The dishonest use of the name "Christian"

[-Peacemaker-]

I'm continually amazed at the number people who feel they have the right to redefine what that name means considering it's a name that never belonged to them until they attempted to steal it through the twising its defintion. What is a Christian? Let's go back to who that name was bestowed upon.

Acts 11:
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

This was a group of people that WORSHIPPED Jesus as God. This was a group which believe that there was POWER in the name Jesus beyond any ability it had to make people feel warm and fuzzy inside. A specific group which interpreted the teachings of Jesus in a particular way. This was not a general term used to describe people that thought Jesus was a nice guy but were indifferent toward the issue of his divinity. Throughout history this name went on to describe what would now be called orthodox believers in Jesus. Now these groups may have splintered over some due to disagreements on particular issues buth they were unified in that they didn't deny the faith through heretical doctrines. Would it be appropriate if I decided to call myself of Muslim even though I don't believe Mohammed is a prophet? After all, the word muslim translated means "submission to God". I try to submit to God. Why shouldn't I take take that name? Because words are buckets that are filled with meaning. Somebody filled that bucket already. Who am I to dump their water and fill it with my own? In the same way, I think people that think Jesus was cool dude but don't view him as God should qualify their statement of beliefs with something distinguishing themselves as being separate from the actual Church.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

What are the beliefs of the "actual Church"?

 

[Sunstone]

Open up a dictionary and tell me how many words you see have more than one meaning. Words are not defined by what someone, such as you or me, fervently believes is their proper meaning. Rather, words are defined simply by how people use them. If enough people start using the word "Christian" to mean, say, "a tree lover", then one of the many meanings of the word "Christian" will be "a tree lover". That's just the way the system works.

 

[Nakosis]

I'm continually amazed at the number people who feel they have the right to redefine what that name means considering it's a name that never belonged to them until they attempted to steal it through the twising its defintion. What is a Christian? Let's go back to who that name was bestowed upon.

Acts 11:
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

This was a group of people that WORSHIPPED Jesus. A specific group which interpreted the teachings of Jesus in a particular way. This was not a general term used to describe people that thought Jesus was a nice guy but were indifferent toward the issue of his divinity. Throughout history this name went on to describe what would now be called orthodox believers in Jesus. Now these groups may have splintered over some due to disagreements on particular issues buth they were unified in that they didn't deny the faith through heretical doctrines. Would it be appropriate if I decided to call myself of Muslim even though I don't believe Mohammed is a prophet? After all, the word muslim translated means "submission to God". I try to submit to God. Why shouldn't I take take that name? Because words are buckets that are filled with meaning. Somebody filled that bucket already. Who am I to dump their water and fill it with my own? In the same way, I think people that think Jesus was cool dude but don't view him as God should qualify their statement of beliefs with something distinguishing themselves as being separate from the actual Church.

You know words in english can have several different meanings.

So you want to qualify your usage of the term fine. Doesn't mean someone else can't have a different meaning for the term.

You see it as a group of people who worship Jesus as God.

For me it means anyone who believes in Jesus and takes it upon themselves to follow his teachings.

What would you otherwise have me call the people who follow the teachings of Jesus?

 

[Me Myself]

Acts say they were the first to be called Jesus... ok.

Wait, you expected me to give 100% credibility to acts? Why?

By the way, I am sure those christians didn`t believe in the trinity, as this was only later elaborated.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Open up a dictionary and tell me how many words you see have more than one meaning. Words are not defined by what someone, such as you or me, fervently believes is their proper meaning. Rather, words are defined simply by how people use them. If enough people start using the word "Christian" to mean, say, "a tree lover", then one of the many meanings of the word "Christian" will be "a tree lover". That's just the way the system works.

What if I decide to change my name to "Sunstone?" I'd like to take your avatar as well and design my profile so that it's so similar that on the surface people will not be able to distinguish between us. Would you appreciate that?

 

[Me Myself]

Oxford Dictionary definition:

Christian

Syllabification:OnOff
Pronunciation: /ˈkrisCHən/
adjective
of, relating to, or professing Christianity or its teachings:
the Christian Church
informal having or showing qualities associated with Christians, especially those of decency, kindness, and fairness.
noun
a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Actually king Christian by literal definition just means Christ-follower. The Bible seems clear that Jesus is not God. The case could be made Christ is, but that only proves the Gnostics were right and Chalcedon was wrong.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I'm continually amazed at the number people who feel they have the right to redefine what that name means considering it's a name that never belonged to them until they attempted to steal it through the twising its defintion. What is a Christian?

Guilty as charged.

In the same way, I think people that think Jesus was cool dude but don't view him as God should qualify their statement of beliefs with something distinguishing themselves as being separate from the actual Church.

To bad, I'm going to do it anyway.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

What if one doesn't consider Paulian Christians Christians at all, because Paul usurped the meaning of the word apostle without ever having met Jesus?

 

[Sunstone]

What if I decide to change my name to "Sunstone?" I'd like to take your avatar as well and design my profile so that it's so similar that on the surface people will not be able to distinguish between us. Would you appreciate that?

Oh, for Christsakes! I'm simply telling you how dictionaries work and you're getting all *****. Great! Take your toys and play with yourself now. I'm out of here.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

What if one doesn't consider Paulian Christians Christians at all, because Paul usurped the meaning of the word apostle without ever having met Jesus?

Very true. Are Messianic Jews the only real Christians? What about Coptic Christians, they are probably closer than most Western versions.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

What are the beliefs of the "actual Church"?

Still waiting.

 

[Me Myself]

KingOfJungle, if you manage the Oxford Dictionary to change it`s definition of "christian" to be only those with which you believe are proper, I will adjust my definition of the term "christian" to the new meaning given thus.

As long as the best source on english language says I can be called a christian EVEN by just being a good person, I will still do so, because this is what I feel I am and it wont really change because you feel differently.

So as long as we are talking in english and the OD keeps with the text it now has, any good person ca very well be called a christian.

 

[Antiochian]

What are the beliefs of the "actual Church"?

Bingo. There are plenty of denominations who think they're the only ones going to heaven. Eastern Orthodox see themselves as the actual church, as do Roman Catholics, as do Seventh-day Adventists, as do conservative Lutheran groups, as do a number of Baptists. I'm guessing this person defines the church in a more invisible way. To some, that would be heresy, blasphemy. Who's in, who's out? Not always as clear cut as we'd like it to be. Ultimately I'd imagine it's God who gets to decide, not a person.

 

[Me Myself]

Also, the people on the time that called themselves christians, were baptized when they were much older. At what age where you baptized?

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Oh, for Christsakes! I'm simply telling you how dictionaries work and you're getting all *****. Great! Take your toys and play with yourself now. I'm out of here.

Take some deep breaths bro. My point that we're talking about somebody's NAME when where talking about this issue. If I tell you my name is Ben or Thomas or John you don't run to the dictionary to tell me that I'm wrong

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Well we only have about 4 or 5 letters that scholars say Paul actually wrote, so the rest are pious forgeries at best.

 

[Reverend Rick]

What if one doesn't consider Paulian Christians Christians at all, because Paul usurped the meaning of the word apostle without ever having met Jesus?

:clap2:

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Take some deep breaths bro. My point that we're talking about somebody's NAME when where talking about this issue. If I tell you my name is Ben or Thomas or John you don't run to the dictionary to tell me that I'm wrong

But...it's not a name at all. "I am a Christian" is different from "I am Jesus" or even "My name is Christian".