In this column I have been writing a few things about the various names which the book of Acts uses to describe those who believe in and who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. One such name is “Christian.” This is now the most common name for believers. Very likely, you would use this name sooner than any other, such as Believer, Disciple, Saint, or Follower of the Way, to describe who you are and what you believe. However, this name gained prominence gradually.

According to Acts 11:26 the name was first used in Antioch. It says there: “… in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” This name was coined to describe those who believed in Christ, who baptized in His name, and who followed Him. Luke wrote that they were called Christians. Others called them by that name. The disciples did not invent this name. The pagans of Antioch devised it to describe what they saw as a new Jewish sect.

Besides Acts 26:28, the only other biblical occurrence of the name is in 1 Peter 4:16. Peter wrote to encourage persecuted believers. He told them to rejoice in the midst of persecution because they were sharing Christ's sufferings. Their persecutors were reproaching them because of the name of Christ. Peter told them that there was no shame in suffering as a Christian. Those who suffer under that name are blessed. They will share in the glory of Christ.

Three Roman writers, Tacitus, Suetonius and Pliny, all writing in the early 100s, used the title. In every instance they spoke of “Christians” within the context of persecution. Tacitus and Suetonius wrote about how the Christians became Nero's scapegoats when he blamed them for the great fire that destroyed the city and savagely persecuted them. Pliny, a Roman officer, wrote about how he repressed the Christians in Bythinia.

The name Christian became the one for which followers of Jesus Christ were persecuted. As a result, in the second century “I am a Christian” became the triumphant confession of many martyrs.¹ This title, coined by unbelievers, used by those who persecuted believers as a name by which to deride and sneer at those who followed Jesus Christ, was taken over by those who belonged to Christ as a title of honour. The confession “I am a Christian” allowed one to share in the sufferings of Christ. It allowed one to suffer for the sake of Christ. It meant that you would share in the glory of Christ.

Our “Form for the Public Profession of Faith” makes a wonderful connection between professing faith in Christ, suffering and glory. Immediately after the candidates profess their faith the minister reads 1 Peter 5:10:

After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.

The Bible (1 Peter 4:1 2-1 6) makes a clear connection between the name Christian and suffering for the sake of Christ. History shows that the link exists. Our “Form for the Public Profession of Faith” understands that the relationship is there.

Who is a Christian? A Christian is one who confesses Christ as Lord and accepts all the implications and consequences of that confession, to the point of death.

Our confessions echo this. In Lord's Day 12 we confess that we are called Christians because we reflect the three-fold office of Christ of prophet, priest and king. We share in the anointing of Christ. As God anointed Him into an office, so we too are anointed as officebearers. The Catechism is very observant here. Jesus Christ suffered in His office. He died on the cross not as a tragic victim of a vicious plot but because of His office. He died as the great Prophet of God who spoke the Word of God but whom the people rejected. He died as the great High Priest who brought the perfect sacrifice. He died as the great, although rejected, King of Israel. We, as members of Christ by faith, as those who share in the anointing of Christ, must reflect His offices. As prophets we must confess His Name even in the face of hostility. As priests we must sacrifice ourselves to Him. As kings we must fight against sin and the devil, the great persecutor.

Christ suffered because of His office. We must be willing to suffer in and because of the office of Christian.

Article 29 of the Confession describes the marks of Christians. It speaks of a whole-hearted, unqualified devotion to Jesus Christ. Christians bear the yoke of Christ even when the false church persecutes them.

There are two wrong uses of the word Christian which are worth mentioning. First, there have been those who have sought an exclusive application of the name to describe their church or sect. The problem is that the focus shifts from the call to bear the reproach of the world and the false church for the sake of the Name of Christ to certain characteristics about one's church or sect.

Second, there is the popular use of the word Christian. People use it as a term to describe certain ethical standards, social attitudes, or even political affiliations, which supposedly reflect the outlook of a broad Christianity. This cheapens the Name which means “one who belongs to Christ.”

Let us not use the beautiful name Christian in either of these incorrect ways. Let us reserve it to describe those who belong to Christ and who will follow Him to the point of suffering and death.

Are we Christians?