What is a Christian?

Question

I recently posted an answer and was promptly informed that Jehovah's Witness' aren't Christians. This makes me wonder as to how different denominations define a Christian.
Please state you denomination in the answer... if you aren't comfortable with that I understand. Although not a Christian myself I can assure you that I have no intention of mocking you.

Andrea D: I care because I am curious as to why someone, a Christian specifically, would tell me that another group of Christians weren't Christians

Is there a Jehovah's Witness available to confirm or deny what has been said?

Since I haven't found a JW, I went to the Watchtower's web sight and found that they do in fact believe Christ is the son of God, they do not believe in the trinity. I would still like a confirmation of this from a JW. Thanks for your posts thus far.

Anyone that is coming back to look at this one, I am leaving open to vote. Thank you all very much for your answers. I closing I would say that even Christians are confused about what other denominations believe. (not in all cases)

Answer 1

Trinitarians repeatedly pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. Trinitarians use an artificial, trinity-specific definition of the term "Christian" which excludes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century pretended that Christ's followers were Atheists(!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Both secular dictionaries and disinterested theologians acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion.

The Trinitarian arguments are intended to insult and demean Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than to give a Scripturally accurate understanding of the term "Christian".

In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"

(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.

(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”

(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name


So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:

(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded


Learn more!
http://watchtower.org

Answer 2

Do you know that the word "Christian" only appears 3 times in the bible. They are mostly referred to as disciples, or followers of Christ. That is what a Christian is. I am non-denominational.

Acts 11:26
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

1 Peter 4:16
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

All denominations have some aspect that varies one from another; this is why there are so many of them, as Christian can't even agree on the basics of what is a Christian. Some even will go as far as claiming that their denomination/group is the truth and all the other are just misleading the world. It is one big mess to sort out.

Answer 3

A Christian is a follower of Christ as part of the trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Eternal life comes through Jesus Christ as he is God.

Jehovah witnesses do not believe Jesus is God but the Archangel Michael. This is where they go off track and cannot be called Christians.

A true Christian also believes in the physical resurrection of Christ and the Deity of Christ - that Jesus is God in flesh.

Jehovahs do not believe this.

Answer 4

I am a Christian Pastor and after observing the answers that people give concerning Christianity I too have begun to wonder; What Is a Christian.
I've seen people claim Christianity and then wish others burn in hell.
I've seen others type in blank spaces to represent the curse words that won't use and yet they call themselves Christians.
I've seen answers to questions that were so far off base that I wonder what they are being taught by their Pastor.
I too am searching for the answer and in a matter of days I will have it.

Answer 5

A Christian is a disciple of Christ. The differences in answers to your question reflect the differences in interpretation and degree of understanding. Those who claim to be Christian and yet mock, belittle, and put down other sects and say they aren't Christian, don't themselves fully understand the concept of Christianity. it is not my place nor do I choose to judge in such a manner, fore as I judge, so will I also be judged. And yet there are those sects who preach this judgment against other religions from the pulpits. We say there is good in all Religions who believe in Christ. Let them worship how they may.
I am a member of 'The church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints'.

Answer 6

I am a True Christina-- by definition .

A Christian==

1 GOD became a man !
2 HE was perfect in all ways !
3 HE was seen by angels as HE was
originally (THE GOD), and as a man !
4 HE taught the non Jewish ( as well as many Jews) !
5 HIS teachings were (and are) believed by MANY people !
6 HE returned to HIS place - we call that place heaven !

This is The Entire Story required to become
A TRUE CHRISTIAN.

Answer 7

Jehovah's Witnesses aren't Christians. They believe Jesus was a prophet, like Moses, Joshua, Peter, Daniel, and others. The word "Christian" means "Christ-like one." And we believe that Jesus is the one and only true God, that he died on the cross for our sins, and that He is coming back someday to take those who believe on Him.

I am a Christian.

Answer 8

I'm a JW
The definition for Christian is: One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.

JW's do just so. We believe in Jesus as Christ and we follow Jesus' teachings and way of life. We believe Jesus is the SON of God.

Answer 9

We are christian. We believe that Christ came as the Messiah to serve as a ransom sacrifice for the world's sins. We read the bible and apply it in our lives. We realize we are imperfect, and most of us have an earthly hope of everlasting life, when the dead will be resurrected.

Answer 10

I was raise in the Catholic faith and I use to think that a Christian is somenone believing in Jesus (as in Jesus is the Messiah, the only son of God - The Christ, to sum it up)

So I use to think that there cannot be a good or a bad Christian - just a Christian.

From my own definition of a Christian, I just realize that I am not a Christian anymore!

I do believe in Jesus and in his teachings, but I don't believe he is THE Messiah, the only son of God, I don't believe that ther is only ONE Messiah, ONE son of God. But I do believe that Jesus is one of them.

So, I'm sad to have discover that I'm not a Christian anymore. I was proud of my faith (still am, but I realize the name for it might not be proper)
Can I call myself a Jesusian?