Christians: "just because someone says they're christian doesn't make it so". Think about it (more)

Question

Does that mean we non-christians are expected to judge which self-proclaimed christians are/are not true Christians?

According to Christianity, isn't that -God's- job?

Were I to accept the demand of christians to judge their christian credentials, I'd say there are no more than five or six people here who are true Christians. The rest are deluding themselves.

Do self-proclaimed christians really want non-christians to judge their credentials? Or is this just a convenient excuse for self-proclaimed christians to distance themselves from those whose credentials -they- judge unacceptable?

Granny, take another look at your list. I think you lost your train of thought.

I'm not christian, Love is the power I believe in, and one doesn't have to be christian to study christianity and understand its claims.

Answer 1

We live in what some of us consider the Laodicean age... that is, apostacy is rampant. Perhaps those five or six you see are indeed true Christians, or... perhaps not.

Now, Jesus said, in John 3:3, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

I have seen a good number of Christians say "I am not one of those born again Christians, but I'm just a plain old Christian".

Does it make sense to you that a person can be a member of an organization if they do not fit the qualifications for membership?

I mean, if I say "I know that there is, indeed, a God", do I fit the qualifications of being an atheist? No, being an atheist requires that I do *not* believe in a God. The two are mutually exclusive. So, too, is it with some Christians.

Herein lies one of the Christian duties, is to edify (raise up) our fellow Christians. To teach them what Jesus has taught, and although minor differences do not seperate us (like the matter of drinking grape juice or real wine), serious issues (like whether killing is acceptable) do seperate true Christians from false (misled, outright apostate, or in-name-only) ones.

Judge us from our words and actions. No truly mature Christian would seek harm done to another by the hands of mankind ("Let the one without sin, be the one to cast the first stone"), and instead, be quick to forgive ("Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors"). We show mercy and compassion for all people, regardless of who they are or what they've done, since we ourselves were once like you, and knows what it's like (gifts of the Spirit). We never belittle a person ("He who calls his brother, Raca [idiot], is in danger of judgement, and he who says, 'you fool', is in danger of hellfire"). We pray for, and help out, those who would wish us dead (the parable of the Samaritan). We give happily, and more than what is asked of us (the widow with 2 mites).

And yes, it is a way to distance ourselves from those whose credentials do not match up with those Christ has listed as belonging to those who are saved. ...after all, no sheep needs to linger around, doing nothing, when a wolf in sheep's clothing is amongst the flock... lest more wolves see that flock to be easy pickings.

Answer 2

It's not about judging. It's about discerning. Anyone whom is not a Christian, I advise to read the first four books of the New Testament, I'd recommend the New King James Version. It's about the life and teachings of Jesus and all that we, as Christians, are to do. If someone whom calls themselves a Christian is not doing these things, or differently, or even altering them, they are not a true Christian. Christian means "Christlike". So if the person has not been baptised, does not live their life in a "Christlike" manner, and does not spread the Gospel (the basics of Christianity to others), they are not Christian. Also, I included some info below that itterates more in detail, but it amounts to the same and references some scripture.

Authentic Christianity can be discovered and understood only by a careful examination of the New Testament. That source alone portrays the pure religion authorized by Jesus and preached by His apostles (II Timothy 3:16, 17) .

The Christianity of the New Testament is genuine. All later additions and alterations have caused modern religions to be something different from the original.

Altered Christianity is not satisfying. Nor is it safe (Galatians 1:8, 9 ; II John 9) . It is more an invention of man than a revelation of God. If we desire to be truly religious, really spiritual, authentically Christian, then why not return to the original ground of truth! Why not have first-century Christianity in the twenty-first century? After all, the real thing is the most desirable thing.

Restoring Christianity in the modern world is quite possible. The values and principles of living, the mission, worship and organization of the church and the way persons become saved and remain saved can be duplicated in our time and place. To sum it up, the entire scope of authentic Christianity. It's all a simple matter of returning to the authentic revelation from God, the New Testament, for our guide in all religious thought and conduct (I Peter 4:11) .

What will it take to regain authentic Christianity. It will involve giving up human traditions and uninspired religious documents and accepting only the word of God as our standard of faith and behavior.

If we will speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent, we can be sure we are practicing restored Christianity. This means we can then be Christians in the same sense that persons were Christians in the apostolic period. And, if we are willing to embrace pure Christianity, we will have the same vibrant hope of heaven that marked that time.

Answer 3

There is a difference between being of Christian faith and being a born again Christian. You should have no trouble spotting the born again Christian because they strive very hard to act the way Jesus would. A person of Christian faith is just someone who goes to a church on a weekly or monthly basis that Celebrates Christmas and Easter. A born again Christian is someone who knows their presence here on earth is limited and it is their duty to make sure they do nothing to turn another human being away from becoming a believer in Jesus Christ. We are not perfect in any sense of the word we just try our best to do whats right at all cost. We as Christians are not to judge anyone. It is not our job to decide who is worthy of God's gift. The difference is that a true born again Christian will act like a Christian 90% of the time and will tell you they are a Christian when asked. A Christian who is just a Christian by faith will only act like a Christian when around other Christians.

Answer 4

The Pharisees were men well read in scripture, yet evil.

They claimed to worship the Father yet their father was Satan, the father of lies.

It's not judging to know if someone professing Christianity is a true christian of not. And Jesus told us what to look and listen for when he was answering one of the Pharisees accusations in Matthew 15.

Mat 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Mat 15:20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

Answer 5

A REAL Christian will base all of their beliefs, standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible, So their position is not egotistical but demonstrates their confidence that the Bible is the right standard against which to measure one’s religion. They are not self-centered but are eager to share their beliefs with others.

Many use the Bible to some extent. But do they really teach and practice what it contains? Consider:
(1) From most of their Bible translations they have removed the name of the true God thousands of times, replacing that Divine Name Jehovah with titles such as Lord or God.
(2) The Trinity doctrine, their concept of God himself, is borrowed from pagan sources and was developed in its present form centuries after Bible writing was completed. (3) Their belief in immortality of the human soul as the basis for continued life is not taken from the Bible; it has roots in ancient Babylon.
(4) The theme of Jesus’ preaching was the Kingdom of God, and he sent his disciples out to talk personally to others about it; but the churches today seldom mention that Kingdom and their members are not doing the work of preaching “this good news of the kingdom.” (Matt. 24:14)
(5) Jesus said that his true followers could be readily identified by their self-sacrificing love for one another. Is that true of the religions of Christendom when the nations go to war?
(6) The Bible says that Christ’s disciples would be no part of the world, and it warns that whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God; but the churches of Christendom and their members are deeply involved in the political affairs of the nations. (Jas. 4:4) In view of such a record, can it honestly be said that they really adhere to the Bible?

Jesus said: “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.” (John 15:18, 19; see also 1 Peter 4:3, 4.) The Bible shows that the whole world lies under Satan’s control; he is the principal instigator of the persecution.—1 John 5:19; Rev. 12:17.
Therefore, True Christians are those hated by other "christians" and other religions.

Work it out, who do you think are those that are persecuted and hated, yet follow the Bible?

Answer 6

Well Good Morning Bob, I see we are up and at 'em early today. You are 100% correct. It nowhere in the scriptures says to Christians ,"You can believe anyone saying they are Christian." Christians should be easy to tell by their works and actions. No one is to judge anyone unless he wants to open himself up to scrutiny. By the same token, it is not our "job" to convert anyone. All we can do is speak to interested people about the gospel and then let the person come to God on his own, if he is so led. If the person is disinterested in the Gospel then we are to shake the dust from our feet and leave that person alone. I see an awful lot of people trying to force feed here too. Oh well, One can only try to do what is right. We are all capable of making mistakes.

Answer 7

It's man's nature to see fault in someone else before themselves and that's not just with religion.

That's the staring point for racism, sexism or any other negatively connotated -ism you can think of.

So when people as a whole look within themselves before casting down others, then that (I think) will solve a lot of problems. Until then, we're pretty f%^&ed up. I wouldn't blame Jesus for not coming back yet. We're still fighting over what shoes he wore.

Answer 8

Your quote is the often sited rationale for how Christians can think/feel/believe very differently. It's intent is to coerce the group to stay in line rather than be in danger as one who isn't "really" saved. I know this from experience. My questions are often shut down as being heretical. They're just questions!! Should people not use the God given brains they were given???? This makes me want to run far away from a faith that I think has much truth embedded in it.

Answer 9

You're awfully judgemental, now aren't you?

And since you aren't Christian, then how do you know so much about Christianity, and why do you say God is the judge, if you don't believe in him? You're contradicting yourself because of who you say you are.

I know you believe in God, but like to say that you don't so you can feel like you can get away with whatever you want to.
there, I judged you, too. Only I was right.

Answer 10

How about we just let God judge people's hearts and we'll do what we are supposed to do .... Love one another.

There are different levels of maturity, would you not agree? A small child is not expected to have the maturity of a grown adult, and likewise a grown adult is expected to have more maturity than a child. Same with Christianity, it's a growing process.