To all non-Christians here...define a Christian

[LittleLambofJesus]

Greetings. Just a simple question.
I would like to ask all non-Christians here what their definition of a Christian is. Thanks

 

[Penumbra]

Umm....

Well a definition that would include most Christians would simply be to say that a Christian is someone who believes the Nicene Creed is true.

But since that was written well after Jesus' death, that shouldn't be all encompassing. I'd say a Christian is someone who feels that they do their best to follow the teachings of Jesus, which may or may not include believing that this man is a god, and may include non-canonical gospels.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Umm....

Well a definition that would include most Christians would simply be to say that a Christian is someone who believes the Nicene Creed is true.

But since that was written well after Jesus' death, that shouldn't be all encompassing. I'd say a Christian is someone who feels that they do their best to follow the teachings of Jesus, which may or may not include believing that this man is a god, and may include non-canonical gospels.

Greetings Penumbra...Thank your for your input.......Repz4U.........

 

[dlamberth]

Greetings. Just a simple question.
I would like to ask all non-Christians here what their definition of a Christian is. Thanks

I feel that a Christian is a person who follows the beliefs and dogma of the Church. There are different Churches with different beliefs and dogmas which is why there are so many different types of Christians.

.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I feel that a Christian is a person who follows the beliefs and dogma of the Church. There are different Churches with different beliefs and dogmas which is why there are so many different types of Christians.

.

Greetings dlamberth and nice to see you again dear friend.
I believe you may have actually hit the nail on the head with that post.

Those differences actually get discussed on the GT board if you want to gander at it. God bless

General Theology - Christian Forums
General Theology

 

[awitch]

Greetings. Just a simple question.
I would like to ask all non-Christians here what their definition of a Christian is. Thanks

A person who sincerely believes that the Biblical Jesus Christ is his or her personal Lord and savior.

This means that Mormons, Evangelicals, JWs, Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Methodists etc. are all Christians and the definition speaks nothing of how literal scripture is taken or the millions of ways it can be interpreted. It also considers those who hate and commit atrocities in the name of their god to also be Christian as long as they hold that sincere belief.

The funniest definition I heard is:
"The belief that some cosmic Jewish zombie can make you live forever if
you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him that you
accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your
soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by
a talking snake to eat from a magical tree."

 

[humblemuslim]

Greetings. Just a simple question.
I would like to ask all non-Christians here what their definition of a Christian is. Thanks

Hello LLOJ,

The most fundamental definition of a Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ.

The multitude of denominations follow this basic tenet, however each group of believers have their own methods of realizing their devotion to Jesus and have varying understandings of his teachings.

The Scriptures (Bible), Church Creeds, and widely followed rituals are all tools used by followers, though disagreement on specifics exists, to express their love for God and to aid their spiritual journey through life. All of these items help one define what it means for them to be a Christian, but certainly does not encompass the totality of what the label means.

At least that is my take on the topic

 

[vajradhara]

Greetings. Just a simple question.
I would like to ask all non-Christians here what their definition of a Christian is. Thanks

Namaste LLJ,

a Christian is someone that tells me they are.

i.e. if a being self-identifies as a Christian then i accept that they are.

metta,

~v

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Hello LLOJ,

The most fundamental definition of a Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ.

The multitude of denominations follow this basic tenet, however each group of believers have their own methods of realizing their devotion to Jesus and have varying understandings of his teachings.

The Scriptures (Bible), Church Creeds, and widely followed rituals are all tools used by followers, though disagreement on specifics exists, to express their love for God and to aid their spiritual journey through life. All of these items help one define what it means for them to be a Christian, but certainly does not encompass the totality of what the label means.

At least that is my take on the topic

Greetings HM! Thank you for your input.

Is it safe to say then that without JESUS that YHWH sent to Israel and the world, there would be no Christ-ians?

John 7:37 In yet the last day, the great, of the feast, stood the Jesus and cries-out saying, "If-ever any may be thirsting, let him be coming toward Me and be drinking"; [Isaiah 43:19/Revelation 21:6]

 

[sidhe]

A Christian would be someone who identifies themselves as Christian, and at least makes an attempt at living by some variant of Christian ethics.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

A Christian would be someone who identifies themselves as Christian, and at least makes an attempt at living by some variant of Christian ethics.

The only place a Christ-ian would know where to find those ethics is in the NT/NC of the Christian Bible, correct?
John chapts 14-17 is the longest discourse by JESUS in the NT/NC on not only how they should follow Him but also the Reward that awaits them if they indeed obey His Words of Life.
I have a thread on those chapters and they are actually my favorite in the NT/NC. Thoughts?

John Chapts 14 thru 17 verse by verse - Christian Forums

John 15 I AM the vine the true and the Father of Me the Farmer is. Every branch in ME no carrying fruit he is taking/lifting and every the fruit carrying He is cleansing it that more fruit may carrying.
Already ye clean are thru the word which I have spoken to ye. Remain ye! in Me also I in ye according as the branch not is able fruit to be bringing from itself if ever no it may be remaining in the vine, thus neither ye if ever no in Me ye may be remaining

 

[humblemuslim]

Greetings HM! Thank you for your input.

Is it safe to say then that without JESUS that YHWH sent to Israel and the world, there would be no Christ-ians?

John 7:37 In yet the last day, the great, of the feast, stood the Jesus and cries-out saying, "If-ever any may be thirsting, let him be coming toward Me and be drinking"; [Isaiah 43:19/Revelation 21:6]

Well, I believe the label "Christian" would not exist without the sending of Christ to Israel. Although, even before Christ came to Israel there were people who followed what God had revealed to them. True believers in God have been given many labels, but that is not to say they did not exist before the label came along.

Labels like Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, etc. are only useful for generic identification purposes. I feel they do more harm than good often times leading to generalizations and misconceptions of a person's beliefs and character. Some people ascribing to different labels have more in common than they realize due to semantic and cultural barriers. And some people that ascribe to the same label have less in common than they might be willing to admit due to fear of losing the label they identify themselves with.

 

[Dharma Wheel]

My definition of a Christian is one who follows Christ, whether they be ''good'' or ''bad''.

 

[hikersong]

A true Christian is one who loves God (Life and all the wonders and mysteries it contains) with all of their heart, and loves their neighbour (those they come into contact with throughout their time on earth) as they love themselves. Or at least aspires to do so. I believe that was what Christ said was the aim of it all...and I think it's a great vision for living if we are able to loosely translate the word God as I have done (i.e. in a personally meaningful way).

The rest (belief in a physical ressurection and virgin birth, eternal punishment for those who don't concur, debating how many angels can fit onto a pinhead, etc, etc) is hogwash in my opinion. Just men (mainly) trying to control other men and women.

edit: even if it turned out that the miraculous stories about Jesus were true, I think that a belief in them is an absolute side issue to what Jesus himself thought important about life and living. I bet he wouldn't give a hoot whether people carried on believing this, that and the other about him. He would have cared that they were living fulfilling, contented and generous lives...that's what love is like, I think.

Here endeth the word according to the unbeliever.

 

[dlamberth]

A true Christian is one who loves God (Life and all the wonders and mysteries it contains) with all of their heart, and loves their neighbour (those they come into contact with throughout their time on earth) as they love themselves. Or at least aspires to do so.

I believe that you provided a wonderful description for a true follower of Jesus Christ. But, I don't believe it necessarily fits the description of Christians.

I believe that was what Christ said was the aim of it all...and I think it's a great vision for living if we are able to loosely translate the word God as I have done (i.e. in a personally meaningful way)

.

 

[katautumn]

I feel a Christian is anyone who believes Jesus died for their sins. Nothing more, nothing less. Man has added all of these other requirements to be legalistic.

 

[Arthra]

Greetings. Just a simple question.
I would like to ask all non-Christians here what their definition of a Christian is. Thanks

Hello little lamb,

For myself I would define a Christian as a follower of Jesus..

- Art

 

[dewaddict84]

Sure.
A Christian is anyone with a belief in Christ. Everything else is pretty much up for grabs. Technically, they don't have to believe anything else, nor go to church. Usually though, it's a package deal per denomination, but those package have a lot of variety. You also have people who self identify as a Christian, but don't associate with any other Christian group.

 

[dewaddict84]

The only place a Christ-ian would know where to find those ethics is in the NT/NC of the Christian Bible, correct?

Nope. He can also get them from friends and family. Saturday morning cartoons and preachers. You could say that the ultimate source of those ethics is the bible, but the route is important. He can also infer the negative from non-christians or bad people in general.

 

[Kutte]

True Christians are rare, indeed. Going to a "Christian Church" on a regular basis doesn't make one a Christian.
As some responses to this thread already indicated, a true Christian is one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and those rules are tough to follow. That's why there are so few true Christians. They encompass attributes such as to "love your enemies", "do good to those which hate you", "bless the ones that curse you", "pray for those who do you physical harm".

If you truly can live up to these rules, then you are a Christian.

Kutte