Is anybody that accepts "Christ" considered a "Christian"?

[astein]

Is anybody that accepts "Christ" considered a "Christian"?

 

[child630]

Good question. Sometimes I don't even know what to call myself, even though I confess Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

[MessianicMommy]

I'm not certain what you are fishing for in your post.

Other than some differences in beliefs and practice, the meaning of "Christian" and "Messianic" is pretty much synonymous. It means someone who follows Messiah.

So, if you "accept Christ" and follow him... yeah.

 

[astein]

I'm not certain what you are fishing for in your post.

Fishing for? I hope that isn't an insult.

It is easy to understand. Take up thy cross and follow me. If being Christ like is a Christian, who considers themselves non Christian that is for Christ?

 

[astein]

Is calling ones self a child of God by the grace of God only, good enough?

 

[Avodat]

Re the OP - certainly not!

 

[Steve Petersen]

and how come we have Non-MJs answering questions posed to us on our forum?

 

[visionary]

Fishing for? I hope that isn't an insult.

It is easy to understand. Take up thy cross and follow me. If being Christ like is a Christian, who considers themselves non Christian that is for Christ?

Is being a Christian a Sunday keeper, Easter and Christmas, and non-kosher eater, no law but grace believer.... Then your view of what is means to be a Christian is different from ours...

 

[ChavaK]

and how come we have Non-MJs answering questions posed to us on our forum?

Well, it seems like a question that should provoke some good thought.
Don't see where to OP was limiting the question as to who may respond.
I was going to put in my view, but I guess not

 

[Steve Petersen]

I wasn't referring to Jews and those who do MJism, but other faith icons. Don't be so sensitive.

 

[ChavaK]

I wasn't referring to Jews and those who do MJism, but other faith icons. Don't be so sensitive.

Oh, I am anything but sensitive. But you weren't exactly clear in your statement

 

[Steve Petersen]

I have been here long enough and have posted forum rules often enough that you should have no worries.

But it seems that whenever I say 'nonMJ' posting on this forum, someone jumps to the conclusion that I am ALSO speaking to Jews. I have never advocated preventing Jewish posters here.

 

[ChavaK]

I have been here long enough and have posted forum rules often enough that you should have no worries.

But it seems that whenever I say 'nonMJ' posting on this forum, someone jumps to the conclusion that I am ALSO speaking to Jews. I have never advocated preventing Jewish posters here.

Technically, the rules means we can't post. Reality is another issue...I started a thread awhile back to clarify this issue and it degenerated into a disaster. The issue never was clarified......

 

[ChavaK]

Is anybody that accepts "Christ" considered a "Christian"?

To me, as an outsider, that is THE defining belief as to whether one is a Christian or not. Whether one is a seventh day sabbath believer (Messianic, SDA) or followers of the "L-rd's day" (non-Messianic or non-SDA Christians), or followers of Torah or not....all those are differences between Christian sects.

 

[yonah_mishael]

I think the terminology hinges on the way that Messianics do not generally call Jesus the "Christ" (Greek, Χριστό&#962 but rather the "Messiah" (Hebrew, משי&#1495. It is a purposeful disconnect from what is seen as a bad tradition, the tradition that calls him "Christ" and has served to bring into the religion that is formed around the man things that were not original to the faith. Messianics are attempting (whether successfully or otherwise) to eliminate the Greek side of things and get back to a simpler version of the faith that is in Jesus.

(The problem is that Paul was already calling him Χριστός even before the gospels were written, which puts us in a bind. How early is the earliest form? How Jewish was the form that became popular? What form of faith is really appropriate for a Messianic believer? I would ask specifically if some see Messianic Judaism as simply Rabbinic Judaism with Jesus included.)

 

[yonah_mishael]

Post was doubled for some reason.

 

[ChavaK]

I think the terminology hinges on the way that Messianics do not generally call Jesus the "Christ" (Greek, Χριστό&#962 but rather the "Messiah" (Hebrew, משי&#1495. It is a purposeful disconnect from what is seen as a bad tradition, the tradition that calls him "Christ" and has served to bring into the religion that is formed around the man things that were not original to the faith.

What things were not "original to the faith"?
And whether one calls Jesus "messiah" or "Christ"-what does it matter if the essential theology is the same?

 

[Avodat]

To me, as an outsider, that is THE defining belief as to whether one is a Christian or not. Whether one is a seventh day sabbath believer (Messianic, SDA) or followers of the "L-rd's day" (non-Messianic or non-SDA Christians), or followers of Torah or not....all those are differences between Christian sects.

Those who have interviewed plenty of parents about getting a child baptised or to get a child into a particular Church school, as I have, will know that, often, such affirmations are made with no conviction whatsoever; it is merely the means to an end. The number of baptised pagan adults and children on our streets makes the point - all will have professed their faith in Jesus, but that is usually the last time you see them until the woman gets pregnant again or the sibling needs to get into a particular Church school! I certainly wouldn't call them 'Christians' by any stretch of the imagination so my response to the OP remains 'Certainly not'.

 

[ChavaK]

have professed their faith in Jesus, but that is usually the last time you see them until the woman gets pregnant again or the sibling needs to get into a particular Church school!

Is that what would define one's faith, whether they go to church?
Can one be a believer in Jesus, but not actively participate in the Christian community?
Or the reverse-can one truly accept Jesus as the messiah, but not be labeled a Christian?

 

[Avodat]

Is that what would define one's faith, whether they go to church?
Can one be a believer in Jesus, but not actively participate in the Christian community?
Or the reverse-can one truly accept Jesus as the messiah, but not be labeled a Christian?

We will get tied up in terminology here so I'll try and be as inclusive as I can:

I do not believe that you can be a Christian / Messianic, in the true sense of the word, unless you attend a congregation / fellowship (Messianic or Christian) and are an active member of that community if you are able to be so (being housebound, or suffering from illness or having a disability may limit, or severely restrict, some people from being active members of the community)

If one truly accepts Yeshua as Messiah (Jesus as Christ) then, yes, they are a Messianic / Christian and their love for him will drive them to be an integral part of the community. The emphasis is on your word 'truly' as opposed to being a Christian / Messianic as a matter of convenience to suit the needs I have already mentioned. It is a bit like a child being circumcised to get them in to a good Jewish school! I know that is not likely to happen but just for illustrative purposes.