This week, as I listened to National Public Radio, I heard that author Anne Rice has said,  “I quit being a Christian… it’s simply impossible for me to belong to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious and deservedly infamous group.” She later added that she is a Christian, but “following Christ does not mean following his followers.”

 When I heard that, I was immediately taken back a number of years ago when I was in a meeting that included missiologist Dr Bill O’Brien. I was intrigued to hear him say that he no longer referred to himself as a Christian – but rather called himself a Christ-follower.” He went on to say that the term “Christian” had become a pejorative word in many parts of our world because of the way some so-called Christians deport themselves and because of the un-Christlike things that are done in the name of Christ.

 How sad that this name has become one many no longer wish to carry and one that is misunderstood by so many. God help all of us to be Christ-followers – even as we seek to be the very presence of Christ in our world today.