What does that mean?

If you have not noticed, I do love to cook and eat.  But terminology has changed in recipes over the years to the point that if we did what we thought the measurement, tool or ingredient was, we would be disappointed in the outcome. So if you were to use an iron dish cloth, a fist brush, or the electro lolicon would you understand?  How about if I told you to dredge the salmon; blanch the peaches or use an old ham.  How about this, 'put it in a hot oven'?  Do words mean anything anymore?  

Prague Food

There was a time that a gentleman meant that the man owned extensive land and did not need to work (for wages) other than the management of his own property or he was of noble birth.  Today, most men are not sure about how to be a gentleman even though it has changed dropping the property owning or nobility and now refers to conduct of behaving properly and with respect.


A few years ago, my son and I were talking about where the term "Christianity" has gone wrong.  Wikipedia states, "The majority of Americans (78.5%) identify themselves as Christians."  My son, with his mathematical mind looked at me and said, "Dad, Christianity is the default; people think they are not Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, etc, so they must be Christian."  I had never though of it that way, but I so agree with him.  The whole definition of "being a Christian" has been tainted, reduced to a common label.  In Rome under Nero, to be known as a Christian was to be tarred and used as torches or used in the arena for sport against wild beasts.  Today, many expect them to be right-winged Republicans, conservatives, Tea-party members.


Is it too late to reverse the damage/change to the meaning of the term?  'Back in the day' a Christian was one who followed the teaching and modeling of Jesus Christ and lived out their complete and undivided life surrendered to Him every day of the week.  We are talking about being subjects of the King; of knowing the Creator of the universe; of being a child of God and understanding that our sinful life is dead and we need to focus on the goal of finishing well.

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and  being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11 NASU
 
These days, so many people call themselves Christians and yet go on living a life of this world; i.e., they don't change from who/what they were into new creations through Christ's redeeming power.  So what America ends up with is a diluted understanding of what a "Christian" is.  What the rest of the world sees is politics, wars, deception, dishonesty, and immorality.  

When President Obama delivered a speech, June 28, 2006, it was slightly different than his prepared speech,  "Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation – at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers."

 As unfortunate as it is to hear our leader say it, I believe he is accurate.  However, no amount of changing our textbooks to say differently, the United States was a government that was based on and ran with Christian ethics, values and belief; from the top down and bottom up.


Here are a few questions:
1) Are you ready to die rather than recant your faith in Christ?  Think Columbine...
2) If Heaven were not part of the package, would you still be a Christian?  What's in it for me...
3) Do you think the Christian life is a one time event or a daily walk in the footsteps of Jesus; doing all that He commanded and commands today?  Instant gratification or a life of challenge...
4) If believing in Christ meant that you must give up everything (family, friends, possessions) would you still do it?  What is it worth to you....


Actions (our very lives) have changed this wonderful word, Christian, to be less than it started out to be.  For me, call me a follower of Christ, a disciple of Christ, a person of the Book, but only call me a Christian if it refers to the original meaning of the word. (and how will people know what you mean?)