I've heard these responses before- that a real Christian wouldn't kill and rape to begin with, and if a Christian does kill and rape then that person isn't really a proper Christian. But, there are plenty of people out there that actually believe in religion and still do things against their religion
"Believe" can be a tricky word. One can give intellectual assent to something without ever intending that it should affect one's life. Many people do this with the tenets of the Christian faith. They agree that Jesus was God in the flesh, born of a virgin, died as our Saviour, rose again from the dead three days later and so on without ever anticipating that these facts should have any significant effect upon their lives. But this isn't, as far as Christianity is concerned, a belief that truly saves. It is essentially mere lip-service, a nominal allegiance to the Christian worldview that Scripture makes very clear God rejects.
It may be possible in other religions to live contrary to the tenets of that religion and still be a legitimate member of that religion - but not Christianity. Of course, millions adhere to Christianity in just this hypocritical way feeling that because they are part of the majority in the religion they are quite secure in their membership in God's family. But, again, the Bible is clear that not all who say, "Lord, Lord" will enter God's kingdom (
Matthew 7:21) and that there are
few who find the narrow way to eternal life (
Matthew 7:14). In any case, what is true of other religions in this regard is not therefore necessarily true of Christianity.
For example, a person might truly believe in Jesus Christ, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will obey him. They might be what you'd call a "non-practicing" Christian.
As the verses above indicate, a Christian is as a Christian does. "By their fruit you shall know them," in other words. There is, as far as God is concerned, no such thing as a "non-practicing" disciple of Christ.
We may talk as though there is, but there is no ground in Scripture for saying a totally profligate "believer" is genuinely saved. Instead, we find these sorts of verses:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3-5
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
And so on. Clearly, one cannot live like the devil and also legitimately claim to be a disciple of Christ.
A non-practicing Christian is just as it sounds- A Christian by belief but not by action. After all, isn't "belief" first and foremost? Actions come after.
As I said, it isn't just any sort of belief that saves and brings a person into God's family. Demons "believe in God and tremble," the apostle James wrote (
James 2:19), but they remain demons, fully committed to the destruction of God's Creation. Saving faith, however, anticipates change; it expects that a sinful life will be left behind and a new Christ-centered life will take its place. This is the essence of repentance that was always a part of the Gospel that Christ and the apostles preached. Faith and action are not separated in the Christian religion but are two sides of the same coin. If one claims to be a disciple of Christ, a Christian, one will - one
must - evidence it in the character of their living.
James 2:26
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Someone may believe in Christianity; they may accept Jesus as their lord and savior; but at the same time they might not practice Christian.
There is a process of change a genuine believer goes through in becoming more like Jesus. It takes time. How the believer is immediately after being converted is not how they will be a year later. Genuine believers grow, and deepen, and become more pure, and faithful, and loving as time passes. At first, though, things may be quite "bumpy." But if this remains the case, if the new believer does not change but continues in the way they always have lived, something is seriously wrong with their relationship with God and there is good cause to think they are not really born-again by the Spirit.
These people do bad things (kill, rape, etc.) but they still might believe in Jesus. That still makes them a Christian; just a bad one.
Nope. It's one thing for a disciple of Christ to be angry, or selfish, or mean, it is quite another for them to rape and murder. You don't seem to be making any distinctions in this regard, however. But as the verses I've cited to you reveal, a genuine believer will not be raping and murdering. They cannot: the Holy Spirit of God dwells within them and is transforming them into godly, pure and gentle saints, not rapists and murderers.
And, since these "bad" Christians are still Christians, that means Jesus also forgave them of their sins. After all, anyone who believes in Jesus (according to Christianity) is forgiven of all their past, present, and future sins.
Not exactly. As I pointed out above, mere intellectual assent is not sufficient for salvation and entry into God's family and kingdom. God's forgiveness of sin is offered to all but it is only applied to those who trust in Christ as their Saviour and submit to him as their Lord. Even those who are saved, however, must confess their sins (
1 John 1:9) in order to benefit from the forgiveness that is theirs in Jesus Christ. A disciple of Christ cannot sin with impunity. Sin cuts us off from fellowship with God and incurs the discipline of the Heavenly Father.
Selah.
