Many fundamentalists will preface the word Christian with "true" or "good".Which ones are false and bad?
2006-12-01 21:33:35 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"true" and "good" christians are one and the same. the variation is on speech. A lot of people while speaking may use good or true christians to depict the actual practice of christianity to represent its true origin which is "christ-like".
the distinction between true christians and "un-true" christians is found in the christian practice. Christian means christ-like, just like Christ, doing things as Christ does or did them. If you look indept into this, you will find out that many of those who profess Christ, or say they are Christrians; kill, destroy, hate, blasphem, jealous, and do all other sorts of hidious things which would have an abormination to Christ.
The true nature of Jesus Christ is not found in them. The true nature of Jesus Christ which makes one a true Christian is: love, peace, unity etc. The Holy Bible, in the Book of Corinthians says ...and LOVE without which no one can see the LORD. and love is the greatest. Those who practice love are true Christians.
2006-12-01 21:47:55 · answer #1 · answered by Nnamsco 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus told a Parable of the Tares. Tares were a weed that grew in the wheat fields and rooted in strong. They also looked almost exactly like wheat until it was too late. The day the disgusting, useless fruit began to show was really the day everyone knew for sure that this weed was not true wheat. A good farmer could tell the difference earlier, but pulling out such a well-rooted plant would destroy good wheat too. So the tares were left growing beside the wheat until the harvest, to avoid damaging the wheat.
Jesus said the field represents His Kingdom (the Church). Real believers were the wheat. False believers were the tares. Enemies would sometimes plant tares on purpose in the fields of others. The way you know for sure is the fruit. Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Lives changed for the better are listed in other passages as fruit. Jesus said by their fruit you will know them. The fruit does not make someone a true Christian. Faith in Jesus' substitutionary purchase of righteousness for them by His death on the cross makes someone a true Christian. The fruit is just the proof.
But Churches and Christianity are often judged by outsiders not on the wheat, but on the tares, and that is why an enemy might plant them. Tares are in every church and in every denomination. No group is exempt.
2006-12-01 22:00:41 · answer #2 · answered by Emmaean 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question, I don't think there is a true or good Christian category. I would call it maturity. I'm Christan and some times I stumble out of weakness. ( Like drink a little to much with my brothers) but I wouldn't hurt anyone, and I'm fond of the elderly, and do allot of free stuff for them. Then I know a 24 year old young man that is christian that seems to be a crabby jerk. I also know vary mature christian people that are almost perfect. I don't think you can really categorize good and bad Christianity.
2006-12-01 21:49:05 · answer #3 · answered by Roberto 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At John 17:17, Jesus said: Your word (the Bible) is truth." The Bible determines what is true and what is false. For instance:
At John 13:34, 35, Jesus taught his followers that love would be an identifying mark of true Christianity. But nowadays, many professed Christians are in the armed service where they learn to slaughter their fellow man.
Ez. 18:4 says that the soul can die. Professed Christians are taught that the human soul is immortal.
Eccl. 9:5 says"the dead know nothing at all." Professed Christians believe some dead people are suffering conscious torment in a burning hell.
The Bible teaches that God's personal name is Jehovah, and Jesus is the Son of God. (Ps. 83:18; John 10:36) The churches teach that Jesus is God the Son or even God himself.
Jesus instructed all his followers to "go and make disciples." (Matt. 28:19, 20) Church members pay the clergy to do all their preaching.
So, the Bible determines who is a true Christian and who isn't.
2006-12-01 21:48:12 · answer #4 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
God sees the difference, but for us it is not easy.
The "true" or "real" group would be those that are doing all that they can to do what God wants of them.
The "so called" group are those that say they are Christians, but do not (or seldom) go to church, read the Bible, pray, etc...
The hard part for us is knowing if a person from either group is truly saved or are they just going through motions.
A person who most would call "true" may not make it to Heaven, because they may get cold towards God, or they are just doing things mechanical.
But a person who most would call "so called" may go to Heaven because they start to do what God wants.
Not many stay stagnant in their spiritual walk, most are going to grow and some times fall back. God is looking at each one of us, and we are going to be judged by how well we are doing the things that we know we should be doing.
We are to judge what is sin, and tell unbelievers and Christians alike. The unbeliever of his need for a Savior. The Christian of his need to get closer to his Savior.
We are not to judge if a Christian is going to Heaven or Hell, only God can judge that, because He knows our hearts.
2006-12-02 00:48:59 · answer #5 · answered by tim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I prefer to use the terms faithful and unfaithful Christians, you can be Christian in name but not in your practice.
you will know a faithful Christian by their very speech or indeed by their quiet peacefulness, and you just feel at ease in their company, they do not judge and have words of assurance and wisdom alwats ready to give.
when you meet someone like this you may wonder what it is that they have that makes them so pleasant to be around, and of course they are a mirror image of the Lord.
those who do not practice what they preach are most likely the opposite of this and like to verbally bully others with passages of scripture that they do not faithfully keep themselves.
2006-12-01 21:43:06 · answer #6 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One doesn't have to distinguish between the two. The Lord knows his own. Ain't my place to say...
However, I try to follow the ol' "by their fruits shall ye know them" process. But with a grain of salt. Nobody ever really knows anyone THAT well. Place faith in God, not men.
2006-12-01 21:40:37 · answer #7 · answered by KO 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "not true" Christian to me is one who is hypocritical. A "true" Christian is one who sincerely cares about the world and truly understands the nature of being compassionate and, most especially, nonjudgmental.
2006-12-01 21:39:49 · answer #8 · answered by Angel Baby 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "true" ones are those who don't judge others !
Too many so called "born agains" are so arrogant. They tell everyone who doesn't believe or act as they do, that they are bad, evil, wicked sinners.
In reality, that is probably what THEY are ! But it is not my place or anyone else's to put this label on them or judge them. We should only treat them with kindness.
2006-12-01 21:43:36 · answer #9 · answered by Maewest 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Timothy II 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John I 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2006-12-01 21:40:29 · answer #10 · answered by readthekjv1611@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋