How Christian am I?

[angellous_evangellous]

You're as Christian as you claim to be.

 

[Muffled]

I was raised in a Christian family, but my beliefs have changed form over the years. The reason I ask how Christian I am, is that I would like to start surrounding myself with other Christians. I am just too conservative to fit in with most non-religious people.

The problem is, I don't want to trouble anyone's faith. I figure those of you here on RF are best suited to objectively assess my beliefs and give me cool, honest feedback.

So, here is what I believe:

I believe in God.
I believe that God created life and the universe via evolution.
I believe that God is concerned for us, but that His involvement is mostly passive, and spiritual in nature, rather than physical. That is, I believe in spiritual miracles, but not physical miracles -- at least, not in the world we live in today.
I believe that the Bible contains a lot of good, valuable information that people can use to better themselves. However, I also believe the Bible was written by man, the Old Testament in the fifth century BC, and the new testament between 30 and 200 AD.
I believe that Jesus lived an exemplar life, and that we should try to live our lives accordingly.
I believe that we should place a greater emphasis on Jesus' teachings, rather than his death.
I believe Jesus was the Messiah as prophesied in the Old Testament.
I believe that Jesus was spiritually an offspring of God -- just as we are all children of God, although Jesus was an exception -- but that physically he was a man.
I am passionate about studying religion, both from religious and secular perspectives. I have read Genesis, Job, Daniel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, and many of the Pauline letters. I have also read a handful of the books from the Qur'an and the Book of Mormon, and I own copies of the Jefferson Bible, and many Gnostic and Apocryphal Books.

Nonetheless, I live my life to Christian standards. In fact, I tend towards even the more conservative lifestyles by Christian standards. I get along very well with Mormons -- so long as we don't discuss religion. I am often mistaken for being Mormon, a Seventh-Day Adventist, a Baptist, or even a Jew, just because of my conservative attitude and demeanor. I am able to discuss religion with people of many different faiths.

For fear of hurting others' faith with my own beliefs, I have shied away from the Christian community for some time now. But, I would really like to become a part of it again. I just want to make sure that I won't be hurting others' faith in-so-doing.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

You aren't really a Christian. You are an immitation of a Christian and most likely culturally Christian and may even hold some common beliefs. If you really like being conservative, you could hang out at a Presbyterian church. There are a lot of people there who believe in immitating Christianity as well.

 

[Muffled]

Well, that understanding of Jesus places you firmly outside the bounds of Christianity in my understanding.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't go to the Christian community; I would encourage it, I don't think you'll be hurting the faith of others if you do so.

I went to the Presbyterian Church for a while as a minister of Jesus. For Jesus it was definitely a hostile environment like facing the Pharisees. There is no doubt that such beliefs as expressed in the OP would find opposition there but it is difficult to injure a faith that isn't all that great to start with.

 

[Muffled]

I'm not a Christian, but based on what you've written, you seem to have a level head and a firm foundation for your beliefs. Some of the points you made (Jesus being fully human especially) would definitely not fit into any of the traditional Christian theologies that I'm aware of. I would suggest exploring some of the more liberal Christian traditions (liberal in the religious sense, not the political sense. I only emphasize this because you did mention being conservative). I know quite a few people who would identify themselves as Christian and who share beliefs similar to yours, often with an interest in the more mystical and esoteric sides of their faith. Some of them attend church regularly and are members of various communities, a handfull of them practice some more mystical thread of Gnostic Christianity, and others still keep their faith between themselves and God. I would experiment with visiting local churches and meeting people, it's possible that you could meet some people who believe exactly as you do, but who you don't feel comfortable being part of a community with, and it is also possible that you may find some people who you agree with most points on but you get along with them so well you can overcome your minor theological differences.

Now there is great advice! not! What good does it do a person with false beliefs to find a nice comfortable place where the false beliefs are acceptable. You are encouraging the blind to find blind leaders t lead him.

 

[A4B4]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

So, it's interesting that so much of the debate has been centered around whether Jesus is the biological son of God, or whether he is the spiritual son of God, or both. In fact, I did recently go to a church I've visited a few times before. One guy there asked me when I became a Christian, and I responded, "Oh, well, I'm not sure if I should be considered Christian." He had kind of a puzzled look so I elaborated, "I have somewhat different believes, but I enjoy attending these services." He was notably less open and friendly after that.

But, the sermon that day covered a verse, Philemon 10, which has Paul saying according to the King James Version: "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds." The footnote had me turn to the footnote for 1 Timothy 1:2, which explains that in Biblical times, it was common for someone to refer to a spiritual son simply as, my son. This was entirely consistent with what the Pastor at this hybrid Baptist / Non-Denominational church said.

So, why do we assume that when Paul (a biological human) talks about begetting a son, it must be in the spiritual sense, but when God (a spiritual deity) talks about begetting a son, it must be in the biological sense?

Also, in the most literal since, doesn't Christian simply mean follower of Christ? So, if I do follow his teachings, am I a Christian? Certainly, I have met people who believe Jesus was the Son of God, would not hesitate to call themselves Christian, yet follow far fewer of Jesus' teachings than I do...

 

[rockstarwife628]

I personally believe that if Jesus and his message are at the foundation of your beliefs, if you're consciously and actively following him, however you understand him, you're a Christian. I believe the call to be Christian is a call of love, a way of living, not a particular way of belief or adherence to dogma/doctrine.

Of course, this is said by someone whose own Christian identity has been challenged and called into question over the years....

 

[sojourner]

I was raised in a Christian family, but my beliefs have changed form over the years. The reason I ask how Christian I am, is that I would like to start surrounding myself with other Christians. I am just too conservative to fit in with most non-religious people.

The problem is, I don't want to trouble anyone's faith. I figure those of you here on RF are best suited to objectively assess my beliefs and give me cool, honest feedback.

So, here is what I believe:

I believe in God.
I believe that God created life and the universe via evolution.
I believe that God is concerned for us, but that His involvement is mostly passive, and spiritual in nature, rather than physical. That is, I believe in spiritual miracles, but not physical miracles -- at least, not in the world we live in today.
I believe that the Bible contains a lot of good, valuable information that people can use to better themselves. However, I also believe the Bible was written by man, the Old Testament in the fifth century BC, and the new testament between 30 and 200 AD.
I believe that Jesus lived an exemplar life, and that we should try to live our lives accordingly.
I believe that we should place a greater emphasis on Jesus' teachings, rather than his death.
I believe Jesus was the Messiah as prophesied in the Old Testament.
I believe that Jesus was spiritually an offspring of God -- just as we are all children of God, although Jesus was an exception -- but that physically he was a man.
I am passionate about studying religion, both from religious and secular perspectives. I have read Genesis, Job, Daniel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, and many of the Pauline letters. I have also read a handful of the books from the Qur'an and the Book of Mormon, and I own copies of the Jefferson Bible, and many Gnostic and Apocryphal Books.

Nonetheless, I live my life to Christian standards. In fact, I tend towards even the more conservative lifestyles by Christian standards. I get along very well with Mormons -- so long as we don't discuss religion. I am often mistaken for being Mormon, a Seventh-Day Adventist, a Baptist, or even a Jew, just because of my conservative attitude and demeanor. I am able to discuss religion with people of many different faiths.

For fear of hurting others' faith with my own beliefs, I have shied away from the Christian community for some time now. But, I would really like to become a part of it again. I just want to make sure that I won't be hurting others' faith in-so-doing.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Huh. Sounds like you're more middle-of-the-road than anything else. Your take on Jesus, the bible, God, Christ's teachings, are all very moderate (to liberal). Have you tried an Episcopal Church, or an ELCA Lutheran Church, or a Methodist Church, or a Christian Church (D of C), or a UCC? You might find that hanging with those folks you'll have a lot in common.