Why I Quit Being A Christian

The term "Christian" appears a grand total of three times in the entirety of the Bible. Luke uses it twice in the Book of Acts and I Peter has it one time.

The word “Christianity” is NEVER found in the Bible.

The first time "Christian" is mentioned in the New Testament is Acts 11:26. Here it is said that in Antioch the Disciples were first called Christians. The Disciples never called themselves Christians. Jesus never once called His Disciples Christians.  

The people of Antioch did not devise this term out of respect for the Disciples nor out of admiration of the Gospel. It was used to mock the Disciples and to show contempt for the Gospel.

The term Christian then appeared again when King Agrippa used it in Acts 26:28. Paul had shared his testimony of having become a believer in Jesus before the King. Agrippa replied to Paul’s impassioned appeal by saying, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" Paul never once in his appeal implored Agrippa to become a Christian. Agrippa must have been relying on what he had been told Paul and his ilk had been called. 

In all of Paul’s letters not a single time did he address the people he wrote to as Christians. Of all the writers of the New Testament, only Peter used the term and then only once.

I was trying to think of contemporary example of an emerging group or movement where a derisive term was used to "label" that movement.

For those of you in the U.S. you’ll remember back a couple of years ago when the political Tea Party began to take shape. The folks who disagreed with the Tea Party and its ideas labeled them "Tea Baggers". Let’s just say, it was not meant as a complimentary term or one of endearment!

Now imagine if you will that the Tea Party decided to embrace this less-than-laudatory identity. Then, years later, someone looked up the meaning of the term Tea Bagger and decided that if that's what we are we should become the best damn Tea Baggers who ever lived!

I do hope you catch the humor and irony of my little comparison. However, what Christianity has done with the term Christian is far from humorous. I remember being told in church that the term Christian meant "Christ-like". Trying to be like Christ led me to three attempts of suicide, a world of hurt, filled with massive depression, shame, and guilt.

Now we’ve had Christians running around with wrist bands reading WWJD?—What Would Jesus Do?! Give me a break. Jesus did not die and rise from the dead to create a group who would try and emulate Him. He did it all to set us and all of humanity free! What could one do to emulate Jesus? Become the Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace, the Author and Finisher of Faith?

The world does not need another Jesus, another Savior. The world needs you to be YOU! Just like there will never be another Jesus, there will never be another you.

The Gospel can be received into one’s life without ever becoming a Christian. The Gospel and Christianity are NOT synonymous. In fact, the Gospel and Christianity are so incompatible that in actuality to embrace one is to reject the other!

Christianity forced me to abandon the Gospel of Peace and the Gospel of Grace as a young child. This heinous religion blinded me to the Gospel’s reality and thereby blinded me to my true identity in Christ.

And? Well now I am overjoyed to say that the Gospel’s freedom has been realized in my heart, mind, and soul and it has freed me from the shackles of a man-made religion call Christianity. Yes, I am no longer a Christian, because I am free!!!

Love,

Michael