The early disciples bore their crosses in self-denial. When the culture saw what the disciples were doing, they called them Christians (i.e. Christ’s-ones). They saw them practicing the teaching and lifestyle of Jesus. We have divorced being a Christian from being a disciple, reducing it to a religious experience. By doing so we have lost our power and witness to change the world. We call ourselves “Christians” but do not always do what Jesus taught His disciples to do.
“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:26c (KJV)
