What is a Christian and who thinks they have the right to judge who is and who isn't.

[pearl]

The question is in defining a Christian how much of what Christians consider to be the core belief necessary to be a Christian. Jefferson's Bible comes to mind. He considered Jesus to be the greatest moral teacher. He did not believe in a virginal conception, nor in a resurrection, nor in Jesus' divinity. For him religious worship was just so much 'hocus pocus'.

 

[metis]

That, to me, defines a "follower of the Christ". Whether or not such a person is a "Christian" turns into a matter of theology such as belief in the Nicene Creed or similar doctrinal statements.

I don't agree even though I believe the creeds do have a valid purpose. IMO, a Christian is one who goes through the "narrow gate" by doing their best to live out the "law of love".

"Agape", in Koine Greek, has no English equivalent as it is basically an "action noun". IOW, one lives "agape", not just has it.

 

[Kooky]

If somebody tells them they are an adherent of such-and-such religion then I'm inclined to believe them.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

John Doe, a self-proclaimed christian by what he understands of religion/the bible does something's that self-proclaimed christian Bob Doe doesn't agree with so because of that Bob doesn't see John as a christian and in return John doesn't see Bob as a christian(for not doing what he does)...

Who is correct? Who is the christian?

If someone isn't condemned as "not a Christian" by some sub-group of Christians, can they really be a Christian?

 

[Muffled]

John Doe, a self-proclaimed christian by what he understands of religion/the bible does something's that self-proclaimed christian Bob Doe doesn't agree with so because of that Bob doesn't see John as a christian and in return John doesn't see Bob as a christian(for not doing what he does)...

Who is correct? Who is the christian?

I believe judgment can only come from God. So the question is whether the person has a track record of hearing from God to state what His judgment is.

I had this happen to me. I had a different view of the Trinity so the other person said I wasn't a Christian. My church recognizes a person who testifies that he has received Jesus as Lord an Savior and I agree with that and have done that. I disagree with my pastor about the Trinity also.

 

[Muffled]

I think only God can decide who is and who isn't. So what they think of each other is irrelevant.

I believe one can still take a logical look at it from a Biblical perspective. There is no definition given in the Bible. Christians who were in the church of Antioch were first called that by people who were not Christian but there is no explanation why.

I believe a Christian is person who best exemplifies the meaning of the Gospel.

 

[Muffled]

That's the way I understand it but.... Tell that to the christians that think what they think is relevant.

I have a question. Is a person a Christian if they simply believe they are? My pastor thinks he was one early in life because he grew up in church as a pastor's son.

 

[rrobs]

I see posts saying god decides.

If that is true why do christians on here belittle each other about their own different beliefs(whats right/wrong) and tell athiest's they are going to hell?

Aren't those for god to decide too?

I would suppose some Christians say God decides and others think they themselves decide. That's pretty much the case in any field of study. Some say "A" and others say "B." Who cares what people say anyway? The answer is in the scriptures.

2Pet 1:3,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
​

The answer comes via a knowledge of Jesus. Jesus said the scriptures are all about him.

Learning the scriptures will lead to a knowledge of Jesus and He leads to a knowledge of God, which would include the question of who is and who is not a Christian. Otherwise it's pure speculation, something that is in no short supply here at RF.

 

[Shakeel]

I think only God can decide who is and who isn't. So what they think of each other is irrelevant.

Until one kills the other.

 

[Shakeel]

I don't think most Christians have got it right, but it would be hypocritical for them to accept everything. If a person doesn't have any conviction about what his faith is and isn't then he either doesn't believe or he is a hypocrite.

 

[firedragon]

John Doe, a self-proclaimed christian by what he understands of religion/the bible does something's that self-proclaimed christian Bob Doe doesn't agree with so because of that Bob doesn't see John as a christian and in return John doesn't see Bob as a christian(for not doing what he does)...

Who is correct? Who is the christian?

Anyone who sincerely calls him or herself a Christian by default is a Christian. Goes to anyone else. Definition-wise this could have a lot of nuances and this is issued across all humans in all kinds of groups. This kind of thinking of inclusiveness comes with a hell of a lot of baggage. I mean, Hitler is Christian. Thus it is only natural for a good human being who calls himself a Christian would not want to be associated with Hitler, thus he would want to say that hitler is not Christian. Well, that's the difficult thing to gulp down in being factual.

This applies to every ism and that, this, and the other.

 

[Vinayaka]

John Doe, a self-proclaimed christian by what he understands of religion/the bible does something's that self-proclaimed christian Bob Doe doesn't agree with so because of that Bob doesn't see John as a christian and in return John doesn't see Bob as a christian(for not doing what he does)...

Who is correct? Who is the christian?

I think the accusation of 'You're not a (real) _________.' leads nowhere, and reeks of disrespect for the individual, and an incomplete understanding of diversity. It's condescending and judgmental. After long discussions within my faith, and some serious contemplation on it, I concluded that I'd take people on their word. So for me, if someone says they're a _______ , then that's fine. After all, who in the heck am I to judge? This way it respects the rights of the individual in the same way that if a small child is crying, it means they're upset. it's unfair to say 'You have no reason to cry."

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

John Doe, a self-proclaimed christian by what he understands of religion/the bible does something's that self-proclaimed christian Bob Doe doesn't agree with so because of that Bob doesn't see John as a christian and in return John doesn't see Bob as a christian(for not doing what he does)...

Who is correct? Who is the christian?

A more serious answer: they're both wrong in their approach.

Religion is determined by community, not by any religious scripture. Whether a person is a member of a religion comes down to 2 questions:

- do they identify as a member of the religious community?

- are they generally accepted by the rest of the religious community? It's the opinion of the community as a whole that matters, not just the opinion of some individual member.

Scripture only matters in this to the extent that the community decides to use scripture (or some particular interpretation of it, rather) as the basis for their decisions about who to include or exclude.

Edit: complicating things for Christianity is that it's made up of many communities under the umbrella of "Christian."

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I believe judgment can only come from God. So the question is whether the person has a track record of hearing from God to state what His judgment is.

I had this happen to me. I had a different view of the Trinity so the other person said I wasn't a Christian. My church recognizes a person who testifies that he has received Jesus as Lord an Savior and I agree with that and have done that. I disagree with my pastor about the Trinity also.

What does the judgment of God have to do with whether someone is a Christian?

Do you generally worry about correctness when trying to figure out which religion someone belongs to?

(e.g. "I can't say whether this person's really a Buddhist unless they've achieved Nirvana"?)

 

[We Never Know]

A more serious answer: they're both wrong in their approach.

Religion is determined by community, not by any religious scripture. Whether a person is a member of a religion comes down to 2 questions:

- do they identify as a member of the religious community?

- are they generally accepted by the rest of the religious community? It's the opinion of the community as a whole that matters, not just the opinion of some individual member.

Scripture only matters in this to the extent that the community decides to use scripture (or some particular interpretation of it, rather) as the basis for their decisions about who to include or exclude.

Edit: complicating things for Christianity is that it's made up of many communities under the umbrella of "Christian."

Why can't a person who isn't a member of a community be religious?

 

[syo]

Who is correct? Who is the christian?

Do you know the Schism?

 

[We Never Know]

Do you know the Schism?

No I do not know.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Why can't a person who isn't a member of a community be religious?

Because community is a defining aspect of religion.

You can have a belief system on your own, but a religion takes a group.

 

[We Never Know]

Because community is a defining aspect of religion.

You can have a belief system on your own, but a religion takes a group.

Organized religion or personal spirituality.
To me the people and the person are/is religious.

 

[syo]

No I do not know.

Orthodox Vs Catholics.