Why are so many Christians unwilling to say they are Christians?

[IndigoChild5559]

I've noticed something on these forums. Those who are followers of Jesus, who believe that he is the messiah who died for their sins, come up with all sorts of novel labels rather than simply identifying as Christian.

Can someone please explain to me why?

 

[Rival]

I asked this forever ago 'Christian' | Religious Forums

Still not sure. It's 90% a Protestant phenomenon.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I suspect it's the same reason Christians like calling themselves Dr. as opposed to Reverend.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It's a product of a backlash against what they think organized religion is. They usually will say it's about a relationship with God/Jesus and not a religion with dogma and rites (which they see as man-made and not authentic). Yes, it's definitely an evangelical Protestant thing. You'll find it among "non-denominational" types mainly.

 

[wellwisher]

I've noticed something on these forums. Those who are followers of Jesus, who believe that he is the messiah who died for their sins, come up with all sorts of novel labels rather than simply identifying as Christian.

Can someone please explain to me why?

If you sincerely believe something, you do not need to convince others or beat down on others, so you can convince yourself. Those with inner doubt will need more validation from outside themselves.

By keeping it private, this tells me that the majority of the Christian faithful are self assured via the inner person.

 

[Kenny]

I've noticed something on these forums. Those who are followers of Jesus, who believe that he is the messiah who died for their sins, come up with all sorts of novel labels rather than simply identifying as Christian.

Can someone please explain to me why?

Can you give me some examples?

 

[Kenny]

I asked this forever ago 'Christian' | Religious Forums

Still not sure. It's 90% a Protestant phenomenon.

OK... I think I got it now.

I'm not sure it is really about "don't want to say I am a Christian" but for clarity sake, what flavor of Christian.

For an example:

1. Hassidic Jew
2. Conservative Jew
3. reform
4. et al.

No matter what type of Jewish faith you are, there is probably still some wine.

Just trying to give the hearer an understanding of where one is coming from. No matter what type of Christian you are, there is still Jesus.

 

[Psalm23]

I've noticed something on these forums. Those who are followers of Jesus, who believe that he is the messiah who died for their sins, come up with all sorts of novel labels rather than simply identifying as Christian.

Can someone please explain to me why?

I think @Saint Frankenstein gave a good answer on a reason why.

It may be someone who identifies as a follower/disciple of Jesus is trying to convey themselves as people who practice following Jesus. The label Christian in this sense may not be specific enough .

For myself I am fine with the label Christian and follower/disciple of Jesus. It means the same thing to me.

 

[Rival]

OK... I think I got it now.

I'm not sure it is really about "don't want to say I am a Christian" but for clarity sake, what flavor of Christian.

For an example:

1. Hassidic Jew
2. Conservative Jew
3. reform
4. et al.

No matter what type of Jewish faith you are, there is probably still some wine.

Just trying to give the hearer an understanding of where one is coming from. No matter what type of Christian you are, there is still Jesus.

It's not like this though. It's not about well-known and established sects. There's no 'Completed Jew' sect or 'Biblist' sect. These are just terms folks make up for themselves as individuals.

 

[Kenny]

It's not like this though. It's not about well-known and established sects. There's no 'Completed Jew' sect or 'Biblist' sect. These are just terms folks make up for themselves as individuals.

Yes... there are some "made up ones" but they are more of an exception than the rule.

Is there really a "secular Jewish" sect? Not really but it does describe some of the Jewish descent

Most are well known.

 

[Rival]

Yes... there are some "made up ones" but they are more of an exception than the rule.

Is there really a "secular Jewish" sect? Not really but it does describe some of the Jewish descent

Most are well known.

It's possible that this phenomenon is more noticeable to those of us outside Protestant circles, as we often see Christians identifying as 'Spirit filled' or 'Jesus believer' etc. No-one in Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox circles really does this.

 

[Kenny]

It's possible that this phenomenon is more noticeable to those of us outside Protestant circles, as we often see Christians identifying as 'Spirit filled' or 'Jesus believer' etc. No-one in Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox circles really does this.

Actually there is.

There is the "Charismatic Catholics" - I use to attend a few of their services. These are "spirit-filled" Catholics. The Anglicans actually split into Anglicans and Episcopalians (these are protestant churches - but just more well known.)

Spirit-filled is just letting people know that they believe in the Charisma of the Holy Spirit -- again, just people trying to give an understanding to the hearer of what they believe in.

 

[Rival]

Actually there is.

There is the "Charismatic Catholics" - I use to attend a few of their services. These are "spirit-filled" Catholics. The Anglicans actually split into Anglicans and Episcopalians (these are protestant churches - but just more well known.)

Spirit-filled is just letting people know that they believe in the Charisma of the Holy Spirit -- again, just people trying to give an understanding to the hearer of what they believe in.

Yes but, again, this is a recognised denomination. I'm talking about individuals who give themselves individual labels specifically to separate from organisations.

 

[AlexanderG]

Do you think it's because Christianity is becoming more of a political identity than a religious identity, at least in the US? Maybe people want to distinguish themselves from the politics? I don't know.

 

[Kenny]

Yes but, again, this is a recognised denomination. I'm talking about individuals who give themselves individual labels specifically to separate from organisations.

I'm not sure how that deviates from what I said. It isn't that they don't want to be called Christians (exceptions of course) - it is just trying to project their flavor. The Charismatic Catholics is quite a chunk of people and have their own services in the Catholic Church and they will let you know.

Eventually, when big enough, it becomes well know but it starts as a baby (so to speak).

So, today, Non-denominational is so well known that when they ask what type of Christian faith are you, they will list it as an option. Before, it didn't exist. Non-denominational is to let people know that you aren't a part of a "large denomination" but rather an independent group but the "non-denominational churches" will have Ministerial conference when the get together.

 

[Psalm23]

Do you think it's because Christianity is becoming more of a political identity than a religious identity, at least in the US? Maybe people want to distinguish themselves from the politics? I don't know.

That could be as well.

 

[Kenny]

Do you think it's because Christianity is becoming more of a political identity than a religious identity, at least in the US? Maybe people want to distinguish themselves from the politics? I don't know.

That may be a possibility. Haven't heard of one specifically but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

 

[Psalm23]

That may be a possibility. Haven't heard of one specifically but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

There tends to be an association with Christianity and the republican party though there are Christians in political parties such as Democrats, Libertarians, Independents and other parties as well.

 

[Alien826]

For a while, I was a member of the United Methodist church. I had an experience that made me believe that something that could loosely be described as "God" existed. I decided that it would be a good thing to join a community of other "theists", but which one? I read something that suggested the dominant religion of my own culture was a good choice, because then I didn't have to become familiar with the cultural aspects of other religions. I shopped around a bit and found that the local Methodists weren't too fussy about what I believed, within reason, and so I joined them.

I must say though that I was never totally comfortable describing myself as "Christian" as I couldn't get to a belief in so many of the basics, like resurrection, virgin birth, the Trinity, and so on. Nevertheless I did so for convenience, and the Church didn't seem too worried about it. I decided that the "many roads to heaven" idea was likely correct, though my own version was "one road, many vehicles".

Eventually it all faded away, though I'm still not (quite) an atheist.

 

[Orbit]

There tends to be an association with Christianity and the republican party though there are Christians in political parties such as Democrats, Libertarians, Independents and other parties as well.

The thing with the GOP is that they have been infiltrated by evangelicals, who can be quite extreme.