The Way

Last night I was reading out of Acts and cme across the fact that the early church named themselves the Way. (NIV)Acts 9:2 .."and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem."

It was named such in several verses, and I thought it was significant that this was really the first name the church had, and that it was well known. The word in Greek is Hodos hod-os'

Definition 1. properly a. a way 1. a travelled way, road b. a travellers way, journey, travelling 2. metaph. a. a course of conduct b. a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding

Translated Words KJV (102) - highway, 3; journey, 6; misc, 2; way, 83; way side, 8;

NAS (100) - highways, 2; journey, 7; path, 1; paths, 1; road, 24; roads, 1; streets, 1; way, 54; ways, 9;

It was clear that this name was widely recognized, as even the Governor of the province Felix was well acquainted with the name (Acts 24:22). David Guzik writes this:

e. If he found any who were of the Way: Here, Christianity is referred to as the Way. This seems to be the earliest "name" for the Christian movement, and a fitting one -used five times in Acts.

i. The name the Way means that Christianity is more than a belief or a set of opinions or doctrines. Following Jesus is a way of living as well as believing.

Guzik's a last statement is so important to grasp. Our following the Lord, must not just be about our beliefs, but about our actions as well. We cannot be Christians in name and 'belief' without it affecting our action. To think any different is to be deceived.

In the letter of James, he speaks of our faith and actions as being tightly bound. In fact, his premise is that if we don't have the actions to back up our statement of faith, then that faith really doesn't exist - see (NIV)James 2:17 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Lord, help us to live out our beliefs!