The “Way” of Christ

Richard Hollerman

On every hand we hear and read of various “churches” with a multitude of names, designations, and labels. We learn of the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Presbyterian Church. But is this the way that the early believers were known? Did people know of these names?

This is a relevant question in this age of titles and names. We all have names that we use and others use of us, but what about those who are known as Christians?  (We do plan on an article soon that deals with the names of Christians.)

The early believers were somewhat unsophisticated according to what some may say. But they were simply known as “the way”—for they followed a “way of life” that differed from the ordinary (cf. 1 John 1:1). Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Those who followed Jesus as His disciples were simply known as the “way,” for they followed Jesus as the “truth,” and they experienced His “life”—eternal life that comes from Him alone.

Let’s learn something about how the early Christians were not called Lutherans, Catholics, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists, or any one of other designations, but they were simply known as people who belonged to the “way.” Here we are not referring to the modern cult known as “The Way International” for this would simply be another denomination with an official name. Some may even call this a cult. What then do we find the early Christians called in the history of the early believers in the book of Acts?

Consider the early life of Paul (Saul) of Tarsus when he went to Damascus to persecute Christians. He wanted to find believers in the synagogues of that city and he referred to them as those “belonging to the Way” (Acts 9:2). These early Christians had a distinctive life that Paul and others would recognize as people who belonged to “the way”—the way of Christ, the way of holiness, the way that differed from the ordinary. Do you and I belong to this “way” that is easily recognizable?

We also read of Apollos who was “instructed in the way of the Lord” (Acts 18:25). This eloquent man knew that the Lord taught a special “way” of life that he must follow. In the next verse, we read that Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos “the way of God” more accurately (v. 26). They wanted Apollos to know God’s way—the way of God—more accurately. Do we know this way?

When Paul was in Ephesus, he entered the synagogue where he sought to persuade those who belonged to it about the kingdom of God—but they reacted to this and spoke “evil of the Way” (19:9). Does our “way” of life evoke this sort of reaction and are we ready to endure insults for the sake of Jesus? While the apostle remained in Ephesus, we read that there occurred “no small disturbance concerning the Way” (19:23). We wonder whether our life and preaching also brings this kind of reaction. Do people become “disturbed” concerning our “way” of life and teaching?

When Paul was in Jerusalem (during his last visit there) he again makes reference to his previous response to Christianity. He admitted, “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prison” (Acts 22:4). Are we persecuted as “the way” of Christ ourselves?

Later in this chapter, Paul makes a defense before Felix the governor. He affirmed: “This I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our Fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14). In this case, the “way” that we have been discussing was called a “sect” by others. In other words, people just thought that the Lord’s “way” was simply a portion of Judaism (a sect) and they seemed to not know that this was an entirely different “way” of life for they followed Jesus the Way to heaven!

Later in this chapter, we read that Felix had “a more exact knowledge about the Way” (Acts 24:22). Here was a pagan ruler who knew something about Christ and His way. He knew that people could be found who followed the “way” of Jesus and repudiated all other “ways” of life!

Instead of others (or you) calling you and your companions part of the various denominational churches in town, do you turn away from this and seek to be merely a Christian, a follower of Jesus, a believer in the Lord, and one who “belongs to the way”—the way of Christ? We encourage you to do this. But only if you are willing to turn from the ways of man and turn to Christ who offers us en entirely different “way” of life! Just as Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, let us turn to Him who is our way here and our way to God and His way!