Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
Thank goodness.
Now we can get input from Atheists and Hindus to tell us how to define Christians.
Lol Yes, non christians know more about christianity than christians do.
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
What makes one officially Christian?
- Thread starter Smart_Guy
- Start date
Lol Yes, non christians know more about christianity than christians do.
That is actually fairly often true.
Among other reasons, because Christianity is so very often an inherited trait by way of social expectations. Christians are not necessarily encouraged to reflect on what it means, nor even to express any conscious decision to become Christians.
Among other reasons, because Christianity is so very often an inherited trait by way of social expectations. Christians are not necessarily encouraged to reflect on what it means, nor even to express any conscious decision to become Christians.
Tomorrows_Child
Active Member
Lol Yes, non christians know more about christianity than christians do.
Many non-Christians actually don't know much about Christianity. When I was 13/14, a Christian friend of mine asked me why Christians celebrate Christmas and I stared to laugh, only to realise he was serious. I think I've only met a handful of Christians who even know that their own Bible tells them not to eat pork or have sex outside of marriage or so many other things.
But I do expect Christians on this forum to be better educated.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
I'd expect that as well. I know that's one reason I left Christianity is because I read the Bible and knew more about it. I ask Christians simple questions, especially those who don't read their Bible and I ask "do you read your BIble?" or "Did you know Jesus said X?" and they say they haven't read the Bible asking for proof where Jesus said X and it rocks them. In my head, I'm thinking if you are devoted to a particular faith, wouldn't you want to know what you're practicing?
Also, reading over the Bible and reading/application of the Bible are two different things as well. Many ex-christians who gone through the actions and read the Bible really probably didn't; get the actual experience of what it is like to "be with" god type of thing. Especially atheists who found out we are, it becomes like we're living a lie. (At least for me and a couple of people who said so directly).
Anyway, I honestly feel some Christians don't want to follow the physical commandments because it means having discipline to not only feed the ill and do charity but it takes time out of their day to do things that pleases their god one on one. That's why I admire Islam because of their prayer life.
Actually the law about not eating pork was given to the Jews as well as that thing about circumcision. In the New Testament Paul addressed eating forbidden things and circumcision. And stated that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. And also stated that circumcision was not necessary to become a Christian. So me not being jewish, or muslim, I will continue to eat my bacon, and sausage, and pork chops and whatever the $#@@ I want to eat.
Too late on the circumcision thing. I was a baby and had no say in the matter.
all are christ for christ is all
Colossians 3:11
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
you are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hid.
2 Corinthians 3:3
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the [book of Revelation(epistle) of Christ] ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Revelation 21:10
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
she who has loved has fulfilled the Law and knows God for God is love
Colossians 3:11
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
you are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hid.
2 Corinthians 3:3
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the [book of Revelation(epistle) of Christ] ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Revelation 21:10
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
she who has loved has fulfilled the Law and knows God for God is love
Ingledsva
HEATHEN ALASKAN
I think I understand your Christ within, - in the inner understanding/acceptance of the message of Jesus.
But how can Christ be all?
Jesus only claims to be the Jewish Messiah.
The Jewish Messiah is not God, - or a trinity, etc.
Jesus never claimed to be God, or part of any trinity.
If he believed he was God, or part of a trinity, - don't you think he would have said such in his teachings?
So a Christian - in reality - only has to believe Jesus is the Messiah, - the Anointed.
They don't have to believe he is God, or part of a trinity.
*
christ simply means annointed. pertains to a state of mind, like an imprint upon the mind..
christ
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5547&t=KJV
messiah
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H4899&t=KJV
as you can see from the OT the messiah/christ was more than a single person.
as are these:
Revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
christ is associated to the same term as messiah.
same as these others
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10602-melchizedek
christianity is a cult of personality. jesus was simply apotheosized like others.
Muffled
Jesus in me
Hello All,
In Islam, for example, believing that God is the only true god worthy of worship and Muhammad is his creation, slave and prophet, is what makes one officially and basically a Muslim.
What makes one officially Christian? I mean a Christian regardless to different sects, trends and denominations.
Please don't turn this into a debate among different Christian sects, trends and denominations. I'm looking for the most basic requirement to be Christian.
Thank you
Important note:
I would like to have answers from Christians only.
I believe first of all that Islam does not have an official position. I believe it has a generally accepted position. The whole idea of official is that someone holding an office makes the decision but my understanding is that Islam does not have such a person. The Pope would have served in Christianity until separations occurred.
I believe the answer today is that there is no official who speaks for all of Christianity.
I am no official but I believe God requires a person to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. I believe many Christian groups would believe that. The others are just nominally Christian IMO.
Muffled
Jesus in me
Actually the law about not eating pork was given to the Jews as well as that thing about circumcision. In the New Testament Paul addressed eating forbidden things and circumcision. And stated that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. And also stated that circumcision was not necessary to become a Christian. So me not being jewish, or muslim, I will continue to eat my bacon, and sausage, and pork chops and whatever the $#@@ I want to eat.
I wouldn't worry about the circumcision because I believe it makes no difference. It no longer works to identify a person as Jewish.
I believe I have never been in contention with God over pork or circumcision but He did take exception to my sex outside of marriage. I figured since I was going to marry the girl that was close enough but evidently not in God's book.
In Islam, such a position is between the person and God, no need for another human being to be the connection between the two. By official, I mean confirmed, not something like on paper as a proof.
Tomorrows_Child
Active Member
That's a great summation of what I've seen too among the christian community and by that I mean people who actually label themselves as Christians, rather than just being christian for family/society sake.
Muffled
Jesus in me
I believe I don't know what you mean by confirmed. Confirmed by what or whom? Who will be able to confirm that a person has a relationship with God? The person could be deceiving himself.
I mean as a way to embrace the religion and be considered a follower of the religion. It is enough in Islam for one to take the testimony on their own if they know it and know its full meaning. The reason it is said with witnesses is to acknowledge who was not a Muslim as a convert to Islam or to dictate the new convert the testimony and have them explained its meaning.