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What is a Christian?

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
Well, having Matthew, Mark and Luke and
= Christ said lord of living……
John, Paul and Simon dead complicates matters = Dead + alive in Christ already complicates matters.
I think it already is far to complicated......
 

Gentoo

The Feisty Penguin
We have had many threads where this question as come up - however I cant find one specifically on this question, so I thought now would be a good time to have one with the debates going on at the moment.

It is quite simple...

In your own view - what is your definition of a Christian, what must a person belief in, do, how must they live etc etc for them to be considered a christian in your eyes?

Be Nice Now! :)

To me a Christian is anyone that believes Jesus is the son of God and is their personal savior.
 

CaptainXeroid

Following Christ
I think this sums it up best. Christians are those who believe that Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God and accept him as their Lord and Saviour. :cross:
 

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
To me a Christian is anyone that believes Jesus is the son of God and is their personal savior.

Ok then God will keep all those who follow his word to the letter and no Pharisees then (as written)? :confused:
 

Special Revelation

Active Member
We have had many threads where this question as come up - however I cant find one specifically on this question, so I thought now would be a good time to have one with the debates going on at the moment.

It is quite simple...

In your own view - what is your definition of a Christian, what must a person belief in, do, how must they live etc etc for them to be considered a christian in your eyes?

Be Nice Now! :)

A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ!
 

McBell

Unbound
Anyone whose belief system includes Jesus Christ in its hierarchy AND claims the label of Christian.
 

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
If Paul was a Pharisee clearly and contradicts Christ, so his testimony holds no weight...

Then Simon is harder to see, yet in places is defined as a Pharisee also....
Yet on Christ calling him stone, is a sign laid before Yeshua/Joshua feet…
That is easily removed as Simon prophesied, changed the rock from being God, Christ was an unclean sacrifice, plus many points contradictory to allot of scriptures.

Next Pharisee “travel sea and land making disciple” and Christianity only stemmed from Paul and Simon in Antioch…..

On both Balaam teachings and grace and inheritance, which were removed (Zechariah 11) so they have contradicted the Bible and Christ (vine dressers son murdered for his inheritance).


Mar 13:10-11
(10) And the gospel must first be "Preached" (?published?) among all nations.
(11) But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

So what written gosepl?.......Scribes close up the way....
 

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
I don't understand. Jesus told Peter that he was the stone on His foundation he builds His church. Peter was the first to proclaim Him the Son of the Most High God. Simon Peter was an apostle as well. Why do you think that God or Jesus rejects him? What about Nicodemus? Jesus didn't reject him, either. Jesus did not reject all pharisees. Besides, it says nowhere that Peter was even a pharisee anyway.
I have heard a lot of people reject Paul, but you are the first to reject Peter. But this is all will say here on this topic, I don't want this thread taken over by this debate as it isn't fair to whoever started it. Maybe you can start it in another thread.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
I think of a christian based on one principle and only one - if they believe in Christ.

I don't buy into categorizations of "Christian behavior", "Christian Ideals", or "Christian gestures", because all of those things are subjective. If you believe in Christ, you are a Christian - period.

There are good Christians, bad Christians, practicing and non-practicing Christians, etc. But to answer the question posed - a Christian from the defined sense, is simply a person who believes in Christ.
I see what you're saying, but if, when you say that a Christian is one who believes in Christ, you mean that a Christian is one who believes in Jesus, most Jews and Muslims could be considered Christian. They believe in Christ. They just do not believe He is who the New Testament claims He is. I am always careful never to tell a professing Christian that he isn't one, but to me, it would pretty much be essential to see Christ as one's Savior to be called a Christian.
 

SoyLeche

meh...
I see what you're saying, but if, when you say that a Christian is one who believes in Christ, you mean that a Christian is one who believes in Jesus, most Jews and Muslims could be considered Christian. They believe in Christ. They just do not believe He is who the New Testament claims He is. I am always careful never to tell a professing Christian that he isn't one, but to me, it would pretty much be essential to see Christ as one's Savior to be called a Christian.
Yeah - we've already gone over that :)

He admitted that my definition is better, and that I'm better looking then he is.
 

James the Persian

Dreptcredincios Crestin
In my opinion anyone who sincerely tries to follow Christ to the best of their ability is a Christian. They may be close to or far from the fullness of the Truth (it's a spectrum) but I certainly would not deny anyone the title of Christian if they fufill this criterion, no matter how misguided I might find their theology.

James
 

Armannd

Member
In your own view - what is your definition of a Christian, what must a person belief in, do, how must they live etc etc

A Christian regards God as the highest authority in the whole universe; also, a Christian considers the Holy Bible to be the biggest source of truth, and follows it's teachings.

These are the key elements of the Christian religion.
 

SoyLeche

meh...
A Christian regards God as the highest authority in the whole universe;
Which God? Allah? Jehovah? The Flying Speghetti Monster? Is belief in the Trinity necesary?
also, a Christian considers the Holy Bible to be the biggest source of truth, and follows it's teachings.
Which Holy Bible? With or without the Apocrapha? Which translation?
 

Armannd

Member
Which God? Allah? Jehovah? The Flying Speghetti Monster? Is belief in the Trinity necesary?

God, in the Christian faith, is represented by the Trinity.


Which Holy Bible? With or without the Apocrapha? Which translation?

The Bible withouth the Apocrapha. Which translation? I don't know...
 

SoyLeche

meh...
God, in the Christian faith, is represented by the Trinity.
The Trinity belief can't be required to be a Christian because I am a Christian (and that is not debatable - I know me a lot better then you do, and I am definitely a Christian) and I don't believe in the doctrine of the Trinity - so your definition needs a bit of work
[quote
The Bible withouth the Apocrapha. Which translation? I don't know...[/quote]
You've just said that the Catholics and a bunch of other Christians aren't Christian. Again, your definition needs some work.
 

Armannd

Member
The Trinity belief can't be required to be a Christian because I am a Christian (and that is not debatable - I know me a lot better then you do, and I am definitely a Christian) and I don't believe in the doctrine of the Trinity - so your definition needs a bit of work


You've just said that the Catholics and a bunch of other Christians aren't Christian. Again, your definition needs some work.

I agree that they require some work, but I wasn't trying to give a definition for the Christian faith. That was just they way I see things... :)

A general definition would be something like this: A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. Most Christians believe Jesus to be the Son of God and the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament.
 

FatMan

Well-Known Member
The Trinity belief can't be required to be a Christian because I am a Christian (and that is not debatable - I know me a lot better then you do, and I am definitely a Christian) and I don't believe in the doctrine of the Trinity - so your definition needs a bit of work
[quote
The Bible withouth the Apocrapha. Which translation? I don't know...
You've just said that the Catholics and a bunch of other Christians aren't Christian. Again, your definition needs some work.[/quote]

So to sum up.....

I can take a bit of satisfaction in knowing that my definition was better than at least one other person's, correct??
 
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