Have you ever been asked the question, “What religion are you?” Maybe it was worded, “What faith are you?” or “What denomination are you?” Regardless of the specifics, how did you answer this question?

Some might answer, “I am a Catholic.” Others might say, “I am a Baptist.” Many other names might be given—Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, or Adventist. Broader divisions might be offered; yet some might have to be more specific than this due to divisions or sects within a denomination.

Such confounded answers beg the question, why can’t people simply say “I am a Christian?”

It is written, “...and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). In the first century, children of God were simply called Christians! There was no “hyphenated-Christianity!” There were no Catholic-Christians, or Baptist-Christians, or Lutheran-Christians. For that matter, you could not find a Catholic church, Baptist church or Lutheran church. There was only Christ’s church and her members were simply called Christians.

In the only example of such behavior in the New Testament, Paul condemned Christians for dividing and naming themselves (i.e., denominating - 1 Cor. 1:11-13). Those who hyphenate their Christianity today are no less condemned!

The children of God in the first century all shared “one faith” (Eph. 4:5), one doctrine (Gal. 1:6-9; 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 John 9-11) and one name—Christian (Acts 11:26)!

Why can’t people do the same today?

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