what makes me a christian?

Question

i was brought up c of e, and i have explored several other religions. i actually feel most comfortable with my original creed, only i daren't go to church for fear of being judged for being gay, or else risk said church from being struck by lightening by my being there. am i still a christian if i don't go to church, and if i do not contribute to the collection plate if i do attend a church service? i used to go to sunday school when i was a bairn but i was never confirmed.

didn't christ say "judge not lest you be judged?..."

dead in me sins, oh well, i think i will give that fiver i was going to put on the collection plate next sunday to oxfam instead. al stick to being ethical, even though plenty of people think am "christ-like" when they are not asking me if i am jewish/think am jewish.

actually it's arl the same to me. am spiritual, who needs a label eh?

ommmmmmmmmmm!

love n peace chux, al pick a best answer once me migraine goes.

Answer 1

I thought The Church of England was becoming more accepting of gay people. Perhaps, make an appointment to have a private chat with the local pastor. I can understand how you feel since I would not want to be a member of any church that did not welcome my gay son. Fortunately, many more churches are becoming welcoming in several different denominations.
If you have come to Christ asking for forgiveness then you are a Christian.
I would suggest taking all your concerns to Christ in prayer. Trust me, there won’t be a bolt of lightning, in fact you may be made to feel like the lost lamb receiving love and comfort. He will know what’s in you heart, and if you have doubts and uncertainties, he will understand that as well.
Whatever you do, I hope you find peace and comfort in your decision.

I have to add a few comments after reading the other responses.
First, Christ never said a word about homosexuality. But he certainly had plenty to say about throwing the first stone and taking the log out of your own eye.
These days it seems that everybody who wants to play the holier than thou game want to point out 3 obscure Bible verses to condemn gay people.
Guess what? There are many more than 3 verses that tell us not to gossip or to condemn others or to hate. So using that criteria I suppose that being a gossip is far worse than being gay.
Also, those that want to say God is fear are dead wrong. God is the very definition of Good. He Is Love. He loves all people.

Answer 2

"What makes me a Christian?" Jon. 13:34-35. Shows us how to Love. Jon. 3:16-17 gives us a pattern to the depth of God's love for us. Shows us that we can only come to God through Jesus Jon. 14: 1-7. We can only love perfectly 1 Cor. 13:1-13. And we find the Pattern of the 1st Century Church Acts 2:1-47. And it is God who adds us to His church.

But we are called in order to be obedient Rom. 10: 1-21. Acts 5:29, 1 Pet. 1: 1-9.

Be imitators of God Eph. 5: 1-33.

And God's extreme displeasure is shown towards: Rom.1: 18-32.

I leave this thought with you. A man purchased a field and he went to a merchant to buy some wheat. The merchant said, grain is grain and rice will be good enough for your soil. The farmer said I can't plant with rice for the land isn't swampland and I don't have any irrigation equipment. The merchant scoffed at him and said trust me! I wouldn't steer you wrong You not only can plant rice on that soil but it will yield more than what your wheat could ever do. Now should the farmer listen to the merchant? By the same way you Judge this think about how much God gave up in giving mankind His Son, Then ask yourself is there Anything you wouldn't do to be to a God that has love like that? Jon 3: 16-21.

Answer 3

If you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth (out loud, before witnesses) that Jesus is the Son of God, you are saved, and a Christian. Believing with your heart means really, seriously. Ask Jesus to make himself real to you, to be Lord of your life. Doing this with at least one witness helps because you can always go back to that person when doubts come (as they do) and say, "I did this, didn't I? It's official!" and they can back you up in prayer.
Going to church is a good idea, if you can find one you feel comfortable in, because it keeps some of the stranger ways of thinking at bay (a lot of cults are started by people who think they "know better".) Putting money in the plate is neither here nor there.
And remember, the church exists for sinners, which we ALL are, no matter how often we go to church, so no lightening will fall if you go there. Jesus said that there is more rejoicing in Heaven over one person who truly repents (recognizes their sin and need of God) than over many "righteous" people.
Go well. Praying for and with you.

Answer 4

Great question!!

Your question does require more than a few lines to answer. So, please allow me to give you some further reading and contact points to help you arrive at a more comprehensive answer.

Here is a free on line book that will help you get a better concept of what Christianity really is.
http://www.raystedman.org/authenxnty/

Here also is a site by a very interesting person, Lambert Dolphin. You can write to Lambert directly and get more of a first hand answer from one who has dealt with the issues you describe, in his life.
http://www.ldolphin.org/ . Look for the link on Lambert's page labeled
" The Paraclete Forum ".

Don't give up!

Answer 5

You are a christian if you have repented of your sins and given your life to Jesus, it has nothing to do with sunday school or even showing up to church every sunday. If you find the C of E is judgmental, try a new frontiers church.

Answer 6

You are a Christian if you have made a commitment to Jesus. The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). The same verse goes on to say: "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." It sounds as though you are leading a life which you feel is inconsistent with Christian beliefs. You are judging yourself and assuming that others will judge you as harshly as you do. You should seek counsel from a Christian minister rather than torment yourself in this way. Remember that Jesus, in urging the need for mercy, said "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." He loves you and you should feel welcome in His house.

Answer 7

The awful truth is that you are quite possibly a better Christian than the sanctimonious people who attend Church regularly and rant against illegal immigrants, asylum seekers, people of other religions, the way people dress and other people's sexuality.

Answer 8

Having the basic christian values like treat others how you would like to be treated. Im not a christian but i do have values...i dont think you need to preach or go to church to say your a christian...just be a human.

Answer 9

Well, you are not a Christian, and never have been. You can be though. Being a member of any particular church does not make you a Christian, never has-never will. You must first repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. If you are sincere, God will accept you as you are-however, He will expect you to change. If you never change it only means you were not sincere to begin with, and you are dead in your sins. Which is where you are now.

Answer 10

You need to follow christ to be a christian. Which by what you said above you arent.

Christian is a follower of Christ. Jesus Christ, who is God, became the one and only sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. - Jesus is God and there is one, not many paths that lead to God - Jn.3; Jn.14:5-6; Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; Rom.10:10; Cols.1:20-22; Cols.2:13-15 After we die we go to our eternal reward of heaven or hell. - Salvation is not thru reincarnation or in living a pretty good life. - Whether we put our faith in Jesus while we lived on earth determines our eternal destiny. - No second chance after we die. No purgatory. When we die our destiny is sealed for ever. - Matt.3:12; Matt.25:41; Heb.9:27; Rev.20; Rev.21:27

According to Matthew 7, there will be those who stand before God and call themselves Christian but God will say "depart from me I never knew you". They were not building their lives on a Christian foundation or worldview. They were only Christian in name.

I can not pick and choose which parts of the Bible I will obey if I want to be a follower of Jesus!

A new generation of Christians are buying into the lie that you can be a Christian and pick and choose your values based on your own preferences instead of the absolutes of scripture.

Biblical absolutes, logic and reason are out of style and tolerance, choice and preferences are in.

This shift of worldviews has a great impact on our lives and church.

At one time the word "intolerance" was used for things such as racism but today it is being used against anyone who questions another person's values or belief system.

In the new worldview everything is relative. There is no right and wrong beliefs. There is no objective set of absolutes other then what the individual of community chooses.

The new measure of morality is "If it doesn't hurt anyone it is ok"

Of course this is all based on a lie. All sin hurts not only the individual but those around them and the very fabric of a society.

Anyone who claims to have absolutes is viewed as the new radical fundamentalists of society.

The scriptures, not the preferences of man are the basis for truth and so we have both authority and responsibility to speak and share our faith.

Ezek 3:18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

The universal truth for all cultures and peoples is written in the Bible:

John 14:5-6 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

What have you decided about Jesus?

Have you embraced not only Jesus but his teachings? Are you living a biblical worldview?

Are you walking in obedience to the absolutes of His word as the authority in your life for the decisions you make?

If not, according to the Bible, you really don't love Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:15: "If you love me you will obey what I command". In other words if you love Jesus you will live by a Biblical worldview.