what's your....

[greedy_goddess]

I just wanted to kow what your definition for a Christian is?

 

[vajradhara]

Namaste greedy_goddess,


thank you for the post.

my definition?

if one self-identifies as a Christian, they are one to me.

what is your definition?

 

[greedy_goddess]

Well I've always been told that if you believe in Christ it makes you a Christian. Am I wrong?

 

[meebs]

Someone who beleives in God, Accepts his son's, Jesus's death and ressurection and follows him to the best of their ability

 

[Fuzzy]

Someone who accepts the role of Jesus Christ as the "Son of God",
and that there's only one God.

Anything more specific than that, such as obediance to the Pope, or
certain lifestyle choices, gets you into the subsets of Christianity.

Anything in addition to that, and you're dealing with polytheism
or pluralism.

 

[TWells]

Anyone who adhreres to the Christian myth in either a literal or metaphorical way.

 

[Fuzzy]

Well I've always been told that if you believe in Christ it makes you a Christian. Am I wrong?

Wrong? No, but it could be further refined.

Intellectually, someone could believe in the existence of a historical
figure named Jesus, but not believe in his divine nature, or that he
had an above-average connection to the divine. That belief in
Jesus as something MORE than the average is what makes it religion.

 

[forever_standing]

Well I've always been told that if you believe in Christ it makes you a Christian. Am I wrong?

I'd have to disagree with Fuzzy and say yes, you are wrong. Even the demons themselves believe in God and Christ, doesn't make them Christians.

Being Christian is being "Christ-like" in a sense (or at least attempting to be like Him/ following Him). It's believing in God and in His Son Jesus Christ; that He sent Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins, died on a cross and rose again in 3 days. With that our Saviour lives and we can have relationship with God. Anyone who confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in His heart that Christ rose shall be saved. (Romans 10 for actual verses, not my paraphrase)

 

[coyoteBR]

Wrong? No, but it could be further refined.

Intellectually, someone could believe in the existence of a historical
figure named Jesus, but not believe in his divine nature, or that he
had an above-average connection to the divine. That belief in
Jesus as something MORE than the average is what makes it religion.

I like your definition, Fuzzy, but I would add

Someone who believe in the existence of Jesus, His Divine Nature and/or that He Had an above-average conection to The Divine and tries to follow His teachings and examples

getting closer?

 

[Fuzzy]

Yeah, coyoteBR, you and forever_standing have good points with the "following his
example" part. And forever_standing rightly points out that demons of Christian
theology do have a recognition of Christ, yet are in nature opposed, and thus not
"Christian." I still view greedy_goddess' statement "belief in Christ=Christian" to
be valid, since "Christ" carries a certain...societal? cultural?...weight that brings
what the Christ/Messiah is expected to do with it. But I do see your points.

 

[feral]

Believing that God exists and Christ is his son and the one way to Heaven seems to be enough. I don't think your actions, history or attitude necessarily applies. But then again, I'm not...so I could be wrong.

 

[markie]

Anyone who adhreres to the Christian myth in either a literal or metaphorical way.

why do you say it's a myth?

 

[Whitestone]

Definition of a Christian is a follower of Christ.

You should be able to determine a Christian not by name but by how well their actions follow in the way Christ lead.

Whitestone

 

[Starcrystal]

Feral,
Believing that God exists and Christ is his son and the one way to Heaven seems to be enough. I don't think your actions, history or attitude necessarily applies. But then again, I'm not...so I could be wrong.

I think Jesus made it clear when he said you would know them by their fruits, and also that many false prophets would come in his name, saying he was the Christ and they would deceive many.
So not everyone who says they're a Christian, or who says they believe in God and Jesus resurrection is actually a true follower or worshipper of Christ.
Also, just belonging to a Christian church and going through the motions of that religion don't make someone a Christian. It goes back to the fruits, which are the actions.
If people truly believe from their heart, they will be on a path with heart. Most of what I see in so called Christian churches is very far removed from what Jesus Christ taught, how he lived, and how he interacted with people.

 

[greedy_goddess]

I'd have to disagree with Fuzzy and say yes, you are wrong. Even the demons themselves believe in God and Christ, doesn't make them Christians.

Being Christian is being "Christ-like" in a sense (or at least attempting to be like Him/ following Him). It's believing in God and in His Son Jesus Christ; that He sent Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins, died on a cross and rose again in 3 days. With that our Saviour lives and we can have relationship with God. Anyone who confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in His heart that Christ rose shall be saved. (Romans 10 for actual verses, not my paraphrase)

Okay so then that would make Mormons Christians would it not? That's what they believe.

 

[forever_standing]

Okay so then that would make Mormons Christians would it not? That's what they believe.

Mormonism and Christianity are definitely two different things. Mormonism follows a belief more of what Smith set down for them (their religion's originator, per se). They believe in things such as God having a wife, a council of gods, there being different planets you go to after death, etc. They have a completely different Bible as Christianity as well. I can't go into the complete doctrine of LDS but it is significantly different.

 

[firefromheaven]

Well I've always been told that if you believe in Christ it makes you a Christian. Am I wrong?

It's someone who is a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

So if someone says that they are and don't live according to the word they are not a christian.Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs

of thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt

tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt

tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast

into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the

kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied

in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful

works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.

 

[TWells]

why do you say it's a myth?

I dont mean "myth" in a negative way or to say that its false but rather a story that is considered true in a literal or metaphoric sense by someone.

 

[greedy_goddess]

Well thanks for all your replies.
Melisa

 

[CrownCaster]

Anyone who adhreres to the Christian myth in either a literal or metaphorical way.

Do you have to be so insulting as to call our faith a myth or are you just bitter. Jesus can help that you know?