, and other folks and ideas which would be traditionally associated with the New Age movement. One video she posted explained her experiences leaving Christianity. After watching the video, I commented to her that she hadn't left Christianity, she had found it based on what I've heard her teach. She responded, and we went back and forth. The gist of what I got from her was that she didn't want to identify as a Christian in any way, even though she considers herself a disciple of Jesus Christ. I replied that I would like to see the name of Christian reclaimed from those who had abused it. She replied, "If that is important to you, I wish you success and fulfillment on this path." And it broke my heart that this person who makes a point of following what Jesus Christ taught doesn't want anything to do with the label "Christian."
     Jesus Christ Himself never used this word. In fact, it didn't come around until about fifteen years or so after He ascended into heaven. His followers were always referred to as His disciples, or "followers of the Way (or Path)." It was in Antioch after Paul and Barnabas settled there that those followers of the Way were called "Christianoi." They didn't give themselves that name, but were labeled that by those others around them in Antioch. They were given this label because they manifested Him in everything they said and did, and those around them could see that they were acting and speaking like Christ. They were given this label to distinguish them from the other sects of Judaism in particular, with which they had little in common in terms of how they acted towards each other as well as everyone else, and little in common with them in terms of how both Judeans and ethnically otherwise were welcomed among their numbers. But first and foremost, they were labeled this because when you saw or heard them, you heard and saw Jesus Christ through them. This label spread because those followers of the Way 'were' Jesus Christ for everyone they came into contact with.
     It's clear that this understanding that someone was only considered a "Christian" when they lived as He taught continued into the second and third centuries as Justin Martyr in the middle of the second century says exactly this. He even encourages the Roman Emperor to go ahead and prosecute those who aren't living as Jesus taught, because neither he nor any other Christian would lay claim to them as such. In other words, the church disowned you as a Christian if you weren't actually following the Way of Jesus Christ no matter what you preached or taught. This understanding continued until the Great Ecumenical Councils, and the bishops overseen by the Emperor Constantine disowned anyone as a Christian who didn't adhere to the theological doctrines they agreed on. But up until that point, it was always about being a follower, a disciple of the Way in how you lived, acted, and spoke. And just being labeled a "Christianos" could have you arrested and executed at times as rumors flew about them being atheists, and adhering to strange rites that made even Romans queasy, none of which was true. Too many who lived as Jesus taught died just because they were labeled, "Christianoi." Too many died for it just to have this term abused, misunderstood, and walked away from because of the abuse of those who called themselves "Christians" without everything that went with the name; that is, without living as He taught, and walking as He walked.
     So, what does it actually mean to be a Christian? It means to manifest Jesus Christ in what you say and do. It means to live as He taught, and to walk as He walked. It means to follow the Way, regardless of the consequences, and all those found not doing so are not Christians. Not in that moment when they have left Jesus Christ behind for their own fears, desires, or selfish concerns. Let me say that again, being a Christian means people see and hear Jesus Christ when they see and hear you, and if you leave this path then you are not being a Christian until you begin to walk once more as He walked. It does not matter what you teach or profess to believe. Being a Christian is about Jesus Christ within and through you.
     I hope, at some point soon, this noble name can be reclaimed from those who blaspheme it by disobeying the Way and blaspheme Him for whom it is named.