True Christians

[Justsomedude]

If you start pointing the finger and saying "Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a real Christian," then I'll start with you. You, the one who says this, is the fake and I will no longer give you an audience because you are not a real Christian. You just admitted it.

Since Protestant Christianity is a religion of belief, then anyone who believes in Christianity is a Christian. Period.

Since we can't look into people's brains, then when someone says they believe in Christianity, we have to take them at their word. And so everyone that says they are a real Christian is a Christian. Period.

One of the prices you pay for instant conversions, very loose rules about who is a member of the club and no excommunication is that every knucklehead that wants to be a Christian is a Christian and you have to take them all. If someone does something stupid, you don't get to kick them out. If you want to disown them, you're the one that is going to have to drop the "Christian" title. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, that knucklehead is still a Protestant Christian until (S)HE says otherwise, not you.

If you don't like it, become a Catholic.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

We don't look into brains for this, we actually should look into people's hearts. I strive to be a Christian, an Orthodox one, and sometimes I fail miserably. When we look at the first few hundred years of early Christianity, the definition is solid.

You got into an argument with a Protestant I presume?

 

[EyesOfKohl]

Titles mean nothing. Anyone can call themselves a Christian, Muslim, Jew or other... That doesn't mean they are a good person. A good person can be seen by their good deeds and you don't have to be under a certain title or religion to do that.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Anyone can be good, is being good the answer to everything? Can one be good without God? Then what is the need for God?

 

[durangodawood]

Anyone can be good, is being good the answer to everything? Can one be good without God? Then what is the need for God?

Depends how you define god.
.
But people can be good without any particular religion or faith.
.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Define good or God?

 

[Embracer]

People can be good without God. People who don't believe in God can stand up for those who are being bullied, they can feel for the people suffering in Japan, they can tell that things like lying and stealing are wrong, and they can stay away from pornography. But knowing God, I feel, helps to make someone better because that person is motivated and encouraged by God to do good, and that person has a goal, so to speak, that he can work towards.

 

[ChrisLeishy]

A man who claims he knows how another man stands before God greatly deceives himself and others as to his abilities unless the person in question publicly denounces god. A man who declares to others the status of another man before our lord prior to judgment day may one day eat humble pie and suffer shame for attempting to do the lords job- judgment.

You never know what is said privately by someone privately to God without your knowledge.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Anyone can be good, is being good the answer to everything?

I'd think so, yes.

Can one be good without God? Then what is the need for God?

I think you are answering your own question.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Supreme]

Indeed. You cannot see whether anyone who claims to be Christian truly is. Thus, you have to accept it when people call themselves Christian- even if their deeds suggest the contrary.

 

[GadFly]

If you start pointing the finger and saying "Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a real Christian," then I'll start with you. You, the one who says this, is the fake and I will no longer give you an audience because you are not a real Christian. You just admitted it.

Since Protestant Christianity is a religion of belief, then anyone who believes in Christianity is a Christian. Period.

Since we can't look into people's brains, then when someone says they believe in Christianity, we have to take them at their word. And so everyone that says they are a real Christian is a Christian. Period.

One of the prices you pay for instant conversions, very loose rules about who is a member of the club and no excommunication is that every knucklehead that wants to be a Christian is a Christian and you have to take them all. If someone does something stupid, you don't get to kick them out. If you want to disown them, you're the one that is going to have to drop the "Christian" title. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, that knucklehead is still a Protestant Christian until (S)HE says otherwise, not you.

If you don't like it, become a Catholic.

If what you say is true, does that mean that Satan is a Christian as he believes and trembles? How about the sons of prediction, are they Christians? Your logic is poor at best. If you are in Christ you already belong to the catholic church, the spiritual church of God.

 

[hikersong]

Indeed. You cannot see whether anyone who claims to be Christian truly is. Thus, you have to accept it when people call themselves Christian- even if their deeds suggest the contrary.

And according to the words that Jesus may have said, the opposite could be true as well. Their deeds may suggest they are living faithfully with their partners (in accordance with usual Christian belief of what is right) but according to Jesus, if they imagine sleeping with another woman or man then they are as good as committing adultery.

There are verses which would suggest that is possible for us godless atheists to be more "christ like" than the most "born again", "baptized in the spirit" Christian. That true faith is nothing whatsoever to do with doctrinal belief.

But of course bible believers will naturally give emphasis to the verses which most fit their own world view and, depending on their inner honesty, the ones which put them in the best possible light. And non-believers will carry on living their "christ like" or "not christ like" lives regardless.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

I'm not a True Christian, just a regular one. Or to put it more succinctly, I desire to be a Christian and discover what that means--and it's a life long process.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

I'd think so, yes.



I think you are answering your own question.


eudaimonia,

Mark

No Mark, Hitler was good for himself and others around him thought he was... Your good and my good are not the same.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

There are verses which would suggest that is possible for us godless atheists to be more "christ like" than the most "born again", "baptized in the spirit" Christian. That true faith is nothing whatsoever to do with doctrinal belief.

That is correct and that is why we believe in the Final Judgement, it is not our business to judge anyone's eternity. Christ's message should be delivered but our problem lays with delivering the message.

But of course bible believers will naturally give emphasis to the verses which most fit their own world view and, depending on their inner honesty, the ones which put them in the best possible light. And non-believers will carry on living their "christ like" or "not christ like" lives regardless.

Quite correct.

 

[SithDoughnut]

No Mark, Hitler was good for himself and others around him thought he was... Your good and my good are not the same.

Well then the question is does your definition of good require God? Mine doesn't.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Well then the question is does your definition of good require God? Mine doesn't.

Will I accept that? Will I take your word that you are good? How good are you? Does it matter then? For us definition and striving to achieve that definition matters.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Will I accept that? Will I take your word that you are good? How good are you? Does it matter then? For us definition and striving to achieve that definition matters.

I think you've answered your own question again.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

I think you've answered your own question again.

Which one?

 

[SithDoughnut]

Which one?

Pretty much all of them. Your first two questions are answered by the third, the third is answered by the fourth and the fourth is answered by the final sentence.