You read the title correctly. I can be offended if you call me a "Christian". Of course I understand that most people don't mean any offense by calling me a Christian, and may even be complimenting me. Personally, I understand the term to mean "Christ-like" or "little Christ" and I am definitely not that. OK, you might use the term to mean a believer in or follower of Christ, and if so, then you would call me a "Christian." But in our society/culture, the term "Christian" has been so watered down (unfortunately by those of us who claim Christ and yet do not follow Him wholly) that it means simply something as easy as a person who attends church (of any kind), a person who was baptized (at any time, for any reason), a person whose heritage/parentage is "Christian", or even one who likes the moral connotations associated with true Christian beliefs. So just as an "American" inherits that term by where or to whom they were born, regardless of whether they either loathe, love or live lethargically toward this country, the term "Christian" has unfortunately become a similar paradigm.
Just call me a mutt. Seriously. I'm more of a mangy, scraggly flea-bitten puppy than a Christian. I have an amazingly loving, merciful master that tenderly carries me across the hard places, feeds and loves me, and tries daily to transform me into something more beautiful. I cannot ever be the Amazing Master that He is, but I will try to quit running away so often. Daily I am unfaithful and ungrateful, but He loves me anyway. The change from the runaway mutt to a glossy-coated obedient servant is slow, and painful, and most often difficult due to my stubborn, uncomprehending nature and old, bad habits. But the Master never gives up. And someday, when I see Him face to face, I will be able to be called a Christian - "Christ-like" - when He truly transforms me from the dog I am into the glory of His own precious, bought-with-a-price child. In the meantime, don't be surprised if I look (and act) like a freak from a sci-fi movie (part-mutt, part-child of God) - it's a good thing!
