What is a Christian?

[JM76]

This thread is a response to some comments posted in the "Some Christians taking it too far" thread.

I am curious about what you all think constitutes a 'Christian' individual. Is it someone who goes to church and sings hymns to Jesus all day long? Does he give alms to the poor and feed the homeless? Is it someone who rigorously tries to follow Jesus' examples and live like a good person? Is it simply someone who believes in a God?

I would like to argue that to be a Christian, you should believe in the following...

A) You must believe in the teachings and words of Jesus Christ and accept him as your savior-redeemer.
B) You must acknowledge the deity of Christ and believe that he is of the same Godhead as the God of the Old Testament and the Holy Spirit.
C) You must believe that the Bible is in some way inspired and therefore the authoritative Word of God. Whether or not it is inerrant or the entire Bible is inspired is another story.
D) Finally, I would argue that you must acknowledge Christ as the only way to God and the only way to be saved.

If you look at this list, this would knock out the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses, members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) and Catholics from the 'Christian' category.

For example, Jehovah Witnesses believe that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, who was the firstborn of God by whom he made all other things. He was exalted by God and offered as a savior for the world before ascending into heaven as a spirit. Mormons believe that Jesus and Jehovah (the God of the OT) are not the same God, and neither are Jesus and the Holy Spirit the same God. Jehovah was originally a man on another world, who became a god and traveled to our world to serve as our deity. With his goddess, he gave birth to Jesus and Lucifer, who were brothers. Jesus eventually became a god as well, while Lucifer became a demon because he rebelled against God. In most Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormonism churches, Trinitarianism (the doctrine that God is three persons in a single Godhead) is rejected as blasphemy.

Feel free to add, subtract, or completely do away with my list altogether. I'm interested in what people's thoughts are on this as long as it is kept civil.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

D) Finally, I would argue that you must acknowledge Christ as the only way to God and the only way to be saved.

Let me ask you this: if Christ is the only way to salvation and Heaven, how do you take into account people who have never been exposed to Christ? There are infants who can't yet comprehend anything regarding religion, there are tribal regions in Africa that don't have any concept of Christianity, and there are tribal regions on islands and in the South Pacific that barely have any concept of the outside world. If they don't even know anything about Christianity or that it even exists due to their life and culture, how can they not receive salvation? How could Christ and God, who are supposed to be all loving, reject people who have no comprehension of who they are or that they even might exist.

 

[Sovereign]

"There was only one Christian, and he died on the cross"

My POV ^

 

[Brandon Rhea]

"There was only one Christian, and he died on the cross"

My POV ^

Jesus was a Jew. :CHappy:

 

[Sovereign]

Jesus was a Jew. :CHappy:

Tell that to Nietzsche.

 

[PdPstyle]

Let me ask you this: if Christ is the only way to salvation and Heaven, how do you take into account people who have never been exposed to Christ? There are infants who can't yet comprehend anything regarding religion, there are tribal regions in Africa that don't have any concept of Christianity, and there are tribal regions on islands and in the South Pacific that barely have any concept of the outside world. If they don't even know anything about Christianity or that it even exists due to their life and culture, how can they not receive salvation? How could Christ and God, who are supposed to be all loving, reject people who have no comprehension of who they are or that they even might exist.

While I dont think I could out right give you a solid answer, I would bring up the notion that while they dont know the "Christian God" pretty much all people from all walks of life and every region of the earth have some sort of spirituality. The tribes in Africa worship gods though they have never been exposed to christian or other religions. The Native americans worshiped gods though they were essentially cut off from the rest of the world for a good part of history. - I think there is a distinction between God and the church. one is *theoreticly* all powerful and has everything planned out, the other does its best to interprit the others actions.

As far as the rejecting of people, I would assume that he *god* would take into consideration peoples circumstances *I/E* were too young to comprehend/have never been heard of christianity or what ever.

That was more rambling than answering but maybe it will put you on my line of thinking?

 

[Ser Gregor]

That's a Christian.

This too is a Christian.

 

[Matt]

Screw you Nexus, I was just about to do that joke.

 

[Dan.]

I don't know the exact answer to your question Bac, because I'm not a theologian, but it seems to me there exists a way to salvation for all, even those who have never heard of Him. After all, look at the Psalms. I believe God is kind, loving, and just.

 

[sfdffffa]

A Christian is one who claims to be Christian and follows a branch of Christianity.

/thread

 

[Ser Yorick]

I would just like to point out that there are plenty of ****ed up sects of Christianity out there that are more like cults and are extremely heretical. Are they Christians? In a way, yes, but they're heretical.

 

[Random Hero]

I would file my grandmother as a true Christian/Catholic/Religious Person: Someone who has an incredibly strong faith in God and the church, and does not use religion for any sort of personal gain.

 

[Caleb]

Let me ask you this: if Christ is the only way to salvation and Heaven, how do you take into account people who have never been exposed to Christ?

Firstly, I would say that God is not responsible or required to save anyone but does so through his own gracious means because he is loving--in other words, he isn't answerable to us for who he saves because we have all been condemned by our sinful nature anyways.

However, in Acts 17, when Paul is addressing the men of Athens, we get this: "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they might seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each one of us...having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent." (Acts 17: 26, 30).

Having overlooked the time of ignorance seems to indicate that God does indeed make provisions for those who have never heard the Gospel.

 

[Niner]

Let me ask you this: if Christ is the only way to salvation and Heaven, how do you take into account people who have never been exposed to Christ?

No, those who have never heard of Christ will be saved as long as they have lived good lives...Also, when a person dies there soul is called by Jesus three times, they have those three times to answer him and be saved, if they do not answer then they are condemned to Hell.

 

[Ols]

No, those who have never heard of Christ will be saved as long as they have lived good lives...Also, when a person dies there soul is called by Jesus three times, they have those three times to answer him and be saved, if they do not answer then they are condemned to Hell.

I find it rather hypocritical that you say you believe that God will allow those who have been untouched by the church to be saved to go to heaven if they've lived good lives (and that you've said the same for people who do not believe but accept Jesus when he calls), yet you quote "Extra ecclesiam nulla salus" in your sig.

 

[Regret]

A zealot.

 

[Sovereign]

Extra ecclesiam nulla salus" in your sig.

Lol.

Also, am I the only one that noticed that JM76 doesn't consider Catholics as Christians?

O.o

 

[Niner]

I find it rather hypocritical that you say you believe that God will allow those who have been untouched by the church to be saved to go to heaven if they've lived good lives (and that you've said the same for people who do not believe but accept Jesus when he calls), yet you quote "Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus" in your sig.

What that quote refers to is that no other church or religious organization offers salvation other then the Catholic Church. Essentially there is only one true Church. If you belong to another you won't be saved through it, but you can still be saved through the Catholic Church.

 

[Ols]

Lol.

Also, am I the only one that noticed that JM76 doesn't consider Catholics as Christians?

O.o

I was going to comment on that, but I really can't be bothered to have that debate...

 

[Caleb]

Lol.

Also, am I the only one that noticed that JM76 doesn't consider Catholics as Christians?

O.o

Lots of Catholics wouldn't consider Protestants to be Christian, so it's no big deal.