Living Up To The Name

Acts 11:19-30

Many people grow up hearing their parents admonitions to not do anything to disgrace the family name, or to live up to the honor of their family name. “Remember, you’re a ---- . Live up to that name!” Perhaps the person came from a long line of great attorneys or doctors. In the U.S. there have been a couple of prominent political families, and in some other countries there are royal families and people of noble lineage.  No one wants to see a family member bring disgrace to the family name, rather we like to see behavior that honors our family. The same is true with the Christian family. In our passage today from the Book of Acts we read of the first time believers and followers of Jesus were called Christians, as people were taking note of their behavior and conduct.

As our passage begins we see that the followers of Jesus had been scattered throughout the eastern Mediterranean region following the martyrdom of Stephen (vs. 19).  Initially they only shared the Gospel to other Jewish people. However, following the message that the Lord gave Peter, that the Gospel was also meant to be given to the Gentiles as well (Acts 10), believers started sharing the Gospel with their Greek and other Gentile neighbors (vs. 20-21). After the church leaders had accepted Peter’s testimony about God opening the door for Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus, the church growth in Gentile areas started expanding. The city of Antioch was one such area that saw much growth in Gentile conversion.

The ancient city of Antioch, which today is in the farthest southeast corner of Turkey, was a very large metropolitan area.  It was the third largest city in the whole Roman Empire. The first being Rome, and then second was Alexandria, along the northern coast of Egypt. The third was Antioch, which we read about in this Scripture passage. It was also a major pagan city, with many pagan temples and shrines. Christian believers, though, were starting to make an impact in this metropolitan area by their lives and witness.  The church in Antioch soon became the second most important one, following Jerusalem, and played an important role in the very early church at the time.

It was here in Antioch that believers and followers of Jesus were first given the name Christian.  The name implies “little Christs” or “Christ-ones”. They were called this because of all they had in common with Jesus Christ.  Other people, both Jews and Gentiles who were not believers, when looking at these followers of Jesus, could see His likeness in them.  By their life and behavior, Jesus’s message was so evident that people could say they were just like Him. The term was sometimes also used derisively, implying belonging to Christ, such as His slave.  Those believers took that as a badge of honor.

When people see us, do they think we look and/or act just like one of our parents, or perhaps a grandparent?  We may have our mother’s eyes or our father’s height. Sadly we may have our grandfather’s temper, or maybe our grandmother’s weight problem.  We may also have a grandparent’s strong work ethic or honesty. When people look at us and say that we sure are just like our family, we hopefully want them to be saying positive things, not that we are a thief and a liar, just like the rest of the family.

As believers we are part of Jesus Christ’s family, and we bear His Name - Christian.  When others see us, do they say we look and act like part of that family? Do we show Jesus’s love, and pattern our life after His teachings?  Do we follow and obey God’s Word, just as He did? These early believers in Antioch did, so much so that a new word was invented - Christian, one who acts just like Jesus Christ. People knew in Antioch that these people belonged to Him.

If being a believer in Jesus was suddenly illegal in my community, would there be enough evidence in my life to convict me?  Could someone point me out and say, “Yes, she’s a Christian! She belongs to Him!” Or do I blend in with the rest of the world?  Those in Antioch were known, far and wide, as being Christians, followers of Jesus. Are we living up to the Name?