bondChristian

Dear guest, this is the bondChristian. Or bondC for short.

BondChristian, this is my guest. You both will get to know each other well here.

Like you, the bondChristian has a background as a professional sinner, having worked as such for many years. For centuries in fact, bondC’s family has been involved in some of the most heinous acts of evil on earth. Perhaps you’ve heard of these ancient relatives:

~ Judas who betrayed the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver

~ Jezebel who murdered God’s prophets in cold blood

~ Adam and Eve, the first couple to decide to disobey God instead of enjoying each other

The list could go on and on.

The bondChristian as a free agent did some work for a spirit named Lucifer but for the most part had been SELF-employed.

Needless to say, the bondChristian has plenty of experience and, when working alone, performs this former job better than anything else.

HOWEVER, since changing occupations, the bondChristian has devoted both life and work to Jesus Christ. Alas, bondC is a lousy worker and has nothing valuable to offer. BondC realizes this and so relies exclusively on help and direction from the Master.

With only a little of His help, the bondChristian can accomplish anything. For example, bondC has been known to heal the sick, foretell the future, rescue the dying, even serve lemonade outside on hot summer days when it would feel better to simply go inside and watch a mesmerizing movie. You get the idea.

The bondChristian does whatever is needed for God at the moment… in every moment.

The bondChristian acquired the name from a combination of two other terms. The first part comes from a kind of servant or slave.

Bondservants

In Biblical times, bondservants were different from other servants. Many of you are probably familiar with this.

“If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. . . And if it happens that he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you, then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise.” – Deuteronomy 15:12,16-17

A permanent servant like this was called a bondservant.

That’s devotion. After that business with the awl, anyone could recognize the bondservant because only bondservants had gaping holes in their ears.

That’s almost crazy.

I’ll come back to that in a moment.

Now you have a general understanding of the bond part of bondChristian. What about the Christian part?

You likely have a pretty good understanding of what a Christian is. But so there’s no mistake, I’d like to briefly explain that also.

Christians

Christ’s early followers were first called Christians in a place called Antioch (Acts 11:26). These first followers talked like Jesus, acted like Jesus, and generally lived like Jesus because they obeyed Him. From what we read in the Bible, this meant they were known for their love for one another, for speaking the truth, and for serving everyone.

Although it was meant in a derogatory sense at the time, the name stuck, and now all believers in Jesus are called Christians.

You’ve heard this before.

Now, putting bond and Christian together you get…

BondChristians

Long definition: A bondChristian is anyone who chooses through love to permanently believe on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and as a result serve Him in absolute obedience and joy in every moment.

Short definition: A bondChristian is anyone who serves Christ.

“Wait a minute,” you might be saying. “I thought that’s what all Christians were supposed to be doing.”

Ah, a wise student of Christianity you are. The word, bond, in front of the word, Christian, is simply to emphasize the servitude and permanent-but-free choice of being a Christian.

I, for one, often forget that as a Christian I’ve chosen to be a servant. The “bond” is a reminder. Speaking of reminders. . .

Back to that hole in the ear. I’m not trying to promote tent-peg piercings (but then again, maybe I am). Think about this though:

Could someone easily recognize bondC as one of Christ’s servants?

Wearing a Christian shirt or a W.W.J.D. bracelet or any other Christian paraphernalia doesn’t count here. These are great tools for showing that someone is a Christian or looks like a Christian, or even just is part of Christian culture. But what I’m asking is, do they see bondC as a servant?

That’s what Jesus wanted.

“[W]hoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 18:4-5

How do people recognize bondC?

Jesus had spikes driven through his arms and legs. Personally, I think that’s more painful than having one spike in an ear. Jesus served all of humanity in every action and thought He had. To be a member of Christ’s party, to be His bondservant – a bondChristian – is to serve others as Christ did.

BondC isn’t about looking or acting or working or speaking or sounding or smelling or walking like a Christian. BondC isn’t even about smiling like a Christian. BondC is about serving Christ.

The bondChristian celebrates this service. BondC is dancing around, reveling in the festivities of servanthood.

That’s who the bondChristian is.

Now it’s your turn.

You’ve met the bondChristian and learned some of the ways of the bondChristian, which are the ways of Jesus.

Now become bondC.

Serving Suggestions

(1) Now you know a little about what a bondChristian is. How much are you like the bondChristian? Pick one or two (or more) characteristics of the bondChristian and copy them. See how Christ-like you can be.

(2) Leave a comment and introduce yourself so the rest of us can get to know you. (If you have a blog with an about page, feel free to leave a link to it along with your introduction.)

Happy Labor Day!