What is a "True Christian"?

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Grace-Like-Rain

Grace-Like-Rain

Senior Member
#1
Sep 6, 2013
4,430
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#1
So much has been said in the last week about "true Christians" that I think we would benefit from really stopping and considering what this means. Common statements here and elsewhere seem to be:

"A true Christian would never do that."
"This person must not really be a Christian."
"That is not how a true Christian behaves."

I think these are serious accusations. Christians are human, and therefore, SINNERS. Christians have a desire to do what is right, but we certainly do not always manage to accomplish that. We can sin because we are misguided, or sin willfully, or sin without even realizing it.

The Bible is FULL of true sons and daughters of God who SIN in shockingly serious ways. I'm not talking about people who spoke unkindly to someone. I'm talking about murderers and idol worshipers and liars and thieves. And they were God's people who he loved. I really think we should be careful in viewing only the most perfect (seeming) people as "true" Christians. Christians don't always look like we expect them to. They don't always have it all together.

I realize that (especially in the Bible Belt where I live) a HUGE percentage of society claims Christianity in name without any true faith, but I think we cross the line when we discount someone as a Christian simply because they've behaved toward us in a way we don't consider Christlike. I don't know anyone who is perfectly Christlike all the time. Are we demanding more of our brothers and sisters than we do of ourselves?

What do you guys think? At what point would it be justified to say that someone must not be a "true" Christian? Have you ever done anything that might have made someone else who didn't know you think you weren't a true Christian?
 
S

Shpadoinkle

Guest
#2
#2
Yep, there are quite a few people on these forums who don't think I am a real Christian because I don't fall in line with their beliefs, and they can't explain to me why except to throw scripture in my face. There are many things about me that would cause a person to doubt my salvation, but it's really none of their concern. They better just hope they don't have to share Heaven with me.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#3
Aug 13, 2014
26,731
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#3
I'm going to be very blunt here. I don't give a fart in a whirlwind whether anybody thinks I am or am not a true christian. I can't decide whether they go to heaven and they have no say in my destiny so their opinions are null and void. And when I am tempted to form opinions about whether they are really christians I remind myself that it's not my job to decide that.
 
S

Shpadoinkle

Guest
#4
#4
Lynx said:
I'm going to be very blunt here. I don't give a fart in a whirlwind whether anybody thinks I am or am not a true christian. I can't decide whether they go to heaven and they have no say in my destiny so their opinions are null and void. And when I am tempted to form opinions about whether they are really christians I remind myself that it's not my job to decide that.
Click to expand...

What? Logic? Understanding? Lack of a holier-than-thou attitude? Be still my heart!
 
C

coby

Guest
#5
#5
Everyone who is not as holy as me isn't a true christian. That's obvious, but I love you all!
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#6
Jun 30, 2015
25,075
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#6
A true Christian is one who...

Oh, wait, wrong forum. :)

... good question, Grace, and good answer, Lynx!

The three statements in the OP are all variations of the "No True Scotsman" fallacy. In general use, it is the idea that whatever behaviour or idea which does not conform to "pure" behaviour or thinking (whatever that is) identifies the person accused as not genuine or pure, and therefore worthy of disregard or dismissal.

The gist of the fallacy, in this case, is that there is somewhere a "true" Christian to whom we must all measure up, agree with completely, live like, and think like. So does this alleged perfect Christian actually exist? S/He certainly isn't me, but I'm not convinced about everyone else yet. :)

Sure, in some ways we can be "like" Jesus, and, from a biblical standpoint, may seek to be increasingly like Him. However, we misuse this when we uphold a certain ideal (often in isolation, and often it's one's own interpretation of an ideal), and call others on their failure to "already" conform to that ideal. Maybe a better approach would be to "encourage one another more and more as we see the Day approaching". Maybe. I'd probably manage to get that wrong too.
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#7
Aug 2, 2009
24,641
4,300
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#7
I bought a ticket to the world,
But now I've come back again

Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
Oh I want the truth to be said

Huh huh huh hu-uh huh
I know this much is true

[video=youtube;AR8D2yqgQ1U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR8D2yqgQ1U[/video]
 
Utah

Utah

Banned
#8
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#8
A true Christian? Saved by grace.
 
seoulsearch

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
#9
May 23, 2009
16,245
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#9
I honestly believe that when people say, "So-and-so isn't a true Christian," what they REALLY mean is, "So-and-so isn't acting in a way that I approve of. So, I'm going to bring their personal relationship with God into the equation to make it sound like I have THE ultimate reason to criticize them. After all, their eternal salvation is most likely in danger... because they're saying/doing something I don't agree with."

I've always seen the "not a true Christian" accusation as a form of psychological manipulation that uses God as one's justification. We humans all too often want to believe that our opinion is actually the Word of God, and it's our job to let other people know it.

Now of course, I'm not saying at all that we shouldn't use discernment. But I think there is a very fine line between discernment and wrongful judgment. Someone might be making a judgment call that's true ("Bob really needs to stop drinking"), but they might be handling the situation in a way that's not very loving, helpful, or edifying ("Bob is obviously weak and not a true Christian (unlike ME)."

God has this funny way of dealing with me whenever I think I'm a "pretty good" Christian. He always sends people into my life who are so faithful in their walk that they make me look like a criminal on America's Most Wanted.

I have a friend who spends all her vacation time on missions trips and goes door-to-door evangelizing on Saturdays... for fun.

Seriously. How she can still be friends with a heathen like me still remains a mystery.
 
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M

MollyConnor

Guest
#10
#10
I think the definition of a Christian would be one who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

One time I was waiting at the doctor's office and I had black nail polish on because I thought it looked kinda cool (this was about four years ago lol). So an older couple questioned me on why anyone would want to wear black nail polish and that it made me look like a witch. Little did they know that I'm a Christian and I don't care for witchcraft whatsoever lol. :rolleyes:
 
Tinkerbell725

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
#11
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
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Philippines Age 40
#11
We are all sinners. But not everyone desires to be righteous and pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. It can be seen clearly in their lives. By their fruits you shall know them. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The true christian is not immune to sin but tries his best to avoid it and humbles himself and does not justify his sins because he is only a weak and sinful human being.
 
AbigailZeke

AbigailZeke

Beloved
#12
Mar 11, 2016
3,055
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Singapore
abigail.pro
#12
Lynx said:
I'm going to be very blunt here. I don't give a fart in a whirlwind whether anybody thinks I am or am not a true christian. I can't decide whether they go to heaven and they have no say in my destiny so their opinions are null and void. And when I am tempted to form opinions about whether they are really christians I remind myself that it's not my job to decide that.
Click to expand...
Amen (10 characters)
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#13
Aug 13, 2014
26,731
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#13
I seem to recall the Pharisees trying to find fault with Jesus so they could prove He wasn't who He said He was...
 
Grace-Like-Rain

Grace-Like-Rain

Senior Member
#14
Sep 6, 2013
4,430
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#14
What is that saying? I'm going to really mess this up... (this is an extreme paraphrase) something like,

"Anyone less [religious] than me is not a true Christian. Anyone more [religious] than me is in a cult."
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#15
Aug 13, 2014
26,731
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#15
Sounds like when you're driving. Everyone slower than I is a slowpoke. Everyone driving faster is a reckless speed demon.
 
Oncefallen

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
#16
Jan 15, 2011
6,058
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#16
Lynx said:
I'm going to be very blunt here. I don't give a fart in a whirlwind whether anybody thinks I am or am not a true christian. I can't decide whether they go to heaven and they have no say in my destiny so their opinions are null and void. And when I am tempted to form opinions about whether they are really christians I remind myself that it's not my job to decide that.
Click to expand...
** begins to question Lynx's salvation.....he's had this obsession with flatulence in wind storms lately which is just soooooo unchrisitian. :p
 
seoulsearch

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
#17
May 23, 2009
16,245
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#17
Oncefallen said:
** begins to question Lynx's salvation.....he's had this obsession with flatulence in wind storms lately which is just soooooo unchrisitian. :p
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Somebody please warn me if there's ever an impending Hurricane Lynx on the horizon.

I want to be as FAR AWAY from the aftermath as possible.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#18
Jun 30, 2015
25,075
13,606
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#18
seoulsearch said:
Somebody please warn me if there's ever an impending Hurricane Lynx on the horizon.

I want to be as FAR AWAY from the aftermath as possible.
Click to expand...
Absolutely, because after math comes history.
 
S

Shouryu

Guest
#19
#19
Grace-Like-Rain said:
What is that saying? I'm going to really mess this up... (this is an extreme paraphrase) something like,

"Anyone less [religious] than me is not a true Christian. Anyone more [religious] than me is in a cult."
Click to expand...
Woman, you're about to drag family into this. *smirk*

(Inside joke.)
 
CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
#20
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
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#20
Those who sin differently than I do are not true Christians. :p
 
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