Acts 11:22-26 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Imagine the encouragement for Barnabas traveling from the birthplace of the church in Jerusalem to arrive in Antioch and finding a group of faithful believers. The Antioch church was about to become the next launch point for the spread of the gospel to the world. It was a healthy church described as having steadfast purpose. Christians everywhere should be encouraged by this because it seems that in this church, we were first called Christians. Those who gather in faithfulness with a steadfast purpose of the gospel of Christ are Christians.
I wonder who first called them this and why. After all, it's a name of distinction. They were being called something because they were a group that was different to others. It would make great sense if this name was first developed in the community looking in at the church. Perhaps the first usage was even negative. It certainly was used in a negative sense in the Roman world. I've been called lots of things by non-believers over the years because of my faith in Christ. My favorite is the classic Aussie insult for Christians when we are called, God-botherers. We bother people with the news of Christ, except it's not such a bother when someone is saved into eternal life.
A long time before the church were called Christians, Abram, the father of faith, was called a Hebrew. Genesis 14:13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. This name, Hebrew, made Abram distinct from all the surrounding people in the land where he was living. His name meant something. He was not a part of the worldly nations but was associated with a nation yet to be formed. His name meant everything about his faith.
Unfortunately, today the title of Christian has been used in ways that it never originally meant. We have even expanded this name and sometimes talk of a Christendom, simply meaning the nations where some sort of Christianity is the main or state religion. This wide use of the name has often eliminated the most important part - Christ. And yet, because I am distinct from this world and living for a kingdom not of this world, I am happy to be called a Christian. I am happy to remind myself that this name says I am to be seen as different, and that difference is my trust in Christ and my allegiance to him and his kingdom above all else. That difference is also found in the very name of Christ as the Son of God who died for my sin and rose to life so that I may be found in him to call God my Father.
The point of Abram being called a Hebrew and us being called, Christians, has everything to do with our distinction from the world. That distinction is an eternal difference. Our distinction is vitally important for our witness and mission in a lost world.
If you are a Christian today having put your faith in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins, you have been given distinction from the world. Our distinction is eternally important.