May 20, 2010
Acts 11
Pastor Paul Turbedsky
Acts 11:19–29 - What’s in a name?
We all have names and titles that set us apart from others. Names and titles carry with them implied expectations and behaviors.
For example, my family name is Turbedsky. I am expected to uphold the honor and heritage of my family name just as my father, grandfather and great grandfather did when he came to the United States through Ellis Island. My title is “Pastor,” accompanied by an expected decorum of behaviors, attitudes and actions reflecting it.
The early followers of Christ were referred to and called themselves believers, disciples, saints, the church or the way. It wasn’t until the gospel message reached Antioch that the followers of Christ began to be called “Christians,” and this was mostly by nonbelievers and outsiders. According to Roman and Greek cultural norms, the method of designating a person’s followers was to add “ian” to the end of the leader’s name – and that is how the term Christian was created.
As noted earlier, a name or title gives rise to expectations of behaviors, attitudes and actions. These things marked someone as a Christian in the early days of the church:
- Thirst to learn the scriptures as taught to them by Barnabas and Saul (verse 26)
- Insatiable desire to share the good news of Jesus wherever they went (verses 20-21)
- Going and doing for others according to their abilities (verse 29)
These three aspects should be every bit as true for 21st-century Christians as they were for those in the first century:
- Are you a lifetime learner of the Word?
- Do you let your light shine and share the gospel message with others?
- Do others know that you are a Christian, a Christ follower, by the things you do and how you treat others?
So, what’s in a name? When it’s “Christian,” it’s a lot.
Pastor Paul oversees visitation, benevolence and other aspects of congregational care, along with “Senior Saints” (senior adult ministries) and “Men of Grace” (men’s ministries).
