“Adulting” is a term that was coined about ten years ago. It means to do the things that adults do, like pay bills, go to work, and be responsible. I’ve been familiar with the term for a while, but recently, one of our ministers used it in a sermon and it triggered a thought for a new word that I wrote in my sermon notebook—“Christianing.”
From my quick Google research, the only thing I can tell is that it’s mostly been used when someone misspells “Christening.” So if it’s coined already, my apologies…. But let’s pretend it’s a brand new word.
Say it out loud: Christianing. We need to give it a definition, which should be easy. If “adulting” means to do the things that adults do, shouldn’t “Christianing” be doing the things that Christians do?
And what do Christians do?
It goes back to the root word—“Christian,” and then, the root word of that—“Christ.”
The term “Christian” is only in the Bible three times. The first instance is in Acts 11:26 and it says, “…So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
Since Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were there to teach the Gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ, the term Christian came to mean a follower of Christ.
The term “Christian” is also found in Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16.
So as we go about being Christians, “Christianing,” if you will, what does it look like?
It means we do things as Christ would do them. He is our model of the Christian life. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am ofChrist.” Similar admonitions are given in 1 John 2:6, 1 Peter 2:21, Ephesians 5:1-2, and Jesus Himself said, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:13-15).
Imitating the love of Jesus is hard, but not impossible, thanks to the Holy Spirit living in us. He equips us with His power, so we don’t have to rely on ourselves. And even when we fail to measure up to His perfection, we are perfectly forgiven.
But with all that said, I think the definition of our new word, “Christianing,” can be best defined by 1 John 2:6, “The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.”
Let’s make it a practice to apply “Christianing” to every aspect of our lives, and show the world what it means to live for Jesus Christ, our Savior and King!
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Christianing for every day living:
- Make your relationship with Jesus your number-one priority. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 6:24; John 14:15)
- Read your Bible. (Psalm 119:11)
- Be a friend to others. (Philippians 2:3)
- Use your spiritual gifts to support His kingdom (and if you don’t know what your spiritual gifts are, find a spiritual gifts test). (1 Peter 4:10-11)
- Be joyful and positive. (Proverbs 17:22)
- Be thankful. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- Work hard and do your best. (Colossians 3:23)
