MY BADGE OF HONOR.

Churches today, in an effort to differentiate themselves from the world are also separating themselves from other CHRISTIANS.  "We are a 'Believer's Church'; We are 'Followers of CHRIST'; We are 'Baptists' or 'Catholics' not CHRISTIANS!  Why do we associate ourselves to any name, other than CHRISTIAN?  The name CHRISTIAN was not made up by a group of Disciples; rather it was given by an unbeliever named Agrippa while talking to the Apostle Paul.  Agrippa 'coined' this term to identify those who were "followers of CHRIST".  CHRISTIANS, "one who is not ashamed to be known as a 'follower of CHRIST', one who is not ashamed of the Gospel or the name he bears.  1 Peter 4:16, "...if anyone suffers as a CHRISTIAN, let him not be ashamed, but let him Glorify GOD in THAT NAME."  To be called a CHRISTIAN is to be associated with Paul, Peter, Stephen, John, James, and JESUS.  Sometimes we are called CHRISTIANS as a form of reproach or rejection.  I once heard a CHRISTIAN say, "when I became a CHRISTIAN most of my friends left me."  An 'unbeliever' looked at him and said, "they didn't leave you, you left them."   I pray that I am known as a CHRISTIAN, that is MY BADGE OF HONOR.