Why do Christians call themselves anything but Christian?

Question

The "catholics, baptists, presbyterians, protestants, charismatics," Man, there's just too many to list.

Personally, I think those who are truly Christian will call themselves that.

One of the goals of Christianity is to be united into ONE BODY of beleivers, so if you call yourself a "DIVISION" of Christianity, aren't you DIVIDING the Body of Christ?

Answer 1

simply because of schism and so-called reformation (revolt) the One Christian Church as become divided. Authority is regularly challenged. Every community wishes to claim authority to teach and instruct doctrine and practise.

The real question is this what is truth? To Christians God is truth Jesus is truth, saying "I am the way, the life and the truth"
If you believe this than you also know truth does not change hence only one authority of instruction can truly be authentic.
Groups you mention must distinguish themselves from others by additional terms so as guide others towards this one truth in fullness. I once had a friend who asked me a Catholic why I call myself Catholic if I am truly a Christian. I answered him and said although you call yourself Christian I've noticed you also tack on "I'm a bible believing, Evangelical Baptist" so what gives with that?

Clearly you can see all communities wish to claim authority of leadership and instruction but can't do that in this world of separation and confusion. Merely using Christian as a title will not bring about unity as you wish for, we must strive for faith and act to bring about the end of division. All this division is prophetic.

I like to quote earlier Christians sometimes to make a point from a historical understanding

St. Augustine

We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication in her Church, which is Catholic and is called Catholic not only by her own members but even by all her enemies. For when heretics or the adherents of schisms talk about her, not among themselves but with strangers, willy-nilly they call her nothing else but Catholic. For they will not be understood unless they distinguish her by this name, which the whole world employs in her regard (The True Religion 7:12 [A.D. 390]).

If you should find someone who does not yet believe in the gospel, what would you answer him when he says, "I do not believe"? Indeed, I would not believe in the gospel myself if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so (ibid., 5:6).



The Muratorian Canon
Besides these [letters of Paul] there is one to Philemon, and one to Titus, and two to Timothy, in affection and love, but nevertheless regarded as holy in the Catholic Church, in the ordering of churchly discipline. There is also one [letter] to the Laodiceans and another to the Alexandrians, forged under the name of Paul, in regard to the heresy of Marcion, and there are several others that cannot be received by the Church, for it is not suitable that gall be mixed with honey. The epistle of Jude, indeed, and the two ascribed to John are received by the Catholic Church (Muratorian fragment [A.D. 177]).

Answer 2

I agree with you. I don't think the Body of Christ should be divided, but these groups don't really mean anything. I tell people that I'm a Christian ,although I go to a Baptist church.It really depends on what your "group" believes. Like, I go to a Baptist church, but what we learn is exactly the same as my old church, which was just a Christian church. And just so you know, catholics are NOT Christians. Catholics believe in the virgin Mary and getting to heaven through good works, while Christians believe in faith in Christ Jesus.

Answer 3

I never call myself a Christian. Others may call me that cause they must see Christ through me. The word Christian is so widely used. Some say they was saved at birth so therefore they are a christian, well not according to God's word. They was first called christians at Antioch. The people of Antioch saw something in those people which was Christ like and therefore they called them Christians. Thats why I tell folks I am saved. I am saved cause of what Jesus did on the cross.

Answer 4

The entire reason we have denominations is because one group thought there was a better or more righteous way to do something. Thus, people would rather identify with a denomination than Christianity, because Christianity includes a multitude of denominations, some they may not agree with. A more whole spiritual picture is formed through someone's denomination than through their generic religion.

Personally? I think it's only useful to distinguish between Protestant and Catholic, because that is where you can find the most controversial division in Christianity.

Answer 5

There is only One Church and that is The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head. All who come to God in The Way He prescribes will receive His free gift of Salvation and will become of The Body of The Church.... just belonging to a "denomination" don't cut it with God. You have to be of The Church to get into Heaven.

Iaccept email questions concerning the basics of The True Christian Faith. one honest question receives one honest answer to the best of my ability

Answer 6

I choose to call myself a follower of Jesus instead of a Christian. The world is very confused about what a Christian is because of all of the cults that are pretending to be Christian Churches. There are a lot of people who are mis-informed about their Christianity because they don't study the bible and have been listening to false teachings. Jesus warned us about this in Scripture.

Answer 7

We are part of the body of Christ - Our Bodies are the Churches
For this world is not our Home
May God bless you and keep you safe this Christmas and for many years to come Merry Christmas

Answer 8

Because all of those people also call themselves Christian, I cannot be satisfied with the term "christian". I say to an Arab: "I am a Christian". He asks "Oh, those who came in the crusades?" That's just one of hundreds of examples I could give you.
I can have good fellowship with Christian believers of many kinds. I can pray with them, work with them, learn from them. I mostly prefer the term "Evangelical Christian" to describe myself, but I will identify my church by its denominational name, which is Baptist. So people who want to attend a service have a general idea of the kind of thing they could expect. My only loyalty, however, is to Christ.
I hope I can have your permission for that! lol.

Answer 9

I generally do refer to myself as Christian, the denomination is pretty much unnecessary to mention.

And yes, we can have denominations (not really divisions) within the Body and still be the Body. The denomination usually denotes the method of worship, not the worship itself.

Answer 10

I agree. I do belong to a denomination, but it's only because I don't know of many plain ole Christian churches without any affiliation attached to them. It's a personal relationship with Jesus, not a religion!