As cultures change, so does terminology used by people in their culture.  Our vocabulary has greatly expanded in our generation due, for example, to the availability of computers.  Words such as “web,” “website” and “mouse” have taken on entirely different meanings than they had when I was growing up.  Words such as “email” and “cyberspace” were words not even in my vocabulary until relatively recently.

Changing usage is also true in regard to religion and particularly Christianity.  When was the last time you heard the word “sin” used in the public forum in regard to immorality?  I believe we could spend some time profitably reflecting on Christian words that are being redefined or outmoded in today’s culture.

“People of faith” is a term that I increasingly hear. It is used to describe Christians.  Thus we do not hear “Christian” used as much to describe believers in the saving work of Christ.

Are we giving up too much by exchanging “Christian” for “people of faith”?  Faith does mark every Christian.  Christians are saved by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross. They believe Christ’s work alone is sufficient to atone for their sins.  Faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).  Indeed, Christians are to live daily by faith (Hebrews 2:4).  Christians are a people of faith.

However, all people are people of faith. All, even non-Christians, have faith operative in their lives.  Regarding existence after death the non-Christian has faith that it does not exist or his works are sufficient to merit salvation or he will be measured against the standard of morally worse people and thereby will win.

I believe we as Christians give up too much by replacing “Christian" with “people of faith.”

We give up our distinctiveness.  Christianity is different from all false religions. Christians have faith in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.  No other religion has a remotely similar claim.  Christ, the eternal second person of the Trinity, came willingly to earth, took on flesh, lived among a people who would reject Him (John 1:11) and died a painful and shameful death on the cross for sinners.  We are clothed in Christ’s righteousness.  He is our Lord as well as our Savior.  Our lives are marked by belief in Him.

It is interesting to note that early believers were clearly distinguished not as “people of faith” but as “Christians”.  Disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26).   In Acts 26:28 Agrippa tells Paul, “You almost persuaded me to be a Christian.”  Having heard Paul's testimony, he is well aware that Paul’s faith has an object – Jesus Christ.

In the midst of coming persecution Peter writes his recipients: “Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”  Again the inspired writer is clear.  Those whose faith is solely in Christ should not be ashamed to suffer at the hands of their persecutors.  It was not their faith alone but their faith in Christ alone that set them apart.

When we give up our distinctiveness – Christ as the object of our faith – then our religion is equivalent in the world’s eyes with other religions.  Is being a Christian then any different from being a Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim?

In Genesis 3:15 we read that God placed enmity between the seed of the woman (Christians) and the seed of the serpent (non-Christians).  This enmity is manifested by an ongoing desire to remove the name of Christ from public discourse, with the exception of its use in profane speech.  I do not know who invented “people of faith” as terminology for religious people.  I would not be surprised if its intent was to smoothly remove the name “Christian” and thus its distinctiveness from public use.

We should by our own word usage remember to call or refer to Christians as Christians.  It is not faith that sets us apart in our religion. It is faith in Christ and Him alone.

Review ©2007 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia