DEFINE; Christian

[B1inHim]

DEFINE; Christian
adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus’ teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christ like.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

n.

1. One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a Christian as "one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus; one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus."[5]
A wide range of beliefs and practices is found across the world among those who call themselves Christian. A 2007 survey in the United States identified the following five typical American categories:[6] However in other regions of the world, especially Europe,[citation needed] Christianity may not be associated with organized activity.

• Active Christians: Committed to attending church, Bible reading, and sharing their faith that salvation comes through Jesus Christ.
• Professing Christians: Also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" as the key to being a Christian, but focus on personal relationships with God and Jesus more than on church, Bible reading or sharing faith.
• Liturgical Christians: High level of spiritual activity, mainly expressed by attending and recognising the authority of the church, and by serving in it or in the community.
• Private Christians: Believe in God and in doing good things, but not within a church context. In the American survey, this was the largest and youngest segment.
• Cultural Christians: Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation. They are the least likely to align their beliefs or practices with biblical teachings, or attend church. They favor a universal theology that sees many ways to God.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian

But what do you believe defines a Christian?

 

[christianmomof3]

But what do you believe defines a Christian?

Christ

 

[OpenDoor]

But what do you believe defines a Christian?

Little Christ
One who follows The Christ

 

[New_Wineskin]

But what do you believe defines a Christian?

I am going to take the same and concise path . When I joined this forum , to be considered a Christian , one believed in a creed - no more and no less . It was supposed to help certain quarrels to a minimum .

So , I will say that the creed defines a Christian .

 

[visionary]

I like Christ as the answer.

 

[lionroar0]

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand
of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
and the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in the one holy catholic
and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.​

 

[E.C.]

With regards to "what is Christian" in the theological sense, I personally would opt for the Nicene-Constantinoplitan Creed as well as the Trinity.

As for the "Christian-ness" of people and their souls and hearts, that is not my area. Only God knows.

 

[ebia]

I don't think there is a straightforward definition - and therefore I think we are on dodgy ground trying to set one ourselves.

While I'm happy to affirm everything in the Nicene Creed as true, I'm not sure that everything in it is necessary nor that it spells out everything that is necessary. It's a product of its time to deal with certain issues that were particularly important then. It would seem that parts of it would need some significant expansion on as well, given how many 'conservative' Christians have beliefs at odds, to put it politely, with the last two lines.

I don't see scripture defining a Christian (or, since it barely uses the word, defining a follower of Christ). It does however, note how such people will be recognised - John 13:35.

 

[wayseer]

I'm a bit nonplussed about the whole conception of apparently needing to define Christian. As soon as you begin to attempt to do so you automatically create boundaries concerning who is gets placed inside and who is kept outside those boundaries. Then you have to call in the boundary riders to make sure those on the outside stay there and those on the inside are not tempted to leap the fence. Dodgy ground indeed.

I think it is a matter of how people define themselves.

 

[Floatingaxe]

Little Christ
One who follows The Christ

That is the exact definition, according to its first usage.

 

[Floatingaxe]

I'm a bit nonplussed about the whole conception of apparently needing to define Christian. As soon as you begin to attempt to do so you automatically create boundaries concerning who is gets placed inside and who is kept outside those boundaries. Then you have to call in the boundary riders to make sure those on the outside stay there and those on the inside are not tempted to leap the fence. Dodgy ground indeed.

I think it is a matter of how people define themselves.

It is how we are defined by Christ- If we are His follower and have accepted His free gift of salvation, repenting of our sin and following after him alone, we are Christians. He defines us.

 

[Emmy]

Dear B1inHim. You had many good replies, here is mine, too. Love God and love each other, and let the world see your LOVE. Don`t hide it under any bushel, and be not afraid to confess Christ your Saviour and your Friend. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Tu Es Petrus]

Hear Hear!!
I second this post.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand
of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
and the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in the one holy catholic
and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.​

 

[E.C.]

Hear Hear!!
I second this post.

Take out that funny "Filioque" thing and I may third it

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

DEFINE; Christian



adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus’ teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christ like.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

n.

1. One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.

That appears to be it in a nut-shell. REPENT!!!!

Mark 1:15 And saying "has been filled the Time and has-neared/hggiken <1448> (5758) the Kingdom of the God.
Be ye reforming! and be ye believing! in the Good-Message.

Revelation 16:11 And they blaspheme the GOD of the heaven out of the miseries of them and out of the sores of them.
And not they repent/reform/metenohsan <3340> (5656) out of the works of them.

 

[JimfromOhio]

To be like Christ is to be a Christian. God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves. We all can claim to be a Christian, and we all believe that the root of the matter is in us and the seed of God is in our hearts. For a Spiritual Christian, Self is off the throne (self-less), Christ is on it, and the life is all in order.

Christ through His death and resurrection, every legal hindrance has been met and satisfied. There is nothing that can keep me from the promise. Its not about thinking our way into salvation or to reason our way into salvation. The only way to get in is to believe Him with my heart which is sealed by the Holy Spirit through the gift of Faith, through Jesus Christ, His grace and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The most important thing about you is what comes to your mind when you think of God. God wants to conform us to the image of Christ that He brings a purposeful discipline into our lives, He brings training into our lives through difficulty. There are many people who never see past the pain because they’re self-absorbed, they’re self-centered, they’re caught up in their own comfort.

A true Christian praises God's glory: Psalm 18:1-3
A true Christian trusts in God's power: Psalm 31:23
A true Christian seeks communion with God: Ps. 63:1-3; Ps. 84:2-4
A true Christian enjoys God's peace: Psalm 119:165
A true Christian is sensitive to God: Ps. 69:9
A true Christian loves what God loves: Ps. 138:2; Psalm. 119
A true Christian loves whom God loves: First John 5:1-2
A true Christian hates what God hates: Matt. 26:75; 1 John 2:15
A true Christian longs for Christ's return: Second Timothy 4:8
A true Christian obeys God's commands: John 14:21; Rom. 7:22

As Christian, I know that the world is no longer my master and that I am an over-comer because of the Holy Spirit that is within me. That’s the definition of a Christian. That's a mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

I am an active Christian who professes my faith who enjoy liturgical worship. My faith is not private because my faith is my life however, how I practice my faith is private. Grace is about loving other people that we have the freedom to do so but at the same time, respect how they practice their beliefs. In Romans 14:5 "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." 1 Corinthians 10:28-29 "both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake, the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?"

We are in Christ His position is our position, His privilege is our privilege, His possessions are our possessions, and His practice our practice. We are significant not because of who we are, but because of who we are in Christ. As Paul said, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10).

A Christian life in this world should be different from the world, being in the world but not of the world.

There's more but I think you got the idea.

 

[wayseer]

I see the boundary riders are gathering.

 

[Markus6]

A member of the Body of Christ and one who has inherited eternal life.

 

[MamaZ]

DEFINE; Christian

adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus’ teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christ like.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

n.

1. One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a Christian as "one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus; one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus."[5]

A wide range of beliefs and practices is found across the world among those who call themselves Christian. A 2007 survey in the United States identified the following five typical American categories:[6] However in other regions of the world, especially Europe,[citation needed] Christianity may not be associated with organized activity.

• Active Christians: Committed to attending church, Bible reading, and sharing their faith that salvation comes through Jesus Christ.
• Professing Christians: Also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" as the key to being a Christian, but focus on personal relationships with God and Jesus more than on church, Bible reading or sharing faith.
• Liturgical Christians: High level of spiritual activity, mainly expressed by attending and recognising the authority of the church, and by serving in it or in the community.
• Private Christians: Believe in God and in doing good things, but not within a church context. In the American survey, this was the largest and youngest segment.
• Cultural Christians: Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation. They are the least likely to align their beliefs or practices with biblical teachings, or attend church. They favor a universal theology that sees many ways to God.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian

But what do you believe defines a Christian?

Little anointed one from Christ.

 

[AbsolutelyNumb]

John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

I haven't achieved this, not even remotely and, quite frankly, I know of no one who has! It amazes me the number of people I come in contact with that profress they are Christian. The only standard of measurement is the Bible. Everything else is just an opinion!

May the LORD richly bless you...