What is Christianity?
Family Home Evening Resource Book, Lesson 13: Baptism and the Name of Christ, pg 52; “What does the word Christian mean to you?
Let your family discuss what being a Christian means today. Emphasize that because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Christ, we have a great responsibility to live as Christians.”
Holman Bible Dictionary; “CHRISTIAN (khrihs’ tyan) The Greek Christianos originally applied to the slaves belonging to a great household. It came to denote the adherents of an individual or party. A Christian is an adherent of Christ; one committed to Christ; a follower of Christ. The word is used three times in the New Testament. 1. Believers “were called Christians first in Antioch” because their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ (Acts 11:26). 2. Agrippa responded to Paul’s witness, “Almost thou persuade me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). He spoke of becoming an adherent of Christ. 3. Peter stated that believers who “suffer as a Christian” are to do so for the glory of God (1 Pet. 4:16). A Christian is one who becomes an adherent of Christ, whose daily life and behavior facing adversity is like Christ. Darrell W. Robinson”
Ironically (or not) the Mormon Church left out the part about Jesus when describing what it meant to be a Christian. Why is that?
Notice in their teachings to the kids of all people that they need to act like Christians because their church is the only “true church”.
If you’re a Christian parent is that what you’d tell your kids? I never would’ve dreamt of doing this! I raised my children to emulate Jesus. I taught them about the fruits of the Spirit and showed them by example to have empathy, patience and compassion for all people.
I just can’t imagine sitting them down and telling them to act like a Christian because we belonged to such and such church. There’s no pride in being a Christian but there is profound gratefulness to God that I am and there’s humbleness in knowing He forgives me.
My heart hurts for the children who are being fed a steady diet of being prideful for belonging to an organization. Therein we see prejudice, elitism, judgmental behavior, intolerance and a lack of love for God and others. That also breeds self-hate and I always wonder if they will take the time to figure that one out.
I was looking for something completely different and stumbled onto this site. You left out a ton of the lesson. If you want to see the lesson in its entirety, go to https://www.lds.org/manual/family-home-evening-resource-book/family-home-evening-lessons/lesson-thirteen-baptism-and-the-name-of-christ?lang=eng
This is just part of what you left out:
Tell your family that after Jesus was killed, his faithful followers, those who had been baptized, were persecuted. Paul the Apostle came to Antioch in Syria where a group of Church members were to teach people about Christ.
Have someone read Acts 11:26 aloud. Explain that the enemies of the disciples started calling the followers of Jesus “Christians” after the name of Christ to set them apart. The name was given as an insult, but was accepted gladly by the followers of Jesus. They were glad to be called Christians and were proud of the name.
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Remind your family that when we make the commitment to be baptized and take upon us the name of Christ, we need to live our lives as Heavenly Father and Jesus would want us to.
Suggest to them that if they encounter a situation where they are having a hard time making a decision, they ask themselves, “What would Jesus have me do?”
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Do you live in such a way that others can tell you are part of Christ’s family?
Are you glad to be called by Jesus Christ’s name?
Challenge each family member to live as one who has sincerely taken Jesus’ name upon him.