My firend is afraid that she won't be accepted as a "real" Christian, will she?

Question

I invited her to join Yahoo answers R&S, but she says that she won't be considered a "real" Christian. Here's what she wrote in reply to my invitation:

>I just don’t know, I’ve had so many bad experiences with other Christians telling me >that I’m not Christian, but I think they are just too caught up in dogma and doctrine. >Being a Christian, to me, is not about being a member of a church or following the >doctrine of a church but in my reverent attitude about God and His natural wonders, and >honoring Jesus as the very BEST Teacher, the BEST Guide for human behavior.

>God is the original Creator and His works are sacred and profound. Look around you at >the structure of plants or look at the amazing aspects of any kind of life and you will see >God there. God created all that. God created everything, so everything is His work, and >everyone is His favored child.

>God would not be God if He were partial to any life over another life, any human over >another human. He created them all.

>And make no mistake about it God is material, not immaterial. To think that God is not >material means you actually don’t believe in God, because then God is a nothing.

>Now as to Jesus I of course cannot believe in the story about His birth; it no more truth >than the story of Minerve being generated in the brain of Jupiter, but I believe in Him as >the Great Reformer of humanity, the Teacher of *genuine* doctrines.

>I follow as best I can Jesus’s teachings, and I have a deep worship of God as the >Creator. Why can’t other Christians understand that I am a Christian too?

Oh, dear. I guess I really should have asked that only Christians answer this question.

Answer 1

I'd like to see her come around. Refreshing viewpoint.

Unfortunately, if she's looking for Christian acceptance, she probably won't find it here. From the perspective of a dirty heathen, though...she sounds quite reasonable, pleasant, and has considered her religion with research beyond what she's been told in church. I have the utmost respect for anyone who has done this, no matter what beliefs they settle on afterwards.

Answer 2

R&S is not "church", nor does it have a "pope" to determine who is or isn't "Christian". The only arbiter is that portion of humanity that chooses to participate, and they haven't been vetted all that closely.

Have her note the "S" in "R&S". It's not just about organized religion. She has her own interpretation of "Christianity", one that denies the immaterial and understands Jesus as more of a philosopher than a supernatural being. Most Christians would disagree, some abusively. But there are some Christians (and non-Christians, of course) who would be comfortable with her viewpoint.

Keep in mind, YA is an automated system. No humans are involved in the policing. If an uncommon viewpoint upsets someone with a strong opinion, that person can anonymously report the post and generate a warning or a deletion. Your friend may not wish to put up with the hassle or the ego-bruising. It might be too much like real life for her. She is more likely to join if she feels she has something to share or a curiosity to satisfy. If she doesn't, you can't really make her.

Of course, she can lurk, read the silly questions and the crazy answers, or maybe pick a different, less heated forum. But if the curiosity isn't there, you'll just have to accept her unique, special self and share something else.

Answer 3

This place needs more Christians like her.

People will tell her she's not a 'real' Christian but so what? They do it to everyone and it doesn't mean that her faith is any less strong. By coming into a place like this, she can help spread the word of her belief and try to win over those who are judgemental and condescending. She could be used in religious discussions if she's intelligent and open, I'm sure lots would appreciate her views.

Bottom line: There are some fantastic people in R/S who are thought provoking, kind, funny, etc. from every belief structure
There are also big mouthed, small minded people in R/S from every belief, don't let them be the reason you don't come join in the fun.

Answer 4

Your friend, like anyone, can call herself a Christian. That's fine. But if she thinks that calling herself a Christian clear the way for her seeing the Kingdom of God - either in this life or the next - it will not.

Jesus made it clear who will see the Kingdom of God saying, Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God - John 3:3

If she was born again, then she is part of the Kingdon of God even while she lives in the earth. If she has not been born again, she is not part of the Kingdom of God.

And she can still be born again call God a liar. That is an option - not a recommended option but an option nonetheless.

Answer 5

That's sweet. Either you believe All that Jesus said about Himself or you believe none of it. To choose to accept that "some" of what Jesus said is true and not the rest invalidates anything He said.

Jesus made several truth claims that are written in the four gospels of the New Testament. Two of them are these:
1) I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is only through Jesus that all mankind has access to God the Father. Jesus says this about Himself not a claim made by other men.
2) Jesus claims that the reason He came into this world is to testify to the truth. The truths that Jesus testified to are by both word and action. These are the truth claims of God that are written throughout the whole bible, not the truth claims of men.

The bottom line is either you believe that Jesus is who He says He is or you don't. If you are trying to follow the "bible doctrines" and not the religious doctrines of man, great; follow all of them not just the ones you find easy to accept.

Being a Christian is accepting that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, descended into hell and defeated Satan, rose from the dead, overcoming death, ascended into heaven and is seated as God, the Son of God at the right hand of God the Father. It is by accepting that we are a sinner and asking Jesus to redeem us from our sins and asking Jesus to move into our heart that we become "born again" and are considered a Christian. When we do this several things happen, supernaturally from God.

1) We are given a new heart of flesh replacing the old heart of clay.
2) We are given a new spirit that is God breathed making us a new creation that enables us to communicate with God's Spirit with our new spirit.
3) God Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our body that He may always be their to guide and comfort us in all areas of our life.
4) Your name is written in the Book of Life.
5) You now have the beginning of a personal relationship with the Creator of All Life.
6) You have been set free and are no longer a captive to sin in your life. Jesus empowers you to be able to overcome in EVERY area of your life that you choose to.
7) As a new creation you are now a child of the Living God!

Being a Christian is a package deal and we (mankind) are the major winners. I could go on and on and on about the "truths of being a Christian" and how our lives are never the same again. Satan has done a great job of diluting, confusing and obscuring the truths of God. Your friend has been lied to and decieved on what "true Christianity" is. By your friends own testimony she is not a Christian. This is not my opinion this is what the bible says.

For your friend it is not to late to become the "real thing" as a Christian. If she will humble herself before Jesus and accept that He is who He says He is, ask Jesus to forgive her and come live in her heart and mean it with all that she is; she will become born again and from that moment on she will never be who she was before.

Answer 6

She shouldn't worry about what other people think. We are not supposed to judge others. As long as she believes in God and Jesus and invites Them into her heart then she is a Christian. I think that most of what she wrote to you is beutiful and is the way I believe accept the part of the birth of Jesus. But like I said, it does not matter what I think only what He thinks.

Answer 7

A christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazereth. Just as a muslim is a follower of the teachings and doctrines of Mohammed and a buddist of Budda.
My friend, you need to read the new testament, believe it and live by it's teachings. It states that you must have an encounter with the risen Jesus, for if you do not, you can no more be a christian than someone produce a flaming snowflake.

Answer 8

I don`t understand what the problem is. If she believes in Jesus and follows his teachings then she is a "Real" Christian. That is all that is asked.
She wouldn`t be the first christian to have a problem with Mary and other things but so what?
If she doesn`t want to join in R&S then fine too. Go to a movie, enjoy life. It is gods gift to you.

Answer 9

Nope, she is not a Christian. To be a Christian is to "cop out" and say Jesus was simply a good teacher. Read John 1:1-14. Jesus is God, He came in the flesh and dwelt among men. He is coming again. He is the Creator, and desires to have a personal relationship with each one He has created. That's you and me, baby.

Answer 10

I think that she's on the right track to truth- but if she truly is on track to find God then she needs to see what he says and read the Bible. Is it hard to believe miracles-ya-that's why they are miracles. If she believes God created the world-how is that less of a miracle then God forming Jesus in Mary's whom? I would invite her to join-not to fear people bashing her-for anyone who does-has no love of God in them and aren't a "real christian" either since Jesus said "they will know you are my disciples by your love." It's O.k. to ask questions- God gave us a mind to use it. Just tell her to check out the rest of the story. Hope that helps.