Acts 11:26
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Notice the scriptures do not refer to the followers of Christ as Fundamental Christians or Bapticostal, or The Restructure Federation of Christian States...  They were Christians, with no artifical additives.

A few months ago, many of us did not know what a Taliban was.  Today, if we were asked, "Who are the Talibans?" we would respond that they are the fundamental Muslim leaders of Afghanistan.  We would be sure to use the word "fundamental" in the sentence.  We have identified a noun (Muslim), an adjective (fundamental) to describe that religion, and a title (Taliban) for the people who are described by that adjective and noun.  Why? Let's take a look at that word "fundamental" for a moment.  Some Christians use that word to describe themselves.  When I hear someone tell me they are a "fundamental Christian", I immediately want to respond "You mean, as opposed to the "other" kind?"  People use it to separate themselves from the other kind of Christians.  What does that word mean?  Fundamental means basic and simple, or at least it did the last I time I checked.  What are the other kind of Christians really like if they are not fundamental?  And if all Christians are fundamental, isn't the expression "fundamental Christian" redundant?  As Christians, we label ourselves with titles and describe ourselves with adjectives.  We use the words "fundamental Christian" as though they were both nouns, joined at birth.  Fundamental is an adjective.  It is used to describe a noun.  A noun stands on its own merit, but an adjective gives it some flair.  What would happen if we just dropped the adjective?  Would that be so bad? We use alot of adjectives when describing faiths.  We use even more when describing Christianity.  We are told that Islam is a "peaceful" religion, as opposed to the "fundamental" Muslims who say they practice Islam.  You would almost think that if these people were fundamental, they would be the most peaceful, but that's not how things are.  Is a fundamental Christian peaceful?  All Christians should be peaceful, right? This whole adjective thing is getting confusing, not only to Christians, but to the rest of the world as well.  Adjectives are so important to some people that they leave out the noun and just use the adjective.  Some say they are Pentecostal.  The noun appears be silent.  Is this to say that other Christians do not believe in pentecost or that Pentecostals believe in it more than others?  What happens when someone calls themselves a Baptist?  We have now dropped the noun (Christian) and replaced it with a title.  Don't other Christians believe in baptism?  How is it Baptists came to own that name?  What would I be if I were a Reformed Fundamental Pentecostal Baptist who used to be a Methodist?  What would be the name of my church?  Would I be allowed in church?  The answer is yes, I would be allowed in church...somewhere.  Maybe we would call it the First Church of the Reformed Fundamental Pentacostal Methodical Baptists. Lest I ilk the ire of Adjectivial Christians everywhere, I am referring to myself in the previous  analogy.  Yup!  That's me if I decided to let others garnish my noun with adjectives.  Pretty soon, I would sound like a hamburger at the local Grab-A-Brub where you can no longer taste the meat for all of the salad and sauce. Kinda sad isn't it?  Sadly, some of the aforementioned garnishers are the same people who have pushed me away when they found I have ministered in almost every type of church imaginable.  It is as though they feel all of those adjectives somehow infected me like a deadly disease.  When I began ministering outside my own church, other communities welcomed me with open arms.  It was my own brothers who shunned me when I returned.  For better or for worse, adjectives won't rub off.  You have to spiritually remove them. If some Christians want to appear different (better) than other Christians, are they willing to extend the same consideration to others?  Some people have lumped all Muslims in the same group and hold them all responsible for horrible acts around the world.  People, in general, stereotype and categorize others.  We strip them of their adjectives.  What's worse is we strip them of their personal identity and merit.  We see one person do something wrong and everyone else that looks like them is guilty of the same crime.  However, we do not want to be held responsible for the acts of others who share the same noun that we hold dear.  After all, they do not have the same adjective as we do.  Aha!  That's what makes us different.  Or do we use the adjective because we are different?  Now I am really confused.  Time and circumstances taint our cherished titles and adjectives.  Lately the word "fundamental" has taken on a militant meaning.  The fundamental Muslims in the news are militant by their actions.  Will this verbal polarization eventually effect the Christian community, or is it already too late? I have an idea.  Let's drop our adjectives and extra titles and return to the noun that sets us apart.  We are Christians.  We are Christians with no artificial additives.  That sounds good, doesn't it? Now, we have to figure out what the name of our church will be. Just kidding.    Seriously, let's return to the scripture referenced at the beginning of this message.  Not only does it refer to what Christ-like people were called in the early days, but it also shows how they found a pastor for their church and what the church did as a body. This passage begins, referring to Paul... Luke 11:23-30
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.  The scriptures say Paul was "a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith."  It further states "and much people was added unto the Lord."  The Bible says Paul exhorted them.
These are traits of a good pastor. "every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:  Which also they did"  Here are fruits of a good church. So there you have it.  These few short verses tell who and what we are, what our pastor is like and what we do as a body.  How can anyone find fault with that?  I would rather be known as a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, than a Reformed Fundamental Pentecostal Baptist who used to be a Methodist.  Oh, to be known as a Christian, with no artificial additives.  Oh, to be known for the fruit that we bear. - Rod

• Topic: Devotionals

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