Being religious or being a Christian

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p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#21
Sep 4, 2013
30,257
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#21
10-22-27 said:
a Christian is a person who believes the gospel, imbibes the Holy Spirit, is influenced by grace, and is obedient to the will of Jesus Christ.
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I know professed Christians who would not agree with this definition. Some of them even post here from time to time.
I do not agree with your use of "imbibe" to define one receiving the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, which sanctifies a believer. Imbibe is a fancy way of saying "drink."
 
S

Soyeong

Active member
#22
Oct 11, 2023
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#22
10-22-27 said:
Let me begin by pointing out the differences between being religious and being called Christian. Being Religious is the external worship, ceremonies, rites, and obligations individuals feel in their mind, specifically to any relationship they may have with a superior power. Today, the word is also used synonymously with a sect, but in a practical sense, it is generally considered the same as godliness. Those who claim to be religious involve themself in devotional and ritual ceremonies and hold to particular moral codes that govern their conduct in human affairs.

Most entertain narratives and symbols and derive morality, ethics, law, and lifestyles from the idea of the universe. Their histories intended to explain the meaning and origin of life, and for some, it’s a mystic experience. Politically and conventionally, Christianity is used in a more lax and vague sense to mean one who professes the religion of Jesus Christ. Neither do Christians belong to other divisions, as do the Jews, Islamists, deists, pagans, or atheists. But in a more strict, scriptural, and theological sense, a Christian is a person who believes the gospel, imbibes the Holy Spirit, is influenced by grace, and is obedient to the will of Jesus Christ.

Religious people may pray with beads, offer gifts on an altar, light candles, or hold to special days they consider holy, days like Easter, Christmas, or, in the case of Islam, Ramadan. As for those who believe there is no God, they honor and worship the creation an\d not the Creator, speaking about the environment, water, land, etc., but never about God. A faithful Christian will add nothing to their worshipping of Jesus Christ.
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Christ set a perfect example for us to follow of how to practice Judaism by living obedience to the Torah, so he is the most religious person who has ever lived and the way to do his will is by following his example.
 
1

10-22-27

Active member
#23
Dec 17, 2023
454
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#23
Let me ask all those who responded to this article. Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious? Just curious. They all have their things, plus their god/gods. A true Christian has Jesus Christ alone, no candles, beads, pray rugs, prayer robes, images, saints, etc. etc. Your thoughts.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#24
Jul 3, 2015
56,212
26,268
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#24
10-22-27 said:
Let me ask all those who responded to this article. Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious? Just curious. They all have their things, plus their god/gods. A true Christian has Jesus Christ alone, no candles, beads, pray rugs, prayer robes, images, saints, etc. etc. Your thoughts.
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re·li·gion
/rəˈlij(ə)n/
noun
noun: religion (definition from Oxford Languages)
  • the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.



  • a particular system of faith and worship.
Ergo, in answer to your above question: yes.
 
Cameron143

Cameron143

Well-known member
#25
Mar 1, 2022
14,954
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#25
Magenta said:
re·li·gion
/rəˈlij(ə)n/
noun
noun: religion (definition from Oxford Languages)
  • the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.



  • a particular system of faith and worship.
Ergo, in answer to your above question: yes.
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Leggo of my ergo.
 
P

PaulThomson

Well-known member
#26
Oct 29, 2023
1,887
248
63
#26
10-22-27 said:
Let me begin by pointing out the differences between being religious and being called Christian. Being Religious is the external worship, ceremonies, rites, and obligations individuals feel in their mind, specifically to any relationship they may have with a superior power. Today, the word is also used synonymously with a sect, but in a practical sense, it is generally considered the same as godliness. Those who claim to be religious involve themself in devotional and ritual ceremonies and hold to particular moral codes that govern their conduct in human affairs.

Most entertain narratives and symbols and derive morality, ethics, law, and lifestyles from the idea of the universe. Their histories intended to explain the meaning and origin of life, and for some, it’s a mystic experience. Politically and conventionally, Christianity is used in a more lax and vague sense to mean one who professes the religion of Jesus Christ. Neither do Christians belong to other divisions, as do the Jews, Islamists, deists, pagans, or atheists. But in a more strict, scriptural, and theological sense, a Christian is a person who believes the gospel, imbibes the Holy Spirit, is influenced by grace, and is obedient to the will of Jesus Christ.

Religious people may pray with beads, offer gifts on an altar, light candles, or hold to special days they consider holy, days like Easter, Christmas, or, in the case of Islam, Ramadan. As for those who believe there is no God, they honor and worship the creation and not the Creator, speaking about the environment, water, land, etc., but never about God. A faithful Christian will add nothing to their worshipping of Jesus Christ.
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All religions apart from Chritianity entail doing in order to gain acceptance from God. Christianity is doing out of gratitude for having already been accepted in the Beloved Son. True religion is visiting orphans and widows and keeping unspotted by the world because we love Him because He first loved us in the way revealed in the cross.
 
NightTwister

NightTwister

Well-known member
#27
Jul 5, 2023
1,360
457
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64
Colorado, USA
#27
10-22-27 said:
Let me ask all those who responded to this article. Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious? Just curious. They all have their things, plus their god/gods. A true Christian has Jesus Christ alone, no candles, beads, pray rugs, prayer robes, images, saints, etc. etc. Your thoughts.
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I knew we'd eventually get to the Lone Ranger, just me and my Bible definition of "True Christian."
 
Thunderrr-mental

Thunderrr-mental

Banned
#28
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
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#28
10-22-27 said:
Let me ask all those who responded to this article. Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious? Just curious. They all have their things, plus their god/gods. A true Christian has Jesus Christ alone, no candles, beads, pray rugs, prayer robes, images, saints, etc. etc. Your thoughts.
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the answer to your question is it wouldn't cross my mind.

I would call them exactly who they are ,,, Catholics Mormons muslins etc etc etc.

I can't believe your 86 years old asking this question.

You should know better sir
 
Obedience

Obedience

Banned
#31
Dec 3, 2023
440
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28
#31
10-22-27 said:
Let me ask all those who responded to this article. Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious? Just curious. They all have their things, plus their god/gods. A true Christian has Jesus Christ alone, no candles, beads, pray rugs, prayer robes, images, saints, etc. etc. Your thoughts.
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When did God ever say that Buddhism was a heretic, and God said that he would smash those idols of gold, silver and copper.There are no Buddhists in this world, because they worship idols of gold, silver and copper, and they don't read the scriptures seriously.Similar things happen to anyone.
 
1

10-22-27

Active member
#32
Dec 17, 2023
454
141
43
#32
Thunderrr-mental said:
the answer to your question is it wouldn't cross my mind.

I would call them exactly who they are ,,, Catholics Mormons muslins etc etc etc.

I can't believe your 86 years old asking this question.

You should know better sir
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I asked, "Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious?" I only asked a question, nothing more. Just wanting a few thoughts on the subject, that all.
 
Thunderrr-mental

Thunderrr-mental

Banned
#33
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
#33
10-22-27 said:
I asked, "Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious?" I only asked a question, nothing more. Just wanting a few thoughts on the subject, that all.
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but surely you know this conversation leads to discrimination
 
E

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
#34
Dec 18, 2021
5,076
1,554
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#34
I think people focus too much on words.. Religion means different things to different people. We can’t go saying its a bad thing until we get context..

People need to remember, the world does not speak christianeze..lol
 
P

presidente

Senior Member
#35
May 29, 2013
9,091
1,755
113
#35
10-22-27 said:
Let me begin by pointing out the differences between being religious and being called Christian. Being Religious is the external worship, ceremonies, rites, and obligations individuals feel in their mind, specifically to any relationship they may have with a superior power. Today, the word is also used synonymously with a sect, but in a practical sense, it is generally considered the same as godliness. Those who claim to be religious involve themself in devotional and ritual ceremonies and hold to particular moral codes that govern their conduct in human affairs.
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Going to church, home Bible studies, hosting church services in one's home or going to someone else's home for church meetings, praying, singing praises to God, partaking of Holy Communion, and baptism are all religious practices also. Some religious people go to churches that tell them not to be religious, which must create a lot of confusion for visitors which are not used to this strange redefinition of the word.

 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#36
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,178
113
#36
Thunderrr-mental said:
welcome those new to the faith and don't argue with them was what I was thinking why our senior citizen should know better is this James 1.27 🙂 without looking
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close

its look after the fatherless (orphans) and widows in their distress is pure religion undefiled
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#38
Jul 18, 2017
24,580
13,011
113
#38
10-22-27 said:
Let me ask all those who responded to this article. Would you call a Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness religious?
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Of course they are religious within a false religion. The sad thing is that False Christianity has existed for a long time, when there should be no false Christianity.
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#39
Jul 2, 2011
21,242
6,532
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#39
Apostasy existed at the time of our Messiah's first advent. He teaches it should abound by the time He returns. It abounds now.
 
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