Christians: What does it mean to be a "Christian"?

[savagewind]

I will not be ashamed if one calls me a Christian, because I am a follower of Christ.

Right. I think it means I will not be ashamed of trusting in God and believing I can work shoulder to shoulder with The Christ for the fulfilling of the promises made by God.

It is the difference between being recognized as a member of the congregation and the demonstration of faith or belief.

In other words a person can be "reviled for the name of Christ" and not call himself or herself a "Christian".

It's not totally different but the slight difference means a lot imo.

 

[BornAgain]

It is the difference between being recognized as a member of the congregation and the demonstration of faith or belief.

Today one can be “Recognized as a member of the congregation” by means of water baptism.

For example, if one was water baptize by the Baptist church, one belongs to this church, and sometimes they identify themselves as Baptists, the same as the Pentecostal, the Lutheran, the Mormons, the Catholics, and they all claimed to be Christians.

So, why different identities to begin with?

Different doctrines? Yes!

Why Christians have different doctrines?

Did Christ teach different doctrines? NO!

Jn 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Jn 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Christ said, “that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me”

The question is how the world is going to believe in Christ if there are too many doctrines the Christians are claiming. Are all Christians one, as Jn 10:30 I and my Father are one. NO! too many doctrines!

Eph 4:5 "ONE LORD, one faith, one baptism" = the BODY OF CHRIST.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The Holy Spirit baptism [See Acts 1:5], and not the water baptism, is the one that place one into the BODY OF CHRIST.

One can join any church, but that does not mean one belongs to the BODY OF CHRIST. It is the Holy Spirit that place one into the BODY OF CHRIST. Its very subjective, and of course objectively by the fruit of the Holy Spirit [See Galatians 5:22].

Jn 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

“that they may be one” One BODY OF CHRIST, “even as we are one:” Jn 10:30 I and my Father are one.
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[savagewind]

Today one can be “Recognized as a member of the congregation” by means of water baptism.

I think you are agreeing with me.

I agree with your point of view above.

A person can call himself Christian and other people can agree he is Christian because they see him going to church. Both of those do not prove he is for the name of Christ.

 

[BornAgain]

I think you are agreeing with me.

I agree with your point of view above.

A person can call himself Christian and other people can agree he is Christian because they see him going to church. Both of those do not prove he is for the name of Christ.

God looketh on the heart and not the outward appearance of a man.

1Sa 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

 

[savagewind]

I apologize for the going off topic. The thread is about the heart but we starting talking about the name. Even though I believe it was not any members of Christ's body that penned the name "Christian", I am not ashamed to call myself a Christian. But I think it is more appropriate to call myself a believer in Yeshua or Yehoshua. I believe him. I believe what is written about what he said and did is to be pondered over. I trust that the words written about the congregation are to be pondered over too. I think the problem of Christianity is that the words have become more important than the Spirit of God is.

 

[jtartar]

I recently decided to refer to myself as a follower of the messiah (or Christ) and the reason was because I'm so tired of being labelized (as a Christian) and categorized into a group who is so divided, it causes confusion and conflict within the "religion"? (which is another word I despise)
I don't regard the "doctrine" (or theory) of the trinity. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly states that he is ONE God. I do believe God is all-powerful and can do whatever he pleases but does whatever he does for a reason and with a purpose. In the Old testament God appeared to man and manifested his attributes and power in many ways; One, was through the Holy Spirit. However, I don't recall anyone referring to God as being two persons in one being. With that being said, I believe God manifested many of his attributes in Jesus or Jesus is his greatest manifestation. This may sound crazy but I believe Jesus is like a clone of God; except Jesus was sent in a form (of flesh) which we humans could understand...(I'm only using this analogy in an attempt to simplify my interpretation). This is why Jesus is the greatest example to mankind because Jesus showed mankind the true definitions of the attributes God wanted us (humans) to imitate. So Jesus is God but while on earth not God in his entirety; a portion of God. Since I believe God is all-powerful, I also believe god can multiply and/or distribute his powers like with the holy spirit. I apologize if my description sounds confusing; that's the last thing I want to do but How could we mere humans understand God the almighty and his infinite power. It's as simple as that!!

Tranquil Servant,
To be a true Christian, anyone who wants follow Jesus and be acceptable to God must become footstep followers of Jesus, 1Pet 2:2.
We must understand that Jesus came to earth to give his life as a Ransom sacrifice for all who follow him, Matt 20:28, 1Tim 2:4-6, Gal 2:16, Rom 5:11.
Jesus also came to remove the Mosaic Law Covenant, because it condemns to death, 2Cor 3:5,6, Rom 6:23, and to institute a New Covenant, which he did on the night before he died, Luke 22:17-20. This New Covenant superseded the Mosaic Law Covenant, Heb 8:6-13. This New Covenant was a law based on faith and not on works of The Law Covenant, Heb 10:10-18.
Jesus ended the Law Covenant with his death, Col 1:13,14, Gal 3:11-14, Rom 7:6.
To be acceptable to Jesus and God we must study the Holy Scriptures and try our best to obey what God outlines in the scriptures. God knows that we cannot obey the law perfectly, that is where the Ransom Sacrifice of Jesus benefits us who follow him, because God does not charge our sins to us but to Jesus, who has already died for sins.
Many people look at John 3:16 as the Gospel in miniature.