"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32)"
How easily the traditions of men bind us and make us either less useful or utterly useless to God the Father...
If you take a survey and ask one thousand people who live in the united states of america the following question, "are you a christian?" - one doesn't need to be a prophet to know that the vast majority of people will answer, "yes". A significant number will answer something to the effect of, "oh, well I guess, but I prefer the term 'whatever-religious-sect-I-am-a-member-of'", like protestant or roman catholic or evangelical or mormon or mennonite or pentacostal et al. So, while some will not feel comfortable with the label "christian" as their first religious label due to a high allegiance to their particular religious sect's name (e.g. baptist, catholic, methodist, lutheran, mormon, etc.), the vast majority would accede that the label "christian" is a label they would take to themselves to describe themselves.
2006-09-22 05:07:55 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many think they are Christians because they claim to believe in Jesus. But, believing in Jesus often means nothing, or anything, particularly here in America where pluralism and relativism are rampant. Intolerance is the only thing not tolerated by the postmodernist who says, "My truth is different than your truth, so don't judge me with your outdated morals." Or "you have your beliefs, and I have mine, and I am o.k. with that" Well, God is NOT o.k. with that!! Such commentary by the non-thinking and spiritually dead is all too common. But it doesn't change the true meaning of what it means to be a follower of Christ. So, what does it mean to be a Christian?
of all, to be a Christian, you must first know who Christ is. Biblically, He is God in flesh, second person of the Trinity (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9). He is the great "I AM" (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58). He is the savior who was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), who died, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4), physically (John 2:19-21). He alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Only by the name of Jesus may a person be saved (Acts 4:12) and all who do not trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of their sins will be judged (Matt. 25:41) accordingly. Jesus is both God and man (Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5; Phil. 2:5-8). He is our eternal intercessor (Heb. 7:25) who mediates our salvation to the Father (1 Tim. 2:5). To Him be the glory.
So, being a Christian means knowing the true Christ and following Him in truth.
However, in America, apostasy has reared its ugly head the church. There are those who do not hold Christ in the highest of regard, as God in flesh, and because they fail to do that, they fail to understand the gospel, they fail to become saved, and they fail to understand what it means to be a Christian.
2006-09-22 05:10:56 · answer #1 · answered by heresyhunter@sbcglobal.net 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
If you love God more than your life, follow the commandments, hear and do the word of God.
All the people from the parable of The Sower might call themselves Christians today.
Some people who don't call themselves Christians or say they believe, are walking closer to God than some so called Christians.
2006-09-23 07:36:17 · answer #2 · answered by simon 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't subscribe to that label. A Christian was supposed to be someone who believes in Jesus, but that has turned into a negative connotation for this day and age. It is these same Christians who advocate war and death, who promoted intolerance and hatred, and who aren't doing what the bible tells them to do.
2006-09-22 05:10:14 · answer #3 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A Christian worships Jesus Christ as God, prays to Him, and has a personal relationship with Him.
Mormons are not Christians.
2006-09-23 09:36:13 · answer #4 · answered by kirstycristy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really think it's quite the opposite. People would rather just say they are Christian because most of the Church denominations send out such a bad message bout Christ that they sometimes just don't want to be associated with that....
2006-09-22 05:14:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
People like to call themselves Christians without actually doing the work like Christ would have to be officially deemed one.
2006-09-22 05:15:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A christian is one who subscribes to one of the "ultimate truths" that derive from Jesus Cultism.
2006-09-22 05:22:42 · answer #7 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
christainanity was the first belief after jesus died and christains folow christs teaching christains are supposed to folow after jesus just like the disiples and us christains not be beter than any body but christainity is the true belief we did not change nothing since jesus came but other religians have dissobayed the bible by changing and adding things to the bible
2006-09-22 05:17:40 · answer #8 · answered by heavensent32894 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
a Christian is a rip off thing man...look back in the history find about what have they done and how do they behave and live among them?
then i think u will know what is to be a Christian
2006-09-22 05:15:01 · answer #9 · answered by the black crab 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
a true christian is someone who has been washed clean in the blood of jesus and has holy spirit in them for holy spirit is God's seal.
2006-09-22 05:14:44 · answer #10 · answered by attb 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋