Christians.....we all know?

Question

Not everyone who SAYS they are a Christian really is. Westboro Baptist Church for example, claim they are Christians, yet they spew hate, and almost advocate killing.

What are some of the ways we can recognize a real christian, from those that simply proclaim it?

Answer 1

You recognize by the fruits. A good tree has good fruit.

Love is the main commandment - so that is the fruit you should spot.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 2

The Bible says that you should "shop" for churches and find one that speaks the truth, if you are new to an area or looking for a church. Paul says to compare their teachings with those in the Bible. If they don't add up, leave.

Otherwise, if you are just wanting to talk to fellow Christians, you can do what the Lutherans do. We take a look at what the different denominations officially teach. Keep in mind, there are true Christians in every church, but the majority will believe what the denomination officially teaches.

The devil is hardest at work in the Christian community. There are going to be people in every denomination who are unbelievers. Wolves in sheep's clothing. You always have to be on your guard.

Answer 3

You will know them by their fruit-

Luke 6:44
for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

Colossians 1:10
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

-Are they walking with the Lord and abiding in what His word says? Obviously this church is not. So that is why we must know the truth! Study the scriptures and seek the Lord for understanding....in all our ways acknowledge HIM and not to lean on our own understanding as it says in Proverbs 3:5-6

Answer 4

There are plenty of people, especially the way the world is today, who really are christians, but don't really do anything that they should be doing. They are bad representations of the church. They do believe in christ, worship him, have asked him to be in their hearts, and then have ignored him and what he wants them to do. It's sad, but it happens. You can't tell what's in their heart, only God can do that. You can't judge them, only God can do that. All you can do is follow the word of God in your own life, and try to touch the people that you meet, show them what a great person the power of God can allow you to be, and teach them what his book has taught you.

Answer 5

Here's the trick. If it starts to sound like a special club that has some kind of inside track to the lord...Red Flag.

Answer 6

To begin with, Jesus told us one way:

“I am giving YOU a new commandment, that YOU love one another; just as I have loved YOU, that YOU also love one another. By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves.”” (John 13:34-35)

“No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends.” (John 15:13)

In addition, consider his words at Matthew 7:16-27: --
"By their fruits YOU will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; 18 a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those men.
“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.
“Therefore everyone that hears these sayings of mine and does them will be likened to a discreet man, who built his house upon the rock-mass. And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded upon the rock-mass. Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and struck against that house and it caved in, and its collapse was great.”

Additionally, a Christian does not wear a piece of jewelty asking "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do?) Instead, he does his best to really do what Jesus would do. -- 1 Peter 2:21; John 13:15.

Look around you. Who try to do God's Will? Whose love is so great for their brothers and sisters worldwide that they would rather go to prison or even die than do ANYTHING, including fighting them in wars in which their respective nations may be involved?

Answer 7

through scripture....
1 John 4
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Answer 8

The easiest way to tell if anyone is what they claim, is to watch if they walk the walk(talk) or just talk way too much..

Answer 9

It's not up to anyone but God to judge. You can't judge a whole group. You can't know what's in everyone's hearts.

Answer 10

y'all need a secret handshake.