What does it mean to be Christian?

Some have said the term means “little Christs.” This idea is also echoed by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, where he writes, “Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

The first biblical mention of the word “Christian” is in Acts 11:26, when the disciples at Antioch were the first to be known by this term. The Greek word for Christian in Acts 11 translates to “follower of Christ.” Additionally, the Latin suffix “-ian” in the word Christian roughly translates to “from, belonging to, or relating to.”

Therefore, another working definition for Christian could be “those belonging to Christ.”

As believers, do our lives reflect we belong to Christ? If we were to examine our daily interactions with others, how we speak to friends and family, or how we talk about co-workers or those of differing political or religious views, could we claim to communicate as Christ would?

Sadly, many nonbelievers don’t think so.

Research by Barna found that 48% of people of no faith describe Christians as judgmental and 49% believe they are hypocritical. As a result, 85% describe Christianity as a faith they don’t respect.

Yet, studies also show 7 in 10 Americans view Jesus positively. So where is the disconnect? It may partially lie in how we talk to nonbelievers, especially about our beliefs.

Barna surveyed nonbelievers and asked them how the ideal Christian would share his or her faith with them. They found that people of no faith want the speaker to care about them as a person. They also want to be listened to without judgment — and they don’t want a conclusion forced on them.

This may be difficult to hear, especially as Christians who have a passion for truth and believe Jesus is the only way to salvation. However, these responses don’t mean we must not share truth or approve of lifestyles and beliefs that go against Christ and His Word. In fact, it means the opposite.

Consider three ways we can show Christ’s love to the religious nones while upholding biblical values.

Relationship

To reach nonbelievers, we need to have genuine relationships with them. Whether or not we agree with their actions, approve of their lifestyles, or hold the same beliefs. In fact, it’s important we have relationships with them if they don’t believe as we do.

In John 17:15,18, Jesus says, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

How can we as Christians push away those of differing beliefs or refuse to associate with nonbelievers? Christ sent us to be in the world — to proclaim the gospel to the lost. We need to be open to those of differing beliefs and seek out genuine relationships with them.

To reach nonbelievers, we need to have genuine relationships with them.

The Pharisees were appalled that Jesus ate “with tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 9:11). When they asked His disciples why He did so, Jesus responded, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13).

As Christians, it is not our job to condemn others. It is our responsibility to love them as Christ does and put our judgments aside. We need to be welcoming and loving, seeking out genuine relationships with those outside of our Christian circles.

Pray for opportunities to invite others into a genuine relationship with Christ and then allow Jesus to do the transformative work in their lives.

Choice

As Christians, we cannot force our beliefs on others. We can’t demand they believe as us or hold to the same truths and ideals. Why? Because God doesn’t force himself on anyone.

Since the beginning, God has given us the opportunity to choose Him for ourselves. In the Garden, mankind was given the choice between obedience and disobedience or life and death. As Christians, we need to respect people’s right to choose — and then love them, even if they reject us.

Imagine if God didn’t want a relationship with us after we fell in the Garden or after any of the numerous rejections from the Israelites in the desert. Instead, God kept pursuing His people, repeatedly offering opportunities for redemption and forgiveness, eventually through the death of His only Son.

We need to give nonbelievers the same dignity God gives us. They have the right to choose. And if they choose to deny God, we need to continue to be available and show God’s love — just as He continues to have mercy on us.

Love

Jesus tells us we will be rejected. In John 17:14, Jesus prays over His disciples, saying, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”

We should expect to be judged for sharing our faith, knowing that some may openly reject Christ and instead choose to live contrary to His Word.

Nonbelievers may experience hardship in their lives, suffering pain and brokenness because of their choices to turn from God. The Israelites experienced slavery, deportation, plagues, and other calamities as a direct result of their disobedience. But God remained faithful.

Jesus himself suffered the consequences of our sins in His brutal death on the cross so we could be spared.

Ephesians 4:32 tells us to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Since God loves us when we fall and is waiting as we turn back to Him, we need to do the same for others. We should be steadfast and forgiving, just as Christ forgave us.

Ask God to give you a steadfast heart for those around you. Invite Him to show you His love for them, asking Him to work through you, even when it’s difficult. And if others reject Christ, seek God for mercy and continue to pray they will come to Him.

Remember God loves everyone more than you could ever imagine — and He will give you the grace to love, even when others reject you.

Christ calls us to be in the world and preach the good news to those around us. And while the call to love others is not an easy one, we are not alone in it.

Jesus directs us to deny oneself and “take up [your] cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). We often recognize the hardship Jesus is calling us to in this verse, as we must pick up our cross and die. Yet, we forget an essential part: “follow me.”

As Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us, God goes before us doing the difficult and impossible things first. We must follow Him, walking each day with and depending on God, confident He will never leave or forsake us.