Does one have to be a Christian to be a "good person"?

Question

Do you think one must be Christian to adhere to the intent of the 10 commandments or that non-Christians are actively violating the 10 commandments in order to destroy humanity?

Answer 1

ALL religions teach goodwill and peace and love towards humanity, not just the christian faith. the belief that ones religion is the ONLY way you can be a good person is one of the biggest problems with the world today and has in history started many wars. are people really that arrogant that they can believe that their way is the only way?

Answer 2

You can be a good person and not be a Christian, but you cannot get into heaven without Jesus. Those who actively violate the 10 commandments are destroying themselves more than humanity, but it all trickles down and we all suffer from it in one way or another. Even if they violate the commandments, they are no less human, no less "good", and no less important than a Christian. They've just strayed off the path and need help getting back on.

Answer 3

No! We are all "GOOD" because we are all of GOD. Our society is not following the 10 commandments, nor is any other that I know of, but I can. We have a choice and going with the crowd is usually not the correct one. You instinctively know what is good. Trust yourself and do GOOD. Oh, and give up on labels, we are all human. Isn't that good enough. If you look for the similarities in everyone you meet then you will find that we are all more alike than you think.

Answer 4

No one is 'good' whether or not they are Christian they just have insurance to get into heaven. And the ten commandments are some pretty hard and fast rules for keep peace in the world that I wish more people would follow, Christian or not. And being non Christian does not necessarily make you immoral it just makes you more likely to be immoral.

Answer 5

I am a Christian because I am very aware that I am NOT a Good Person. I can be weak, selfish, broken, angry, hateful, arrogant, self-pitying, self-inflated, and a downright scumbag. That's why I need God.

To consider yourself a truly "good" person in the highest sense, I actually think it helps to be a "non-Christian". A cornerstone of my faith is: I am not a Good Person, which is why I desperately need God. It's my motivation to turn to Christ.

Think about it: aren't the hypocrites you know the ones who believe they are a Good Person and also claim to be a Christian? Can anyone stand those people?

There's an ugly name that, if we're honest, is the best moniker for those who claim they are a Good Person---"Self-Righteous". And it's a great description of those who claim to be Good Person though not a Christian. "I'm good all on my own. I don't need God to forgive me, or give me purpose or meaning. My goodness is self-generated." The very definition of Self-Righteous.

Answer 6

No. I know plenty of atheists and pagans (and Jews and Muslims) for that matter who are good, life-affirming people. It is people who adhere to things like the ten commandments no matter what the circumstances who are actually destroying humanity.

Answer 7

Absolutely not. I'm not a Christian. I believe in alot of the values attributed to JC, especially the golden rule. However, there is no proof that he existed. Plus, in order to be a Christian, you have to believe JC is your lord and savior. You have to believe what he saved you from is death and sin. Christians die and sin is rampant. Therefore, I am not even seeing circumstantial evidence that Christianity meets it's obligations.
Good people are good based on their attitudes, their decisions, how they treat others, and things like that. Those are universal and have been true alot longer than there's been Christianity.

Answer 8

well you don't have to be Christian to be a good person by no means. Charles Darwin was not Christian but he wasn't Satan on a stick. he didn't try to kill people but i mean come on the ten commandments are stuff that is like no $hit you shouldn't do that. they should be bad by any mans standards so why not no-Christians?

Answer 9

No anyone can follow the commandments. BUT being a good person does not gain you eternal life - only a rerlationship with Jesus can do that.

John 3v16

Answer 10

No one is good, we all fall short and no man can ever be good enough to get into heaven by their own merits. What if I asked you to draw a line on a piece of paper and then asked you to put 'Good' on the top and 'Bad' on the bottom, then number it from ten on the top to one on the bottom.
Now, where would the worst figure in human history you can think of be? Where do you think you would be? Even if you were a 10 in goodness, you would still be falling short in God's goodness scale, his scale would go from that sheet of paper all the way up to 10 to the 10000000000000....th power.
My point is that no one is good and no one can get into heaven by 'being good'.
This is why God sent to us his gift, his son to take your punishment for you. Imagine being led to the electric chair, and if we SINCERELY accept Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life, we repent and try to do better, and we follow him, he will come and intercede for us and take our punishment.

For the payment of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

BECAUSE

There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." 1 Timothy 2:5

but the GOOD NEWS is

"yet to all who RECEIVED him, to those who BELIEVED in his name, He gave the right to BECOME children of God--" John 1:12

All the 'religions' out there require works then faith, Jesus requires faith, and then once you believe (which you will if you sincerely seek and desire the truth) you will want to do good works by the nature of your faith, but not to gain admittance into heaven, For it is by grace that we are saved.
Yet this does not give a 'Christian' the excuse to say they believe in Jesus, and then do bad things, their should be a genuine want for the individual to do good. (and yes they will still sin as we all do but they should be making every effort to clean up their act,) because when you accept Christ, you go from wanting unclean things to wanting clean things you become a 'slave to righteousness.'
Jesus said himself, that the road is narrow that leads to the eternal kingdom but wide is the path of destruction and many will follow it, also that many will use his name and even profess that they know him but when they come to him he will tell them to get away because they never knew him.

You see Satan is a deceiver and if he can keep hitting people with examples of 'bad Christians' he will to keep one from seeking the truth. So don't let some bad impressions of 'Christians' prevent you from the best gift you could ever recieve, (like I did until late in life)
Jesus said,
"The thief comes only to steal and kill, and destroy, I have come that they have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10