What does it mean to be “Christian”?

 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Acts 2:17 (NIV)

                The word “Christian” has taken on many meanings, some good and some not so good. For many people in the world, “Christian” is equated to being Western. The term “Christian” has been linked to being religious, conservative, traditional, and even Republican. For some it means living a moral life. For those of us who are people of faith, “Christian” means to be a follower of Jesus the Christ.

                The question I want to explore is, what does the word “Christian” really mean? The term “Christian” was first applied to followers of Jesus in Antioch. The church there was the first Gentile church, although there would have been Jewish believers in the church as well. In this context, the term “Christian” meant little Christs. It may have been used as a derogatory term by the general public.

                If we are going to understand what “Christian” means, we need to take a close look at the term it is based on, Christ. Christ is the Greek version of the Hebrew word Messiah. Both words mean “the anointed one”. In the Old Testament the idea of an anointed one is a powerful image. There were basically three groups of people who were anointed with oil, in this way set apart for special service. The first were the priests, beginning with Aaron and his sons. They were anointed in order to represent the people before God in acts of worship. The second group that was anointed were the kings. They were set apart to rule the people on behalf of God. The third group that was anointed were prophets and they were set apart to proclaim the message of God to the people. Each of these people were intended to be a bridge between God and humanity, between heaven and earth.

                Especially during the time of the exile, the concept of the ultimate anointed one developed. The people of God began to look forward to the coming of the one who would take on all three roles and rescue them from their oppressors and lead the people back to their true identity as the people of God. We know that Jesus is the one who God sent to be The Anointed One, the Christ.

                In addition to people being anointed, there were objects that were anointed with oil to be set apart for special service to God. In particular, the Tabernacle with all of its furnishings and the Temple with all of its furnishings were anointed with oil as places set apart as a meeting place with God, an interface between heaven and earth.

                If I may extend these ideas, to be “Christian” is to be one of the anointed ones. Instead of being anointed with oil, we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be a bridge between heaven and earth, between God and humanity.

                Before Jesus left this earth, He promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to anoint them with power to proclaim the word of God. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV) This is what happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers and they began to proclaim the word of God in various languages.

                So, what does it mean for me to be “Christian”? Christians are people who have been anointed by God through the Holy Spirit to be a bridge between heaven and earth, between God and humanity. We have been set apart for special service. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) In this verse, Peter combines all three of the classic “anointed ones” into one group of people.

                We have been selected by God to be His representatives in the world. We are royal in that we have been given the responsibility to connect our community to the Living God. We are a priesthood given the responsibility to lead others in worship of the Living God. And we are prophets, charged with proclaiming God’s truth to the world. Above all, we have been set apart from the mundane of the world to be used by God to accomplish His purposes.

                I have been listening to The Bible Project podcast on the topic of anointing, which is what has sparked my thinking. I have been challenged to ask the question, in what way have I been a bridge between heaven and earth, between God and humanity? Too often I have viewed being a Christian from the viewpoint of what I can get out of it. My focus has been inward. It has been all about my personal relationship with Jesus. This aspect is important and true, but it misses the outward aspect of my faith. I have been anointed by the Holy Spirit to be a bridge between heaven and earth.

                Being Christian is more than living a moral life. It is more than being religious. And it is far more than aligning with a particular social group or political party. Being Christian is living the life of Christ, a life of sacrificial love toward those around me. It means laying down my life for others, so that they can cross the bridge between heaven and earth, so that they can see God.

                To be anointed with oil was serious business. It was never taken lightly or administered haphazardly. To be an anointed one was to shoulder a great responsibility; to be held accountable to God alone. To be a Christian, in the true sense of the word, is serious business. It is to be called into a profound relationship with God and to be set apart for His service. There are great benefits, eternal benefits, to being a Christian. But we should never forget what it means to be one of the anointed ones. We have a responsibility to be a bridge between heaven and earth, between God and humanity.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)