Can You Be Convicted for Being a Christian?
Are you a Christian or 'SPAM'?
Preamble
The title of this article may be misleading; however, the next sentence will clarify things. There is the saying, "If you are tried in a court of law for being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to convict you?" And that is what we mean by "Can you be convicted for being a Christian?" Whether there will be sufficient evidence to convict a person for being a Christian is worthy of our consideration. The line between being a Christian and being anyone else is now so blurred that we can no longer distinguish who a Christian is from a SPAM (Someone Posing as Me), that is, someone deceitfully posing as a Christian.
To differentiate between a Christian and anyone else, first, we need to know what it means to be a Christian. We can then consider what it means to be convicted for being a Christian. This is what we shall do here. And in a follow-up article, we shall examine whether you and I would be convicted of being a Christian if we claim to be one.
Does regularly attending church meetings, speaking in tongues, and having wealth and possessions make you a Christian? Would such evidence convict you for being a Christian, or would the court find that you are just like everyone else and should, as such, not be condemned? To convict someone of an offence, you must have an air-tight case. So, would a prosecutor have an air-tight case to take a person who claims to be a Christian to trial, knowing that prosecutors generally do not try cases they do not have a good chance of winning? So, let us examine who a Christian is.
Who is a Christian?
In Acts 11:19-26, the Bible reads:
Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (NKJV)
Let us make a few crucial observations here in light of the above scripture text:
The term 'Christian' was first used to describe disciples of Jesus Christ in Antioch.
A disciple was not a mere follower of Jesus but a believer in the message that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God (John 20:30-31).
Disciples of Jesus, or Christians, not only believe the good news about Jesus and his finished work of dying on the cross for the salvation of humanity but also trust in Jesus for their salvation.
In Antioch, the disciples were taught, that is, trained, for one full year; as a result, they could live as Jesus lived. Hence, the appellation 'Christian' was applied to them even though they were Gentiles by birth. Therefore, a Christian is someone who, regardless of ethnicity or nationality, has been taught over time about the new life in Jesus and lives it out daily. Christians are not just church attendees; they are people who live like Christ!
A Christian is someone who, having been born again and Spirit-filled, lives by Christ's teachings in the power of the Holy Spirit. You cannot copy the lifestyle of Christ. It must be lived by faith—by trusting Jesus to live through you (Galatians 2:20)—and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Why were the disciples called Christians?
Perhaps a simple explanation would be the expressiveness of the Greek language being more descriptive in its naming conventions than the English language. Thus, the word 'Christian' in Greek is 'Christianos' and is illustrative of the lifestyle of the disciples, being like Christ's.
'Christianos' means 'Christ-like' or 'like Christ'. So, the disciples of Jesus, having been trained for a full year, were first called Christians in Antioch because people saw them display traits akin to those of Jesus Christ, who hung on the cross at Calvary about a decade before then. Some people even aver that the name 'Christian' was derisive, yet, the disciples in the early Church wore that name like a badge of honour!
So, Christians are born again, full of the Holy Spirit, and act, speak, and live like Jesus Christ. And they can live like Jesus because they have surrendered to Him and allowed Him to live through them. They trust in and rely on Jesus for their salvation and in every sphere of life.
Are you a Christian?
A Christian is not necessarily a person who attends church services regularly. Rather, having believed in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and instructed in God's way according to the new covenant, a Christian is like Jesus Christ in character and conduct. For example, Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirit in Cornelius' home, said
"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38, NKJV)
A Christian does good in every ramification, healing all those oppressed by the devil because God is with him. The Holy Spirit, speaking through Peter again, remarks about a Christian thus:
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. (1 Peter 4:12-15, NKJV)
Being a Christian comes with the price of sharing in Christ's suffering. Such sufferings are devoid of suffering
as a murderer or a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others [infringing on their rights]. (1 Peter 4:15, AMP)
Put simply, if you are a Christian, you would suffer for Christ, but never for actively engaging in crime, mischief, or any other conduct contrary to the lifestyle or principle of Jesus Christ!
Some biblical examples of those convicted for being Christians
Let us examine a few people from the Bible who lived for God, contrary to the natural expectation of the people of their day. Such an investigation would help us better understand what it means to be convicted for being a Christian. These biblical examples are people who lived like Christ, though some were born before Jesus' earthly atonement for sin at Calvary and Jesus Christ Himself. Significantly, they lived according to God's word in the Old or New Testament dispensations.
Joseph
In Potiphar's home, Joseph was convicted and imprisoned not because he did anything wrong. His 'crime' was his refusal to sleep with Potiphar's wife, who then turned around to lie against him (Genesis 39:1-20). He suffered for living right and was eventually vindicated by God when he was released from prison and made ruler in Egypt (Genesis 41:1-44).
Job
Satan wanted to prove that he could dismiss Job’s godly lifestyle. He said to God:
"Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" (Job 1:9-11, NKJV)
So, with God's approval, Satan destroyed everything Job owned—his businesses and possessions. He also killed all his children, ten in number. When that did not achieve his desire, Satan went on to ask God's permission to afflict Job's body with a devastating disease, in the family of smallpox, chickenpox, and monkeypox, and God granted his request (Job 2:4-8). Yet, for all of Satan's efforts, Job maintained his integrity before God; even when his sole-surviving family member, his wife, urged him to
"Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9, NKJV)
Job refused her suggestion, maintained his integrity before God, and blessed God! Job was later vindicated when God turned his misfortune around (Job 42:10-17)
Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego
Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego were convicted for refusing to bow in worship of Nebuchadnezzar's golden image (Daniel 3). As a result, they were thrown into a fiery furnace, but God vindicated them when the fire did not hurt them, either singe their hair or clothes. When they were delivered from the fire, they became a testimony of God's power and preservation of those ready to live for him, come what may.
Daniel
Daniel was convicted for being a devoted worshipper of God. He had this testimony from his detractors (who were his colleagues and subordinates):
"We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God." (Daniel 6:5, NKJV)
To achieve their purpose of convicting Daniel, they devised a plan that would mean him choosing between the worship of God and self-preservation. Daniel chose to worship God, even though it was illegal to do so (Daniel 6:1-17)! And even though Daniel was thrown into the lions' den, he was vindicated when God preserved him from the lions (Daniel 6:19-23). Jesus said:
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24–26, NKJV)
Stephen
Stephen was convicted of being a Christian when he confronted his accusers for their ungodly and contrary lifestyle to that enunciated by the Holy Spirit (Acts 7). Stephen's accusers gnashed at him and stoned him to death. Yet Stephen knelt and prayed to God not to hold their act of killing him against them. Even in the face of death, Stephen remained a Christian!
The Apostles
Before Stephen, the apostles were charged with preaching Christ to the people and were beaten (Acts 5:17-41). Rather than get upset, complain, and murmur against God, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer because of the Lord.
Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus' credentials as the Son of God were tested in many ways, but He neither compromised His stand for righteousness nor sinned (Hebrews 4:15).
So, what does it mean to be convicted for being a Christian?
From the above instances of biblical figures being convicted for their trust in God, we can note that to be convicted for being a Christian is:
To be falsely accused of or framed for a crime you did not commit because you refused to cooperate with those doing wrong, just as Potiphar's wife lied against Joseph for rejecting her advances toward him.
To be at the receiving end of devastating conditions and still glorify God in it. You are there with God in good times and bad times, as Job did!
To be charged with an offence considered wrong in human society but right in the sight of God, as was the case of Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego.
To acknowledge Jesus Christ only as Lord and be willing to receive the punishment for that, as was the case with Daniel.
To hold firmly unto God's word, though that would make you unpopular and a pariah even among less committed Christians and even at the pain of death!
To rejoice in your suffering for Christ (say, after being battered for being a Christian) rather than grumbling, murmuring, or complaining. Such was the testimony of Paul and Silas in Philippi (Acts 16:16-25).
To be sorely tempted by Satan and his cohorts and come out without spot or blemish, as we have of the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To be uncompromising in your lifestyle contrary to human standards but aligned with God's.
To reject fame and gain so that you can live as God desires, just as was testified of Moses (Hebrews 11:24-27).
To live a life of purity, humility, and love, though it may be an abomination in the society you live.
I could go on, but I am sure we now understand what it means to be convicted for being a Christian.
We shall continue from here in a follow-up article when we shall ask if you will be convicted today for being a Christian.