I'm a scripture scholar and writer who helps readers actually see what the biblical text says—especially about women. I teach online Institute, write the Times of Faith newsletter, and am the author of Line Upon Line, a Book of Mormon devotional series.
Jesus Doesn't Care If I'm Christian - May 2026
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Don’t unsubscribe—hear me out! Jesus Doesn't Care If I'm ChristianA few months ago I stumbled upon a conversation on Threads that sparked this month’s topic. Someone had used the word "Mormon" in their post. A woman commented that being called "Mormon" offended her because it was a name given by people who drove early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from their homes and killed them. She wasn't wrong. I asked her if it bothered her to be called Christian since that word was coined by the Romans—the same people who tortured and killed the early followers of Jesus Christ. She said it didn't. She loves being called a Christian. Her comment did get me thinking more deeply about why being called a "Christian" is so important to so many people. I have seen tense debates between people insisting they are Christian while others insist they aren't allowed to call themselves Christian. I have seen Dallas Jenkins criticized for working with the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to film The Chosen since they aren't Christian. And in case you are wondering, LDS members aren’t the only ones who are repeatedly told they don't get to identify themselves as Christian. I was chatting with my dear Catholic friend, Barbi, and she tells me she gets it all the time too. So where does the word “Christian” actually come from? And what does the word actually mean? First, a pop quiz. Question: How many times does the word “Christian” appear in the New Testament? Answer: 3 Question: How many times does Jesus use the word “Christian?” Answer: 0 We find the word Christian in three verses: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16. Let’s see how they are used in each instance. Acts 11:26 And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Notice the passive voice here. The disciples weren’t calling themselves Christians. It was a label coming from the outside. Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Here the name comes from a Roman official, King Agrippa. Scholars debate whether his tone was of genuine curiosity or mockery. But either way, it’s a name coming from a Roman, not Paul himself. 1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Now we see Peter acknowledging the word. He’s telling the people not to be ashamed of the label. He’s not promoting the label; he’s in essence encouraging the people to embrace the name they’ve been given. So why were people outside of the religion calling these early followers Christian? Romans had a convention for naming political factions. They would take the name of their leader and add the suffix “-ianos.” Herodians. Caesarians. Christians. In essence, it’s like calling them “The Christ-people. That faction over there.” So if the early Church didn’t call themselves Christians, what did they call themselves? They called themselves “The Way.” For them it wasn’t just a name, it was stating their theology. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the Way.” The label was about which direction they were going and who they were following to get there. Almost 2000 years later the label “Christian” (The Christ-people) has taken on different definitions and meanings. In just a few minutes of scrolling through social media, you’ll discover a hotbed of debate, name calling, and defensiveness around this word. I wonder what Jesus would say if he could also comment below. “That’s right, you tell them. Thank you for defending a label given by the very same people who crucified me!” I just can’t see it. Instead of defending or policing labels, I think he just wants us to walk his path. The path that he lights—the one he called The Way. The path of love, peace, and hope. Barbi and I were chatting recently about the word "Christian" and we both came to the same conclusion. You can call us Catholic, Mormon, or Christian, we don’t really care. What she and I do care about is whether you see us as someone who believes in Jesus Christ. Whether you see us as someone who loves as he loves. And that is why I don’t think Jesus cares if I’m a “Christian." But I do think he cares if I am his follower. Wishing you a great Sabbath, Heather Ruth Pack Continue the StudyHad you already known that early followers of Jesus were called The Way? The theological root is found in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” When his followers called their movement The Way, they were making a statement about who Jesus is. It appears five times in Acts as their name:
In each of these appearances it is functioning as a proper noun not a description. It predates the word “Christian” as a self-identifier. Christianos identifies who you follow. The Way identifies how you live. Question to PonderIf you could create a brand-new label to describe your faith, what would it be? From My DeskThank you for all the kind words about my guest appearance on the Latter-day Faith podcast. It's already bringing new friends my way, which makes my heart happy. If you know someone who could use a little holy disruption in their life, will you share it with them?
About Times of FaithTimes of Faith explores the historical world of scripture, the language behind the text, and the voices often overlooked in familiar biblical stories. Know someone who loves digging deeper into scripture?Feel free to forward this to them. Was this forwarded to you?Subscribe to receive the monthly newsletter
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Times of Faith
I'm a scripture scholar and writer who helps readers actually see what the biblical text says—especially about women. I teach online Institute, write the Times of Faith newsletter, and am the author of Line Upon Line, a Book of Mormon devotional series.
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