Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal. . . and so on. Its all Christianity. When Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, why are Christians so bent on arguing over whether each other is a Christian or not? From looking and trying many of the world's different religions, Christianity specifically means you accept Christ as the Son of God and Savior to mankind. Just want to illicit some perspectives on this.
2006-12-12 14:30:32 · 19 answers · asked by StormyC 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
a true christian, is a believer in Jesus Christ, it has nothing to do with what church you belong to. or do not belong to.
2006-12-12 14:36:00 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah's Grandpa 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your quote, "..Christianity specifically means you accept Christ as the Son of God and Savior to mankind"....sounds pretty good to me, but I probably would have added "only" savior, or some other detail.
That's how we all are. Each Christian seems to have their own passion about what having a true relationship with God really means. So we all huddle together in different denominations with people who's views are most similar to our own.
What looks like an unimportant detail to a non-Christian may be the line in the dirt between Christians as far as doctrine goes.
I have a feeling that as time goes on, and it becomes more difficult to be a Christian, those differences will dissolve like Jello.
2006-12-12 22:39:16 · answer #2 · answered by nancy jo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True Christians are not divided. There is one body of Christ. The denominations are not Christianity. Denominations are made up of non-Christians and Christians. A Christian is someone who follows Christ. There are Christians who are members of those different denominations. There are Catholics who are not christian, Baptists who are not Christian, Methodists who are not Christian and Episcopalians who are not Christian and so this is why you have division and bickering between these. Outsiders get confused and accuse us of lack of understanding and not knowing the true meaning of the scriptures as God intended.
Bible examples:
The wolves in sheep's clothing. The tares grow up with the wheat. The nets are full of good and bad fish. The different types of soil that the seed falls on, some spring up quickly etc . . . I think you get the picture.
2006-12-12 22:41:56 · answer #3 · answered by Gary B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When enough people are unhappy with their present religion the religious entrepreneurs start another sect. A new religion based on the one that they were unhappy with but, add some changes. The early protesters against the Catholic Church became known as Protestants. Every religion has divided into sects as no one religion has satisfied all. Last estimates say that there are about 1500 different sects. All doing well with their own collection basket.
2006-12-12 22:57:30 · answer #4 · answered by liberty11235 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Father K, it is not "the quick and the dead" It is the Living and the dead. Quickening gives people the idea that it is o.k to abort a fetus as long as it hasn't "quickened".
There are many differences but, you just read one of them. The difference in doctrines on important issues like abortion and gay marriage and gay anything connected to the Church. And for as long as I know of, fighting words have always been when someone says something about someones Mother and the slurs that are tossed the Blessed Mother's way are just the worse. So I think the definition of Christian is on shaky ground with some denominations.
2006-12-12 22:49:14 · answer #5 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oddly enough Islam is also very divided, with the references to Sunni, Shiite and the rest. The basic tenets are usually agreed upon, what gets us in trouble is the nit-picky doctrinal things that will not get us into heaven. I believe it started during the Reformation when people started reading the Bible for themselves and tried as best as they could to follow what they had learned, but being human, I believe that disagreements which led to differing churches were inevitable.
2006-12-12 22:45:20 · answer #6 · answered by wolf_lady509 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I share your perspective on this. I have wondered about this myself for years. I've come to the conclusion that denominations just aren't biblical (sorry). Is it not true that a house divided will not stand? All the back biting that goes on grieves me, not just w/ in the church walls but also from denomination to denomination. Everyone thinks everyone else is wrong and they alone are right. So where do we go from here?
Can we all just agree that Jesus is the Son of God. Died for the sin of mankind and raised again to new life on the Third day? Can we just agree that he is Savior? That God is good. That God is faithful? Instead of spitting hairs.
We need to turn our faces and hands up to God in worship instead of looking down our noses at others and pecking at the splinter in there eye when we're toting a huge telephone pole in our OWN eyes. Selah? Selah.
Hope my answer helped.
Good question.
Shalom...Be blessed.
2006-12-12 22:41:41 · answer #7 · answered by motherbear 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its been said before. The denominations are like scaffolding in construction of a building. When the Church(the body of Christ) is complete the scaffolding(denominations) will be removed.
I Cr 13;8a
12-12-6
2006-12-12 22:48:07 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's hard to stay together when you're believing bed time stories from years gone by.
Of course the story eventually changes in bits and pieces and people branch off.
Good thing they all ignore history and science or there may not be any Christianity to speak of! Sheesh!
2006-12-12 22:49:50 · answer #9 · answered by FoxyB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your perspective is a wise one. We, as Christians have let so many factors divide us over the years. At the end of the day, the things we arguie over have nothing to do with Christ or His teachings. I refuse to argue doctrine or profess my church to have cornered the market on knowledge and revelation. Denomination as a word means to divide. I desire to be found amongst the CHURCH of God, as a daughter of God. I care not about rituals and traditions of men.
2006-12-12 22:37:50 · answer #10 · answered by Terri 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am Christian and I agree.....I don't have a clue why Christians categorize themselves the way they have......it makes me want to stay away from churches because they are all segregated and have rules.........the only place I feel freedom is in Christ who dwells in my heart not in the religious denominations of this world.....When christ said he was taking his church he meant all who believe in him....when he said he dwells in the temple he meant our hearts are the temple as one that carries his spirit....he has never been and will never be bound to the manmade rules and religions of this world...............love freebird
2006-12-12 22:40:15 · answer #11 · answered by truegrit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋