This Is Our City

Richard Twiss (may he rest in peace)said, according to CT "I am a follower of Jesus, though I would not call myself a Christian". While I can understand why the late brother and many others would not want to identify with 'what "missionaries and Christianity' historically did to native and other peoples, I wonder whether it is not naive to refuse to use the word 'Christian' to describe oneself when it is an authentic New Testament term (see Acts 11:26; 26:28). 1 Peter 4:16 says 'if you suffer for being a 'Christian' do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name'. When one uses the name 'Christian' it may undoubtedly call to mind the evils committed in that name. It should however, also remind us of the countless many who, renewed in heart and mind, lived and died for the one in whom they were made 'new creations'. One may indeed have to walk a fine line to be effective at cross-cultural witness, but should one do this at the expense of denying a genuine New Testament name?

Loved the article but would have been nice if someone proofed it before publishing since it appears at times the article is written without taking into consideration his tragic passing! He was clearly a prophetic voice among us!!

I'm happy Richard is serving as an ambassador for Christ to the Indian people. Rather than run away from the biblical title of Christian, I would aim to purify and redefine it. After all, the name of Jesus has been used to persecute people in the inquisition (the society of Jesus, the Jesuits) and crusades, yet we are not ashamed of Jesus. As Peter says, "If anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name." Glory in the name Christian and treat it as a badge of honor. As Agrippa said to Paul, a representative of that outlawed religion, "Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”