Am I a Christian?
Given that there are many times that the word “Christian” is spoken, I have always assumed that people also know what it means.
At the end of December till the beginning of January, 2020, a number of us, students and ministry workers, went to vision conference, a big annual gathering of international students organized by Bridges International. There were different tracks depending on people’s faith or ethnic backgrounds, but a considerable time was also dedicated to general gathering of all participants. One of the things I paid attention to, was the use of terms and Christian jargons. Since there are many students who are seekers, the terms used were intentionally not to confuse them but help them understand and even open their mind to the idea that they are part of the community. I remember asking a student who is a seeker about her track, things she was learning and what she thought. Her response surprised me when she was explaining the meaning of her small group, the seekers; she said that it was a group of people who are “not believers yet”. I have heard of this before spoken by people who are hopeful for those they are discipling, but those being discipled. That has obviously stuck to her mind and helped her to believe that she is yet to believe, which she eventually did.
This instance made me pay attention to terms used and the way people adapt to them. Interestingly enough, another instance arose when a student, actually two, decided to commit themselves to be followers of Jesus (one at the conference, and another prior to the conference). In their minds, being a follower of Jesus didn’t necessarily mean to be a Christian. After accepting Jesus as the Lord and Savior, on of that student asked surprised: “Does this mean that I am a Christian?” This makes me wonder if being called a Christian is unattractive, scary, revered, etc. why would someone be willing to be called a follower of Christ, and not a Christian?
Apparently, these days the devil is tricking people into thinking that being spiritual doesn’t mean that you have a “label”, and you don’t have to be part of an “institution” either! Please pray that whatever it is for those students that it won’t be a hindrance from the devil, but a mere issue of lack of knowledge/information that will be acquired and learned quickly.