All the time I see people saying "he's not a true Christian," or worse yet, "the entire catholic/methodist/LDS/baptist/etc. group are not true Christians." Can someone please describe in detail what a true Christian is? 10 points for the best description. Copy/Paste from websites won't count.
2007-01-02 00:44:26 · 37 answers · asked by Alucard 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, I think that Matthew 22 : 34-40 says it best. Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the law was by an expert in the law. It was meant to test Him. He said that the first and greatest commandment was to love the Lord God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. Then He said that the second greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself. He said that all the law and prophets hang on these. So, if you are doing these two things, then I would say you are as much a true Christian as you can be. God knows the heart. We only see the actions of a person. So, it is easy to be judgemental. That is why it is important to not soil His name by carrying it around like a pious trophy and by not portraying Christlike living. It could mean the difference between someone accepting Christ and someone being turned off by seeing no Christ in you.
2007-01-02 01:06:58 · answer #1 · answered by moose on the loose 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
they are and act like a friend of Jesu would for instance would be, someone who is filled with the Spirit, likes reading scripture and studies to show himself approved, is into doing what Jesus prescribed and not following some preacher blindly, a true Christian may exist in any denomination but likely will eventually go to a non denomination groups meeting, shares his love with others and helps seekers find their way, is not afraid to be held accountable because he wants to know if he has egg on his face, and desires to conform to the image of Christ, He believes Jesus existed and what He said while alive was true and that those people who penned the works of the new testiment were inspired by God and that the Bible is a good source for reproof and correction. Generally speaking these will receive gifts from the Hloy Spirit and will share them given the opportunity.
thats all I can think of at the moment and needless to say when I use the male pronoun I mean both genders.
There are no doubt more attributes.
A "so called Christian" will likely pick a topicoutof his denomination ad use it to beat others over the head and cause discord, and will not think either himself or his preacher is accountable to any one or what is in the Bible. They go to church and hear what they want to hear which is for the most part what they already know and when they walk out the church door they act just like any other group of people anywhere. They boisterously condemn what they do not understand and feel righteous about it, and treat their chuches much like a social club. They do not read their Bibles in fact If you check there is dust on it. Are easily led by any good ear tickler who says what they want to hear.
2007-01-02 01:09:45 · answer #2 · answered by icheeknows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Science explains the big bang was not from nothing but from a singularity that was all the matter and energy in the universe compressed into a single point that then expanded rapidly! So it was always here! But why are BAD Christians always claiming the big bang came from nothing? Are they that ignorant? Did they sleep through school or is it that they know the truth but think they can twist it because everyone is gullible?! The Pope, Catholic Church, Church of England and mainstream churches all accept the big bang and evolution! Lord Carey the former Archbishop of Canterbury put it rather well – “Creationism is the fruit of a fundamentalist approach to scripture, ignoring scholarship and critical learning, and confusing different understandings of truth”! Nice that Christians and atheists can agree and laugh together even if it is at fundie expense! But behind the laughter is the despair at the fundamentalists striving so hard to destroy Christianity by turning it from a religion to an ideology! Surveys suggest that 29% of American Christians are so extremist in their beliefs that they fall well outside of the accepted bounds of Christianity!
2016-05-23 06:00:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone who sees the need in their lives for a Savior, and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. After that, they seek to understand His will for their lives and to live a life that brings God glory.
The true Christian is so busy looking at their own life and trying to make right choices and decisions, that they are too busy to look into someone else's life and criticise or judge. They know that God loves all of us...without exception...and they do not want anyone to be lost and struggling.
They have the love of God in their hearts and they act like it.
They make mistakes...but admit when they are wrong and try to turn and do the right things. They are teachable and have the law of kindness in their heart. They are becoming like the God they serve, because that is what they are commited to do.
Real Christians are not out there giving Christianity a bad name or being a discouragement to people about what being a Christian means.
They are letting their light shine and bringing a sweet savor to the earth through their kindness.
2007-01-02 00:54:50 · answer #4 · answered by mynickname 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A true Christian is a person who attempts to live according to the Word of God. Any half arsed attempt is not a true Christian. That's what people are really thinking when they say it however the funny thing is that in saying it they become.. not a true Christian because they judged another..lol I suffer from it too but I am getting better every day as my character is refined.
2007-01-02 00:58:13 · answer #5 · answered by Pilgrim 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A true Christian is led by the Holy Spirit, does not use Christ as a tool to say "I'm a Christian so I can freely sin" (1 Peter 2:16). Oh you wanted detail though.
A true Christian believes that no amount of good deeds will impress God enough to "let" you into heaven.
A true Christian believes that only because of God's Grace do you even have the opportunity to go to heaven
A true Christian believes that a murderer needs atonement just as much as a guy who stole a jolly rancher
A true Christian believes that good deeds do not cancel out bad deeds
A true Christian believes that atonement can only be found through Christ. No other person can cleanse us, neither a priest nor another person or even ourselves. We are so stained by sin that we need the purest, most precious blood to cover our own, and only Christ is precious enough to cover our sins.
A true Christian believes that being a Christian does not make a person "righteous", but instead, embracing the Holy Spirit, which is an incorruptible spirit from God which directs us to all good things, and reveals to us everything righteous, is an instrument through which we can find righteousness.
A true Christian believes that, in order to appear outwardly as "righteous" inside we must first be cleaned. If the inside is clean, the outside will naturally become clean.
A true Christian believes that showing goodwill to mankind is the same as showing love to God. Since God has shown us mercy and love through Christ, we should similarly show mercy and love to each other.
A true Christian believes that they are not worthy of Christ's sacrifice. His very life is far more precious than ours, yet by his sacrifice we can know that God values us
A true Christian believes that every single person, so long as they have a breathe in their mouth, has the opportunity to repent and find salvation. No one is surely going to hell.
A true Christian believes that Christians cannot condemn people to hell, only God has that authority. The only thing we can do is to warn people of what their wickedness leads to, but beyond that we can do nothing to stop their depravity.
A true Christian believes that, as Christ was risen from the dead, so we must put to death our wicked and selfish desires and live for Christ, to live as righteous examples that we are of Christ's flock
A true Christian does not concern themselves much with the politics of this world. Our citizenship is in heaven.
A true Christian truly follows Christ
2007-01-02 01:26:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A true Christian is someone who has accepted the gift of salvation and is thankful for it and tries to follow Christ and to love Him BECAUSE of his gratefullness.
It's not about going to church, reading the bible or praying, although these activities might help you to grow spiritually, the only thing that makes you a true Christian is submitting to the Holy Spirit so that Jesus can dwell in you.
If you are looking for true Christians, don't go to churches where rich people live perfect lives. Go to churches where people from the streets, ex-prostitutes, ex-alcoholists and -drug addicts and others who mean nothing in our society share their faith. These are the true Christians. Jesus said: "Healthy people don't need a doctor, the sick people do."
2007-01-02 02:17:01 · answer #7 · answered by WithEnlightenmentTheDarknessCame 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a little back ground, the Catholic church was the start of Christianity. This occurred when Jesus said to Peter that he is the rock upon which Jesus would build his church and the gates of hell will not bring it down. Peter was therefore the first Pope and each successor Pope was chosen to today. There is actually a trace of all the Pope's in the church back to Peter. There was of course a split in the church about 500 years ago and there are many Christian groups today. So, the Catholic church is the original source of Christianity. Now to be a true Christian, doesn't mean that you have to follow the Catholic church, but rather to follow Christ's teachings from the Bible.
2007-01-02 00:48:14 · answer #8 · answered by charles 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The meaning of a True Christian is in the eyes of the beholder. Nothing but one persons opinion - Those that do not like Catholics and say they are not true christians are confused. Catholics started all westen religions - You can not make a vitamin out of Rat poision!
2007-01-02 00:56:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you'll get a lot of different opinions for this question, but here's mine anyway. I believe a true Christian is someone who has met and received Jesus Christ. A true Christian tries his/her best not to judge others, knowing that we all have one Judge, and none of us is perfect. A true Christian tries to love all people, and hopes all people will have the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. A true Christian desires peace and harmony above all else, but will stand up for the truth when necessary. A true Christian is obedient to the "new commandment" that Christ gave us when He said to love each other as He loved us. To me, that means that I should lay down my life if it will save yours. Peace.
2007-01-02 00:53:42 · answer #10 · answered by superfluity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋