The way i see it a christian is someone who belives jesus christ is the son of God who came an died for there sins an has a relationship with him.. would you not agree?? Christ says he is the way to the father... he dosent say me + not beliving this or not reading that no he simply says he is the way... if you agree to this than i dont see how so many of us can say other denomanations arent christian ive heard catholic penoocastol mormon ect.... even thougb these denomonation may have certain doctrine issues you dont belive in we all have agree on one thing which is jesus christ is the son of God who came to die for are sins so that we may enter into his kingdom all the other stuff dosent matter.... an sure there may be people in those denomonations who belive that but dont actually have a relationship with christ but thats the same for any denomonation..
what defines a christian
- Thread starter allaboutlove
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Anyone , anybody any denomination can claim they are Christians. We believe in Jesus, the son of God and our Savior, and we hear that from churches then why is it many say that other denominations aren't Christians?
The answer to your question is on your post and that is DOCTRINE.
We know Jesus is our common denominator, right? If we believe only in Jesus then it is just just to follow His teachings and if we follow only His teachings then there’s only one Doctrine.
And so,
If all denominations believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father then why one’s denomination’s doctrine differ from the other (as you said that there might have been some issues about the doctrine)?
Shouldn’t we have only one doctrine/teaching to follow? Our differences in doctrine lead us to point fingers on our brothers and sisters.
Doctrine is an essential part of a TRUE Christian. There are denominations who tried to make their own (teaching, laws, doctrine, even twisting the word of God) and let God fit into it instead of us who should fit to God’s.
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The answer to your question is on your post and that is DOCTRINE.
We know Jesus is our common denominator, right? If we believe only in Jesus then it is just just to follow His teachings and if we follow only His teachings then there’s only one Doctrine.
And so,
If all denominations believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father then why one’s denomination’s doctrine differ from the other (as you said that there might have been some issues about the doctrine)?
Shouldn’t we have only one doctrine/teaching to follow? Our differences in doctrine lead us to point fingers on our brothers and sisters.
Doctrine is an essential part of a TRUE Christian. There are denominations who tried to make their own (teaching, laws, doctrine, even twisting the word of God) and let God fit into it instead of us who should fit to God’s.
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Its true we really should only have one doctrince an when we get to meet the lord we will but until then people interpt things diffrent ways hence we get diffrent belifs... an yes there are some organizations in things who say they are christians but dont twist doctrine to the point its not at all biblical but those are quit easily spotted... its not hard to tell what a real relationship with christ is an what people following there idea of christ is..... but more often the ones i see talked about as not christians are ones who basic belifs are just like yours an mine annthey just have a few lil things other people dont agree with so they think there not christian..
G
The question "What defines a Christian" can further be broken down, and then it may be easier to answer it. There may not be a single answer, depending on what is being asked.
The question could mean any of these things:
1) What criteria does a person have to meet before I consider them a Christian?
2) What kinds of people self-identify as "Christian", and based on what?
3) Can someone be allowed to self-identify as Christian if they do not meet criteria set by somebody else?
4) What criteria does a person have to meet before a specific one of many groups of people who identify as "Christian", are willing to say "yes, you are one of us"?
5) Are there external objective criteria to determine if someone is a Christian, and if so, who would have made those criteria? (Have they been set out by Jesus or the Bible?)
Personally, I like my post signature.
The question could mean any of these things:
1) What criteria does a person have to meet before I consider them a Christian?
2) What kinds of people self-identify as "Christian", and based on what?
3) Can someone be allowed to self-identify as Christian if they do not meet criteria set by somebody else?
4) What criteria does a person have to meet before a specific one of many groups of people who identify as "Christian", are willing to say "yes, you are one of us"?
5) Are there external objective criteria to determine if someone is a Christian, and if so, who would have made those criteria? (Have they been set out by Jesus or the Bible?)
Personally, I like my post signature.
M
I don't disagree with all of the above. Not every believer actually carries out a relationship with God... sad but true. Yes, Christ is their intercessor and there is that child/priest relationship that will never go away no matter how far we get from the Lord. Even though we don't always agree 100% with the doctrines of the catholic, mormon, muslim, etc. churches, can we really state that NONE of those who are in that church are believers (justified before God through Christ)? Pray for your fellow believers every day, for you never know what trap they find themselves in and, in their ignorance, wallow in it.
G
So in answer to 1), the person has to feel "I have a personal relationship with Christ".
I'm just thinking of people who I've known who have gone to church out of duty or habit, and considered themselves Christians, and would be offended if you said they were not, but I'm sure they never felt they had a "personal relationship with Christ".
I'm just thinking of people who I've known who have gone to church out of duty or habit, and considered themselves Christians, and would be offended if you said they were not, but I'm sure they never felt they had a "personal relationship with Christ".
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
B
I think what defines a Christian is one who is willing to give up their all to follow Christ no matter what the world thinks, who have that personal relationship with God. It is so sad that there are those who Believe they are Christian, but fall prey to satans lies over and over again in their weakness.
Matthew 7:21Not everyone who says to me, Lord,Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is In Heaven.
Sometimes I think it is much easier to believe it than to live it. Only God can know our true hearts and only He can judge our hearts and intentions.
Thank God always for His never ending Grace and mercy for without this we will not any of us make it.
Blessings all
Matthew 7:21Not everyone who says to me, Lord,Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is In Heaven.
Sometimes I think it is much easier to believe it than to live it. Only God can know our true hearts and only He can judge our hearts and intentions.
Thank God always for His never ending Grace and mercy for without this we will not any of us make it.
Blessings all
I think what God expects of us is to follow God's principles, and to reach God through the forgiveness Christ offers, and the understanding possible though the Holy Spirit.
I think Christ is absolutely necessary, but to follow Him is to reach God and to understand is to reach God. If we don't, we can't even say the Lord's Prayer, for Christ said that was to be addressed to God the Father, and to pray we are to praise the glory of the Father.
After following the different aspects of God, we are to praise God also as the triune God, so all are one.
Daniel gave us an example. When asked to bow down to the statue that symbolized the power of the Babylon government he faced death by fire rather than bow to anything as more important than God.
I think Christ is absolutely necessary, but to follow Him is to reach God and to understand is to reach God. If we don't, we can't even say the Lord's Prayer, for Christ said that was to be addressed to God the Father, and to pray we are to praise the glory of the Father.
After following the different aspects of God, we are to praise God also as the triune God, so all are one.
Daniel gave us an example. When asked to bow down to the statue that symbolized the power of the Babylon government he faced death by fire rather than bow to anything as more important than God.
The thing about being a christian is actually more simple yet also more complex than most think. It's actually very simple, to be a true christian or rather a follower of God seems more reasonable all we have to do is seek the Lord. We are not called to know many scripture, we are not called to be perfect in all the commands and we are not called to be even righteous. Because if we sought after all these things but had no love of God in us we are merely being pulled along for the ride by satan.
I have said it before and will say it as many times as it takes to stick, without a deep love for God our faith WILL fail. God seeks to have an intimate and loving bond with us that can never be broken. So if it is is so easy to be a true christian as to just seek his heart above all else why is it so few are able to get to this level of love with him? There are many reasons, money, pride fear arrogance. But what I find is the main reason is that we are not willing to lay down everything we think we know about God or faith or this world and come before God as a humble child who knows nothing.
If we ask him and truly mean it in our hearts he will take us in and teach us the deeper things of God. Forget any doctrine or church teaching, just ask God and seek constantly of his heart and he will teach you all there is to know about him or what it takes to be a child of God. Believe it or not not many really know who he is or who they are in him, they just think they do. I myself do not know him nearly as much as I want to so I have much to learn.but if see yourself becoming more humble, more loving, if you begin to not care near as much for yourself but rather for God and all people with deep love and care even if you cannot see them or know them. Then that is the beginning of the hidden secrets of God that man has never found before
I have said it before and will say it as many times as it takes to stick, without a deep love for God our faith WILL fail. God seeks to have an intimate and loving bond with us that can never be broken. So if it is is so easy to be a true christian as to just seek his heart above all else why is it so few are able to get to this level of love with him? There are many reasons, money, pride fear arrogance. But what I find is the main reason is that we are not willing to lay down everything we think we know about God or faith or this world and come before God as a humble child who knows nothing.
If we ask him and truly mean it in our hearts he will take us in and teach us the deeper things of God. Forget any doctrine or church teaching, just ask God and seek constantly of his heart and he will teach you all there is to know about him or what it takes to be a child of God. Believe it or not not many really know who he is or who they are in him, they just think they do. I myself do not know him nearly as much as I want to so I have much to learn.but if see yourself becoming more humble, more loving, if you begin to not care near as much for yourself but rather for God and all people with deep love and care even if you cannot see them or know them. Then that is the beginning of the hidden secrets of God that man has never found before
M
The word Christian was used in first century AD to refer to followers of Christ's teachings. The word Christian to some religions means "anyone but us" (including Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Luterins, etc.) who holds to Christ's crucifixion. The word Christian in America today is a generic term to most meaning "sure, I believe in God" or "sure, I go to church... once or twice" because being "christian" is the "proper" thing to be. The biblical meaning for Christian is one who believes Christ washes away our sins and we are justified by faith before God and have the opportunity for a personal relationship with God and power over sin. What defines a Christian? The simple fact that he need not fear the judgement seat of Christ because Christ knows him and has been interceding for him since his spiritual rebirth (as in the sinner's).
This is such a good explanation, but God wants us to make that next step. After all this is done, we go on with our relationship to include all that God is, and a lot of that is in the word shalom. It is understanding, and having within us through the Holy Spirit, all the principles of God.
According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid.
According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid.
R
a christian is a follower of christ...but who is christ? and what does it mean to follow him?
there are people who believe jesus was some kind of ancient new age eastern guru...are those people following christ?
there are people who believe all the right things about jesus but they live as if they don't care...are those people following christ?
we have to let the bible define who christ is and what it means to follow him...
there are people who believe jesus was some kind of ancient new age eastern guru...are those people following christ?
there are people who believe all the right things about jesus but they live as if they don't care...are those people following christ?
we have to let the bible define who christ is and what it means to follow him...
True the bible can explain who he is and what it takes to follow him, But in all honesty that alone is not enough. Until we spend personal quality time with him we can never truly know what it means to follow him or who he is. The Pharasee's knew all the scripture all the prophesies of who he was but had no clue who he was even when he constantly explained to them.
N
I never considered myself a Christian before I actually came to Christ. I always thought of those who called themselves Christians as over-the-top, evangelical, people who were always trying to get others to "find Christ" and become "saved", whatever that meant. I always thought I would go to heaven, I was a good person, so I didn't understand the term saved.
Saved from what?
My realization of what Christianity is, what Christ did for me, and that I actually AM going to heaven, I really AM saved, was a revelation for me that I'd been completely mislead for years. Not with malice, but with ignorance. So mom and dad are forgiven, as am I. I am a Christian, and proud of it. I know that Christ died for me, washed away my sins with His blood, He is the Son of God, and when I die on this earth I will be with Him in Heaven. My job, and joy, until then, is to live the life He would have me live and treat those around me as I believe Jesus would treat them.
Saved from what?
My realization of what Christianity is, what Christ did for me, and that I actually AM going to heaven, I really AM saved, was a revelation for me that I'd been completely mislead for years. Not with malice, but with ignorance. So mom and dad are forgiven, as am I. I am a Christian, and proud of it. I know that Christ died for me, washed away my sins with His blood, He is the Son of God, and when I die on this earth I will be with Him in Heaven. My job, and joy, until then, is to live the life He would have me live and treat those around me as I believe Jesus would treat them.