What is a Christian?

The other day, I went for a friend's church event and there, we were all asked a simple question: "What does the word "Christian" mean to you? They showed us a video of the responses of many people around the world. Most people answered with words like "Jesus", "church", "relationship with God", "nice and kind people", "one of the main religions" and so on. One funny answer was from a guy who spoke in Cantonese,

"They're boring, soft people. If I were a bully, they would be the first people I would bully!"

But I think the answer to that isn't very difficult. Technically, a Malaysian is a person from Malaysia and lives there and abides by its laws and rules. A German is a person from Germany, he/she lives there and abides by Germany's laws and regulations. 

The same way a dietitian is someone who practices dietetics and is an expert on diet, and a musician is a person who plays music and loves music and is very good at music. Adding the -ian behind a noun basically connects a person to that noun whether by relationship, passion, knowledge and/or love.

So the conclusion would be that a Christian is the addition of -ian to Christ. Christ-ian. 

I'm pretty smart kan? ;)

Implying that a Christian is a person who is of Christ, who knows and is passionate about and loves Christ, whom practices Christ's teachings and abides by His laws. Yay! 10/10 marks. 

Hmmm. The effect of too much academics and examinations. Here's a much simpler and easier to understand explanation that another friend forwarded me. A short and simple story.

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. 

Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak...

'I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. 

On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, 'What you got there, son?' 

'Just some old birds,' came the reply.

'What are you gonna do with them?' I asked.

'Take 'em home and have fun with 'em,' he answered 

'I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. 

I'm gonna have a real good time' 

'But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?'

'Oh, I got some cats,' said the little boy. 

'They like birds. I'll take 'em to them.'

The pastor was silent for a moment. 'How much do you want for those birds, son?'

'Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. 

They're just plain old field birds. 

They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!'

'How much?' the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, '$10?'

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. 

 

'Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. 

Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!'

'What are you going to do with them?' Jesus asked.

Satan replied, 'Oh, I'm gonna have fun! 

I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, 

how to hate and abuse each other, 

how to drink and smoke and curse. 

I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs 

and kill each other. 

I'm really gonna have fun!'

'And what will you do when you get done with them?' Jesus asked. 

'Oh, I'll kill 'em,' Satan glared proudly. 

'How much do you want for them?' Jesus asked

'Oh, you don't want those people. 

They ain't no good. 

Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. 

They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. 

You don't want those people!!'

'How much?' He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, 

'All your blood, tears and your life.'

Jesus said, 'DONE!'
Then He paid the price. By dying, crucified on a cross.

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.

 

All because He loved us all so much. =)