Being a Christian vs being Christ-like

[onmyway2388]

There is no difference between being a Christian and being Christ like. The true meaning of being a christian is being exactly like Christ. We have changed the meaning of what being a Christian is from its original use.
The bible says that "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26)
There was something in the disciples that the people where able to identify and associate them with Jesus. They were walking just like Jesus.

 

[theDevolutionist]

Do you think there's a difference between the two? I am of the opinion that if one is a true Christian, a new-creation-lead-by-the-Spirit Christian then one will naturally (given their new nature) exemplify Christ-like actions and behaviors. What do you think?

This seems to me to be one of the fallacies that has been popularized by the recent Puritan revival. On one hand, the word "Christian" does mean "little Christ." On the other hand, if it were natural and automatic for a Christian to become so, why would Paul, James, and John have to spend so much time admonishing the Romans, Corinthians and others to strive to be Christ-like in their conduct?

Why did Paul himself confess with a broken heart that he finds himself doing what he wills not, and not doing what he wants to do (Romans 7)?

While the Christian can trust in the promise that, having believed in Christ, he or she has been given the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1), we also see in Scripture that the Christian is still warring with the flesh. It has become fashionable to talk of "saving" faith, as if there is some need to believe "harder." This is folly, as it is the object of our faith that saves us, rather than the size of our faith (remember the mustard seed), and as we see from Peter on the Sea of Galilee that it is possible for faith to ebb and flow.

We can rely on the promise that we will someday be glorified, at which time we will truly look like little Christs. Until then we are a flawed representation, but nevertheless the only representation our unsaved neighbors may see - which is why we should continue to exhort each other to be as Christ-like in this life as we can be.

 

[Kenny'sID]

How will the lost ever see the light if all the "Christians" do is tell them how bad their sin is, how wrong they are and how much Christ can't stand the sinners. Not sure what bible these people read from. My Bible says we are to be salt and light to the world, to love one another as Christ loved.

What Bible? I read from the KJV, and I quote:

Mathew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

You are correct, Jesus promoted love and understanding, but you only tell half the story. Did your bible not include everything?

John the Baptist went to his demise for rebuking sin, and I somehow think God smiled upon him for doing so.

 

[Reformed]

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

You may be answering your own question here. What a terrifying thing to hear! Unless, of course, you can say that you perfectly do the will of the Father. Who is Christ-like enough to enter heaven on his own merits? Not me.

Christ-likeness or obedience to the will of the Father is something that starts when you are regenerated and goes on throughout all your life, and God the Holy Spirit makes you more and more like Christ as life unfolds, but never gets to a point of perfection until we are glorified after our death. As a matter of fact, the true Christian faith says that in this life we only achieve a very small beginning of that godliness or Christ-likeness that God demands of us, and it is not on account of that that we enter Heaven, but on account of Christ's merits on our behalf, like Thatbrian said, "The most righteous among us only enters in clothed in the righteousness of Christ."

This Christ-likeness, obedience to the will of the Father or sanctification, progresses at various rates in different persons. We cannot say that because someone progresses more slowly in his sanctification or Christ-likeness he is less of a Christian than another one whose sanctification is more visible or conspicuous. That more visible godliness may be a mask, a facade, a front, as in the passage you quoted, "22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ "

 

[Kenny'sID]

This seems to me to be one of the fallacies that has been popularized by the recent Puritan revival. On one hand, the word "Christian" does mean "little Christ." On the other hand, if it were natural and automatic for a Christian to become so, why would Paul, James, and John have to spend so much time admonishing the Romans, Corinthians and others to strive to be Christ-like in their conduct?

Why did Paul himself confess with a broken heart that he finds himself doing what he wills not, and not doing what he wants to do (Romans 7)?

While the Christian can trust in the promise that, having believed in Christ, he or she has been given the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1), we also see in Scripture that the Christian is still warring with the flesh. It has become fashionable to talk of "saving" faith, as if there is some need to believe "harder." This is folly, as it is the object of our faith that saves us, rather than the size of our faith (remember the mustard seed), and as we see from Peter on the Sea of Galilee that it is possible for faith to ebb and flow.

We can rely on the promise that we will someday be glorified, at which time we will truly look like little Christs. Until then we are a flawed representation, but nevertheless the only representation our unsaved neighbors may see - which is why we should continue to exhort each other to be as Christ-like in this life as we can be.

This seems to me to be one of the fallacies that has been popularized by the recent Puritan revival.

This is old, old, news, nothing recent about it. And your comments seem to be one of the fallacies that are being popularize by you.

You disagreed with someone who stated we should be Christ Like, stating in so many words, that we cannot. No one here is saying we should or can be exactly like Christ, and because we can't does not make the statement you disagreed with a fallacy.

Christ Like, means just that, as in he or she had a face that was dog like. the faces weren't that of a dog but had the characteristics of that of a dog...not exactly, but like. No one is expecting a perfect image here. If that could be done there would have been no need for Christ in the first place.

Even you state: "which is why we should continue to exhort each other to be as Christ-like in this life as we can be."

So why are you saying the teaching of being Christ like is a Fallacy? I may honestly not understand what you are saying over all here but you did say that, yet then you say we should try to be Christ like? Please explain.

 

[Stephen Douglas]

I think that the term "Christian" has been watered down to the point that it has lost its original meaning. I don't even use the term when describing my faith but call myself a "child of the living God and follower of Christ Jesus". To follow Luke 9:23 is a tough act but virtually impossible without the indwelling of the Spirit of Righteousness. We can only be Christ-like when we surrender our will to the Vine in which we are attached and fed. I am sure that not all who profess to be Christian even realize to what extent they are completely powerless to attain any measure of goodness outside of the dependence of the source of all life and goodness.

Doug

 

[donfish06]

In an interview in 1999 during his final crusade Billy Graham said "When names are called for crowns in heaven, they will be the nameless hidden saints among us. They may not be called Christians. They just love God."

This was a most insightful observation. In my over 70 years as a Christian I can say without reservation that the most Christlike person I have ever met was a Hindu.

I'm sorry but your statement is most ridiculous. If you can say that a Hindu was most Christ-like, then it shows a lack of understanding of Christ. Jesus believed ALL of the Word of God, and obeyed it. This a Hindu does not do.

Peoples modern mental conception of Jesus is absolutely wrong. How Jesus Christ is portrayed in Christianity today is as an emasculated man who only wants to make people happy. How can we forget that what Jesus said and did made everyone HATE Him, none more than the RELIGIOUS. We too often forget of Jesus braiding a whip to take to the money changers in the temple. Jesus stood for the Truth, and stood for principal, no matter what anyone thought. It was the things that He said to the Pharisees that made Him want to kill Him. It is not that He was trying to make them mad, but He spoke the TRUTH, and they hated the TRUTH.

In our day, everyone thinks a Christian has to be friends with the World. Jesus taught the exact opposite. Again, not that our aim is to be mean, or to get people to dislike us, but a true "Christ-like" believer will speak the truth, no matter what people think. I would implore you to re-read the gospels, and look at the things that Jesus said to people. He didn't try to be nice to everyone. He followed the leading of the Father. We need LOTS more of that now.

 

[theDevolutionist]

This is old, old, news, nothing recent about it. And your comments seem to be one of the fallacies that are being popularize by you.

You disagreed with someone who stated we should be Christ Like, stating in so many words, that we cannot. No one here is saying we should or can be exactly like Christ, and because we can't does not make the statement you disagreed with a fallacy.

Christ Like, means just that, as in he or she had a face that was dog like. the faces weren't that of a dog but had the characteristics of that of a dog...not exactly, but like. No one is expecting a perfect image here. If that could be done there would have been no need for Christ in the first place.

Even you state: "which is why we should continue to exhort each other to be as Christ-like in this life as we can be."

So why are you saying the teaching of being Christ like is a Fallacy? I may honestly not understand what you are saying over all here but you did say that, yet then you say we should try to be Christ like? Please explain.

The fallacy I was referring to was that being Christ-like is automatic and natural. If it were, there would be no need for continual exhortation to strive for that mark.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

This question is easy to answer when we look at the thief on the cross. Was he Christ-like or did he trust in Christ?

You are a pastor, and you are called to the hospital at 2:00 AM. A woman has little time to live, and she wants to know how to be saved. She wants to be a Christian. You rush to the hospital, and the doctor tells you she has only minutes! Now, please tell her how she becomes a Christian. Does it involve displaying Christ-like behavior in the next 2 minutes, or is it that she must stop trusting self, and put her trust in her substitute? Must she have faith or works to be numbered as His?

The question in the OP wa debated and answered during the Reformation. I side with Luther: Faith Alone.

 

[Kenny'sID]

The fallacy I was referring to was that being Christ-like is automatic and natural. If it were, there would be no need for continual exhortation to strive for that mark.

OK, thank you, I can now see where you did originally state that clearly too. However, though it is true, we stumble, even as a Christian, I also have to agree with the original post you replied to, at least to the point of if we have received the Holy Spirit after being saved, we are at least in a better condition then for it to come more naturally than before being saved and I think that may have been all the original poster was saying....I think

And it may be a matter of some of us allow it to come more naturally than others. As well as the fact these disciples were pioneers in this, they were the first, so it's understandable they would get out of hand as they didn't have all the knowledge as their fingertips as we do. But they were also right there with Jesus, something we didn't have so...

So, no, not completely natural by any means but more so than without Christ who makes it easier for it to come naturally if we let it because of our gratefulness for what he did and what he offers for our future, as well as the implementing of the Holy Spirit that follows.

 

[Kenny'sID]

This question is easy to answer when we look at the thief on the cross. Was he Christ-like or did he trust in Christ?

You are a pastor, and you are called to the hospital at 2:00 AM. A woman has little time to live, and she wants to know how to be saved. She wants to be a Christian. You rush to the hospital, and the doctor tells you she has only minutes! Now, please tell her how she becomes a Christian. Does it involve displaying Christ-like behavior in the next 2 minutes, or is it that she must stop trusting self, and put her trust in her substitute? Must she have faith or works to be numbered as His?

The question in the OP wa debated and answered during the Reformation. I side with Luther: Faith Alone.

This question is easy to answer when we look at the thief on the cross. Was he Christ-like or did he trust in Christ?

Must have not been THAT easy.

You see what you did here? You grabbed 2 very unusual situations, not the norm at all, as these people not only didn't live like the very vast majority of us, they didn't live on earth at all beyond your example. That is simply not the case for people in general. So for all intents and purposes, your explanation is of little or no value to the subject.

Thatbrian, you didn't answer any of the questions I posed to you, so still trying to understand your position. If you decide to answer, could you please reply to the post so it's easier to keep up? Also it looks kind of bad to answer a post and not bring along what you are answering to, but I won't go into why.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

The true meaning of being a christian is being exactly like Christ.

I have never met the person who fits this description, so if I am to accept it, no one I know is a Christian, least of all me.

"Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2)

We are only partially like Him in life, but we will be fully like Him "when He appears". We are reflections of Christ, but since we do not see Him cl

This question is easy to answer when we look at the thief on the cross. Was he Christ-like or did he trust in Christ?

Must have not been THAT easy.

You see what you did here? You grabbed 2 very unusual situations, not the norm at all, as these people not only didn't live like the very vast majority of us, they didn't live on earth at all beyond your example. That is simply not the case for people in general. So for all intents and purposes, your explanation is of little or no value to the subject.

If you can't explain the gospel to a dying person and have him understand and respond to it, you have a different gospel than Christ's. I use those examples to make that point, fully understanding they are not the norm.

 

[theDevolutionist]

OK, thank you, I can now see where you did originally state that clearly too. However, though it is true, we stumble, even as a Christian, I also have to agree with the original post you replied to, at least to the point of if we have received the Holy Spirit after being saved, we are at least in a better condition then for it to come more naturally than before being saved and I think that may have been all the original poster was saying....I think

And it may be a matter of some of us allow it to come more naturally than others. As well as the fact these disciples were pioneers in this, they were the first, so it's understandable they would get out of hand as they didn't have all the knowledge as their fingertips as we do. But they were also right there with Jesus, something we didn't have so...

So, no, not completely natural by any means but more so than without Christ who makes it easier for it to come naturally if we let it because of our gratefulness for what he did and what he offers for our future, as well as the implementing of the Holy Spirit that follows.

Glad we aren't so far apart, after all . We certainly have no chance of being Christ-like without the Holy Spirit, though we may look Christ-like on the outside (or to folks who may have a skewed idea of what Christ looked like).

I would wholeheartedly agree that with the indwelling of the Holy Spirt, there should be something different about us - even if only faintly discernible at times.

My one concern is the motivation for these kinds of questions. Is it to gain a better understanding of what it means to disciple or be discipled; or is it to try to create a yardstick by which we judge others as to their position in Christ? Hopefully the former.

I believe God called me to be a farmer. Let the master inspect the fruit when he returns - it is His job, after all.

 

[Soyeong]

This ought to be a good thread. Glad that you thought of it.

The definition and identification of a Christian is not found in his imitation of Christ, but in his reliance upon Him.

It is through reliance on Him that we can be made to imitate Christ.

 

[Reed000Naoi]

If being Christian required everyone to emulate Christ or live by His standards, 90% of Christians would fail the test. But I think that is because Christianity has never been the religion OF Jesus; it is a religion ABOUT Jesus. Living an humble, non-materialistic, utterly selfless, compassionate life is not the advice and tutorage we get from our ministers and priests. They just assume that we will do our best, and leave it at that. In practice, even the most devout amongst us rarely want to make that sacrifice...since it would mean turning away from nearly everything associated with modern culture. My personal view is that, yes, one should strive to live by the same set of values as Jesus (or at least a modified version...keeping in mind that He was an itinerant ascetic, and not a mainstream person like us). That would make you Jesus-like. But, it would not automatically make you, by definition, a Christian. As for myself, I believe that being Jesus-like is a much higher calling than qualifying for the label of a 'technical' Christian. And that is what I try to convey to others.

 

[theDevolutionist]

If being Christian required everyone to emulate Christ or live by His standards, 90% of Christians would fail the test. But I think that is because Christianity has never been the religion OF Jesus; it is a religion ABOUT Jesus. Living an humble, non-materialistic, utterly selfless, compassionate life is not the advice and tutorage we get from our ministers and priests. They just assume that we will do our best, and leave it at that. In practice, even the most devout amongst us rarely want to make that sacrifice...since it would mean turning away from nearly everything associated with modern culture. My personal view is that, yes, one should strive to live by the same set of values as Jesus (or at least a modified version...keeping in mind that He was an itinerant ascetic, and not a mainstream person like us). That would make you Jesus-like. But, it would not automatically make you, by definition, a Christian. As for myself, I believe that being Jesus-like is a much higher calling than qualifying for the label of a 'technical' Christian. And that is what I try to convey to others.

Minor quibble: make it 100% ;-)

 

[Kenny'sID]

Glad we aren't so far apart, after all . We certainly have no chance of being Christ-like without the Holy Spirit, though we may look Christ-like on the outside (or to folks who may have a skewed idea of what Christ looked like).

I would wholeheartedly agree that with the indwelling of the Holy Spirt, there should be something different about us - even if only faintly discernible at times.

I couldn't agree more. It is faint to nearly null in some, but may eventually take hold and grow faster, or not at all. With others it grows fast and anything in between but wait, just remembered it's already been explained much better than I could and though I think we get it, here it is just the same:

The Parable of the Sower

"Matthew 13:18-23

13And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14The sower soweth the word. 15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."

 

[jimmyjimmy]

What makes one a Christian, is it faith in the gospel or Christ-like behavior?

 

[theDevolutionist]

As the essence of Christianity is humility (see Philippians 2, and... after all, we cannot trust in Christ without coming to the realization that we ourselves, are not trustworthy), I would say that the paradoxical answer to the OP's question is that the farther we progress, the farther we realize we have to go ;-)

 

[Caretaker]

Hmmmm..

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!" -- Matthew 10:24-25

"We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." -- 1 John 2:3-6

"Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." -- John 14:23-26