I. Prayer.

The first thing to note about this song is that it's a prayer. Let's never suppose that we can hope to be Christians by our own doing. Becoming a Christian is something that happens to us as a result of prayer, but the same must be said about continuing as a Christian; thinking, talking and acting like a Christian can only happen through the strength that the Spirit gives through prayer. So it certainly is appropriate to pray this way.

By the way, do you think about the words you sing? It's very important that we genuinely mean what we sing. For example, occasionally we sing "Revive Us Again". Do you really mean it? It would be hypocrisy for us to sing that song, and yet down inside we're resisting the Holy Spirit. We may not really want revival because we're content with things just as they are. Or think about the old song, "Draw Me Nearer". We sing along with the rest of the congregation, but then never do anything to draw near to the Lord. According to the Scripture, the Lord says, "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you." Or how about, "I Surrender All" or "Have Thine Own Way, Lord"? Or take more contemporary songs, like "It's all about You," when the truth is, it's all about me and what I want; or "I'm excited to be back in the house of the Lord" while we're really wishing we could be back in bed!

So this is a prayer, that the Lord will enable us to be Christians in our hearts.

II. Christian Servants.

Then let's talk about the "Christian" part. This word has become very commonplace, and we can easily take it for granted as to what it means to "be a Christian". Is it to be an American? Or to have membership in a Christian church? Or to belong to one of the competing world religions as opposed to being a Jew, or a Moslem, Hindu, or Buddhist? Let's make sure we are clear about what it means.

The word in the Greek language is almost the same as in ours, "Christianos {khris-tee-an-os'}". It simply means, "Christ-one", or "a follower of Christ".

Now there's something interesting about this word and a very similar word in the Greek language. As you probably know, the word "Christ" is the word "Christos". Christians are disciples of "Christos". The other word, almost identical to it is "chraestos". You'll notice that there is only one letter different between this word and the word used for Christ. The word "chraestos" means "useful", and was often given to slaves who worked in the households of the wealthy. I guess the slave owners hoped that their newly acquired slave would live up to this name, and be useful.

In the Bible a form of this word is found in the letter of Paul to a slave owner named Philemon. In Philemon 1:11 Paul describes this slave, Onesimus, in this way, "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me." The word here is "euchraestos" - the "eu" suffix means "good", and simply adds strength to the idea that this slave was of good use. In this case the slave was not given Chraestos as a name, but we have many examples of other slaves who were given this name. (Also look at Luke 17:10 - "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.")

But the confusion about this name has something to say to us as well. We belong to Christ the servant, and as His disciples, we too become servants. We could well bear the name "Chraestos" as well as "Christos", for among other things, we want to be "useful" as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. We might want to pause here and ask ourselves the question, "How are we doing as servants?" Will we be candidates for the final, and most important approval of all time; "Well done thou good and faithful servant"? (Matthew 25:21)

III. Sincerity.

Incidentally, do you know if the word "Christian" is in the Bible? Where is it? We'll talk about this later - the word is found only three times, and each occasion has a special meaning. But right now, let's talk about the "in my heart" words. What does it mean to be a Christian in the heart?

First, let's ask the question, "How else could one be a Christian?' Perhaps many ways:

One could be a Christian by name only, a "nominal" Christian. This is the person who when asked if he or she is a Christian would say, "What else? I'm certainly not a Jew!"

Or one might be a Christian by proclamation or confession; just say you are and - you are. Like the drunken man I once met on the street who said, "I know Jesus as my personal Savior". Just because he said that, did it make it so?

Perhaps someone might think they are a Christian because of the activities they're involved in - doing good, helping others, being a good Boy Scout.

Others may think that because of church attendance they are Christian, or because they were brought up in a Christian family.

And for yet others, a person is Christian by their clothes, hair or make-up styles. Like the Amish - we know them by their distinctive dress. Or some might be recognized by the bumper sticker on their car or because they carry a Bible in hand.

What's in the heart, what's on the inside, is what God sees and judges to be Christian. But what is included in the heart? Among other things, the "heart" includes our thoughts, affections, priorities, and values. It also has to do with sincerity, that we really mean what we say, and live what we believe.

Did I ever tell you the meaning of the word "sincere"? My ancient Latin teacher explained it to me when I was in high school, and I have never forgotten it. When novice sculptors would make mistakes while working on their stone carvings, they would take wax and rub it into the nicks they had made. Inside the studio, a customer would not be able to tell the difference - the piece would look grand. But when they set it up in their garden, and if it happened to be exposed to direct sunlight, the wax would sometimes melt and run down the face of the stone figure, leaving the mistakes exposed. "Sincere" is a word made up of the Latin word for "wax" with the prefix "sin" meaning "without" - i.e., "without wax".

I'm wondering if this is a song we want to sing today, "Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart". It's a prayer we need to pray, that we might be found faithful in our sincere service to Christ.

There are only three places in the Bible where the word "Christian" is found:

1. Acts 11:26 - "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."

Antioch will always be known as the first great Missionary Church. It was the church which sent out Paul and Barnabas on what we now call the first missionary journey. It is significant that this is the first place the designation "Christian" is used.

Note the connection between "disciple" and "Christian". They are one and the same. Sometimes we have limited our definition of disciple to only include those who walked and talked with Jesus.

It's very possible that this term was first used in a derisive way, poking fun.

It's also notable that this word was used first of Gentile Christians who were in a church not founded directly by the first disciples.

Here the word "Christian" is used in the context of personal witness, Paul sharing with King Agrippa the claims of the Gospel. Paul shares his own story, contends for the historicity of the resurrection, and pushes for a decision. Agrippa, apparently under conviction, asks his question.

However, there is some truth here, becoming a Christian is not an instantaneous decision. It takes time, and it should take thought.

It may come as a surprise, or even a disappointment to some that the words "suffer" and "Christian" are located in the same sentence. In our self-centered form of Christianity we have somehow come to feel that we should be exempted from such unpleasantness as pain, frustration, abuse, neglect, poverty and the like. We expect that with a quick, simple prayer the problems will be whisked away. But notice the expected response to suffering - not protests nor complaints, but praise to God. That's what Peter with the first disciples did, and that's what Paul and Silas did in the Philippian jail.

1. Even though becoming a Christian the result of a free gift from God, what must a person actually do to make this happen?

2. When might it be appropriate to sing a song even though at the time it is difficult to mean what is being sung?

3. What do many people think of when the word “Christian” is used?

4. Two similar Greek words are “christos” and “chraestos.” What do they mean, and how did they relate to early Christianity?

5. If Jesus identified Himself as a servant, and disciples are followers, what does that mean for us?

6. What are some ways that people are identified by others as being Christians?

7. If a person is to be a Christian in their heart, and if the heart represents their inner being, what parts of their inner being would be involved?

8. What is the story behind our English word, “sincere”?

9. The only three verses in the Bible which use the word “Christian” are:

Acts 11:26 - "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch"

Acts 26:28 - " Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

I Peter 4:16 - "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."

10. What Biblical examples do we have of Christians praising God even during times of difficulty?