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Listen while you read: "Praise To The Lord The Almighty"1 (Lyrics) |
As a young teenager, I took music lessons at a local music school. My teacher, a nice young man and a very patient instructor, surprised me one day by venting against Jesus Freaks. Not being committed to my faith and questioning Christian teaching, I was afraid to respond and stayed silent. The label suggested that following the Lord made someone to be odd, an outcast, believing in something that was obviously foolish. I could not reconcile the label to the godly, faithful people of my congregation, who began each Sunday service singing the hymn, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty".
The writer of Acts describes the beginning of the name "Christian".
Acts 11:24b-26 – A great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (ESV)
The citizens of Antioch were known to be name-callers and mockers; the ending of the word "-ian" meant "the group, or party of", so "Christian" meant "Jesus-ites", or "Jesus People". The word was used to make fun of Christians, but they liked it so much, the word was adopted.
The Christian band, The Newsboys, wrote these lyrics:
- What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak —
There ain't no disguising the truth.
Christians are Jesus People, and are to be willing to be worthy of His name. We ought not to be known first of all by our denomination, but as Christ-ian.
The good people of my congregation did the work of the church, and our ministers dedicated themselves to growing strong, healthy Christians, just as Barnabas and Paul did. As we grew into spiritual maturity and did His work, the body of believers grew in numbers. The label, "Jesus Freak", or "Jesus People", may always be mocked, but we choose instead to own it and to live lives worthy of His name.
Prayer: Dearest Lord, as we seek to follow You and our church leaders endeavour to build us up in the faith, may we be proud to be known as Jesus People, and always be worthy of Your holy name. Amen.
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Amen!
Thanks for the good word, Shirley.
Interesting post Shirley. Thanks, and blessings!
A Jesus Freak! I really love it. Thank you,
(Manitoba)
Yes, Shirley, may we always be Jesus freaks! Thanks for writing this interesting devotional. Blessings.
Hello Shirley. Thank you for your very inspiring “thoughts” you send to PresbyCan devotionals. I really enjoy them and help me start my day.
Great title which caught my attention to an equally well-developed devotional topic! So glad you continue to share your inspiration in PresbyCan! Continues to help me.
Lovely message, Shirley. Thanks for sharing this thought. Yes, for many of us, it is a privilege to be called Christian, or “People of the Way”!
(Ontario)
Hi Shirley
Another good one and thanks for the little history lessons, I was not aware of that.
God bless and have a great weekend.
Thank you, Shirley, from one Jesus person to another!
Tomorrow we are re-opening our little country Church tomorrow. We are excited, but anxious at the same time. Many thanks.
Blessings.
Hello Shirley,
Thank you for another special and very thoughtful devotional. Yes, we truly need to honour our Lord by being His people and willingly fulfill His work on earth.
Blessings for these writings you do.
(B.C.)
Dear Shirley:
Thank you so much for your devotional. I did not know about the “ian” description. I have never thought of it that way.
It is always such a joy to read your devotionals.
God bless you.
It’s hard to believe; 30+ years since The Newsboys hit the scene.
Back in the early 80s, a band with Pacific Northwest and Lower BC Roots, Servant, recorded a song called “Holy Roller Blues”, with a verse dedicated to Holy Rollers, Bible Thumpers, and Jesus Freaks with the lyrics “you call me a Jesus Freak, and I do believe it’s true…” ending with the challenge “whose freak are you?”
Amen indeed.
A lesson for us all.