Jettisoning the word, "Christian?"

[Kelp]

A few months ago, I was taking an orientation class at a local non-denominational church. It was during a break period and I was talking to two of the guys at my table. One mentioned that he read an article that at certain places in the South Pacific (I think) missionaries are having trouble talking to the natives because the word "Christian" carries such negative associations with imperialism.

Apparently the article suggests that missionaries should instead call themselves "followers of Jesus" to get better results. I don't know if that works any better for the missionaries, I never heard any follow-up (we don't go to this church anymore because it's such a far drive away). At the time of the conversation, the other also said that "Christian" has become such a lifeless term (I assume because of all the hypocrites and historical abuses) and we should all just call ourselves followers of Jesus anyway.

I must admit, as something of a tradition lover, this is hard for me to take :hehe:, but if it helps us be all things to all people, I don't have a choice. Though I wonder how practical it is. For one thing, it's the term everyone in the world uses (not to mention being in the Bible) so obviously these natives are going to hear the term eventually, assuming they don't know it already. And why wouldn't they just associate "follower of Jesus" with imperialism anyway?

So what do people think, should we stop calling ourselves Christians? Has the word been killed in the popular consciousness by too much ill use?

[Cow Poke]

Excellent topic. As I said in another thread, I did some mission work in Haiti back during Baby Doc's reign. When the locals would see us with our Bibles, they would ask "are you a Christian or a Catholic". (stay with me for a minute) It didn't take long to figure out that they associated Catholicism with VooDoo because of the history of the French Priests on the island. Even some of my Catholic missionary friends (we cooperated in drilling water wells) complained of the name identification problem.

We're living in a major time of change -- Baptist Churches are wanting to distance themselves from "Baptist", calling themselves "Community Church" or "Fellowship of the Woodlands" or some other non-denominational ID, even though, in many cases, they are very denominational. The local Church of Christ has recently changed their name to "ChristBridge" - no external denominational affiliation at all.

I remember when Jimmy Carter identified himself as "born again", all of a sudden that seemed to be a political buzzword (for a while). And I hear people use the term "Christian" simply to mean "not a pagan". So, I think I understand the purpose of your thread. A friend recently told me he has quit using "Christian", and has started referring to himself as a "Christ Follower".

I'll look forward to seeing other responses.

[Thersites]

I suppose to the extent that it allows you to define the term, as opposed to letting their preconceptions run wild, it is a reasonable thing to do... but I think there's a line you can cross... and then it just gets silly.

[Kelp]

Excellent topic. As I said in another thread, I did some mission work in Haiti back during Baby Doc's reign. When the locals would see us with our Bibles, they would ask "are you a Christian or a Catholic". (stay with me for a minute) It didn't take long to figure out that they associated Catholicism with VooDoo because of the history of the French Priests on the island. Even some of my Catholic missionary friends (we cooperated in drilling water wells) complained of the name identification problem.I wonder if it's not paternalistic though, I would think that most of them were going to find out eventually if even through just talking to you and your friends that Catholicism does not mean Voodoo and if they find out independently through travel or talking to tourists, they might just feel like they were sort of talked down to if you guys had avoided saying Catholic.

I don't know, to me it's common sense just like not all Muslims being terrorists. Maybe I'm caught in a culture gap?


We're living in a major time of change -- Baptist Churches are wanting to distance themselves from "Baptist", calling themselves "Community Church" or "Fellowship of the Woodlands" or some other non-denominational ID, even though, in many cases, they are very denominational. The local Church of Christ has recently changed their name to "ChristBridge" - no external denominational affiliation at all.Now this just seems disingenuous to me. What ever happened to calling a spade a spade? I have a lot less sympathy for people in the land of ye internets where stereotypes are easy to counter with a little effort.

Or maybe I'm discounting the power of emotions and irrational mental associations to trump logic. :shrug: Maybe it's like the word "niggardly." By everything true and reasonable in the universe, I should be able to use that word, yet I obviously "can't."

On the other hand, Spart is right that there's a point where it's just transparent, marketing lunacy. "I'm not a Christian, I'm a member of the faith founded by and dedicated to Jesus Christ."

[Cow Poke]

I wonder if it's not paternalistic though, I would think that most of them were going to find out eventually if even through just talking to you and your friends that Catholicism does not mean Voodoo and if they find out independently through travel or talking to tourists, they might just feel like they were sort of talked down to if you guys had avoided saying Catholic.

I don't know, to me it's common sense just like not all Muslims being terrorists. Maybe I'm caught in a culture gap?

Well, it's been --- what, 1980 --- since I was in Haiti, so maybe that hurdle has been cleared. At the time I was there, the only TV you got was at a local restaurant -- black and white reruns of I love Lucy on a little 9" television. And the power would go off about every 3 or 4 hours (we claimed it was so they could change out the squirrels at the local power station). Maybe they have better "connection" now, but at the time, it was clearly the poorest country in the western hemisphere. And, just one of my many side stories. :smile: But Haiti seemed largely "dictated" by religious superstition. (we worked in a clinic where babies would come in nearly dead from dehydration because the witch doctors taught that there were demons and evil spirits in breast milk)

And, as for "common sense" -- I have to remind myself that common sense isn't as common as we would like.


Now this just seems disingenuous to me. What ever happened to calling a spade a spade? I have a lot less sympathy for people in the land of ye internets where stereotypes are easy to counter with a little effort.I feel the same way -- "truth in advertising". But it's all part of (IMO) pandering to popular opinion.


Or maybe I'm discounting the power of emotions and irrational mental associations to trump logic. :shrug: Maybe it's like the word "niggardly." By everything true and reasonable in the universe, I should be able to use that word, yet I obviously "can't."You probably have a point --- our PC world, combined with the "advertising mentality" creeping into the Church....



On the other hand, Spart is right that there's a point where it's just transparent, marketing lunacy. "I'm not a Christian, I'm a member of the faith founded by and dedicated to Jesus Christ."NEVER AGREE WITH SPART!!!!! It only encourages him. :doh: