And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26 NAS)

The Way: When the persecution spread after Stephen was martyred in Acts 7:54-8:4 the church was viciously attacked. We are told that Saul (who was later converted and then called Paul) was entering houses, dragging out the families and hauling them off to prison (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2).  This new “religion” was referred to as “The Way” (11:2) and it threatened Judaism.  Amazingly we are told as people fled for their lives across the region they continued preaching or sharing the good news of Jesus with whoever they encountered (Acts 11:19). Now that people were dying and being persecuted this became more than discrimination or prejudice; the roots of this was grounded in the Judaizes persecuting other Jews because they had abandoned their religious roots for this person called Jesus.

The Gospel to the Gentiles: What added more confusion was Peter’s encounter with God’s changing focus to add the Gentiles to the mix (Acts 11:20-21) of God’s people which clearly created some anxiety and turmoil in the process. Barnabas goes to Antioch to see what God was doing, was amazed at God’s grace being extended to Gentiles and went and found Paul to come and help teach them in God’s ways. For this growing mix of God’s people made up of Jews and Gentiles there was the challenge of charting a new journey as one people of God. But how do you do that. Well, one way as part of the process is that you give them a new name (Acts 11:26).

Oak Grove Church Merger: It would seem to make sense then that a “new name” for God’s people is appropriate especially with such a huge shift now including the Gentiles. There is actually a historical example here at Oak Grove. When Robbinsdale Church and Valley Baptist merged together back in about 1998 the intent was not to let one side dominate the other or do anything that would seem to give greater weight to one group over the other. As I understand it, one group had a larger facility and the other had  larger numbers of people.  Once the decision was agreed to merge and become one new church entity it only made sense that a new name for the merging of God’s people gave a fresh start for everyone; consequently it gave everyone a new identity built on unity and being one people of God – it was now Oak Grove Church.

So when the Gentiles started coming to faith in Christ it could have created civil war (the persecution was part of that attitude) or it could start a new people group. They became one people of God learning to reconcile differences and love one another (Ephesians 2:11-22). So the new name for this group of God’s people now became Christians primarily because Christ was the centerpiece of the “good news” also know as the gospel. I love the way Ephesians 2 expounds on these elements:

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.  ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;  ¹⁸ for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, (Ephesians. 2:13-19 NAS)

What a great privilege to be called Christians. Could anything be a higher honor than to be called children of the most High King and followers of Christ?

Pastor Brad