What exactly is a "true Christian"? And who defines it?

Question

I ask this for obvious reasons - everybody seems to have their own interpretation. Is there a "true interpretation"?

Answer 1

As an atheist, I have come across similar definitions (from Christians) of what a "true" christian is.

A true Christian is a self-proclaimed Christian, whose serious bad behavior has not yet been found out.

Answer 2

Those to whom Jesus would say well done good and faithful servant. So, the religious answer would be Jesus decides who the true "Christians" are in the judgement.

A scientific answer would be that the thing under investigation must more closely fit the definition. Despite the differences in Christianity, there are a core set of beliefs and attitudes. So, a scientific investigation of a "true" Christian would have to examine the person and the beliefs they hold and their consistancy in acting according to these beliefs even in times of difficulty or when something more pleasant is placed before them. However, this kind of examination could never see the interior heart of the person to know how much of their life is truly dedicated to the love of God and neighbor and how much of it is show for self-justification.

So, only God, who sees into the heart of each person (and amazingly still wants to have a relationship with us), can judge who is a "true Christian."

Answer 3

I think you are referring to an "understanding" that centers around the use of the term in US culture, most usually in the Midwestern Bible-belt. Saying you are a Christian (as opposed to a true Christian) is to say that you have attended church but it has been a while. A true Christian is someone who has been going to church since they were baptized. Now, this is not to be confused with a True (capitalized "T") Christian, meaning someone who grew up going to church and was baptized but stopped for a while to have a prodigal son or daughter experience and then returned when it was time to settle down and start a family.

Now if you are actually asking about what it means to answer the question,"Are you a Christian?" with a ,"Yes." then you are wanting to know about social acceptance in a historically protestant economy and culture. That you have brought up the question serves as proof that this is a fading trend in America. Ingrained social structures have a taboo surrounding them that prevents such questions in the first place. On a ship, to use a metaphor, questions based in this same kind of recognition of reality are followed by a mutiny against the ships captain.

Recognition of a bias or a status quo is the first real sign of its passing.

No one defines what it means to be a Christian. It is a self-defined expression. A Christian is one who is of Christ. That's what the suffix -ian means. ("To be of or related", or more loosely "to be skilled in"). If you are "of" Christ, a follower of his teachings presumably, then you would be a Christian. Now as for what a "true" version of that might be, see my the first part of my answer.

Answer 4

Jesus, the prototype, said this, "By your love shall all men know you are my disciples". If we are to be christian, literally little christs, we must first know Him, believe that He is God, and try to act like Him by going about doing good. I believe that is the essence of true Christianity. No doubt there are many interpretations and doctrines, but after a life of church and religious training, that is the definition that most closely gets to the term Christian that I can find.

Answer 5

A true Christian is a person who is born again as it is said in John 3. Once a person is born again of the spirit, their sins are forgiven and they will be filled with the holy spirit. As a christian, the bible should be used for our growth as daily food is to satisfy our hunger. Being close to God in prayer and reading his Word daily, a person has a glow from them, a wanting to be like Jesus, the desire to do good and to love others, the ability to forgive as God has forgiven us. One who seeks fellowship with God and other Christians and has no hidden sins or lies that could desturb this relationship. That's the best I can do. Hope it helped.
Oh, who defines it? The bible, which is God breathed tells us what a true follower of Jesus Christ is expected to do and what not to do. There are too many passages to list here.

Answer 6

A Christian follows Christ. I would define a True Christian as one who follows Christ as we see Paul and the Apostles did in the New TEstament scriptures. Paul wrote time-and-again to the churches so that we would have many examples of what we should be doing and what we should not during services and in our private lives. We should be reading and studying the New Testament scriptures to find everything that GOD wants us to know about Christianity and how to remain faithful to HIS WORD. Why is that so foreign to you? It should be DEFINED by Our FATHER in HIS Writings, the New TEstament. This is our guide in life and in Religious studies. Have a great evening and a wonderful Lord's Day!!
Thanks,
Eds

Answer 7

Well, I just looked in the dictionary for the word, and there are 11 definitions. I guess any one of those can be the true interpretation.

Answer 8

Jesus said the 2 greatest commandments was 1) Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, strength and 2) love everyone else as you love yourself. So I think whoever does these 2 things is a true Christian.

Answer 9

I have been asking this question for a while. There are a few things that point to "true" Christianity:

1. The Bible (BOTH New and Old Testaments)
2. The Bible points to JESUS from cover to cover

More can be said.
GOD bless

Answer 10

Jesus was the one true Christian. Beyond that, I think a good definition would be anyone truly attempting to imitate Christ.

I'd like to think that this definition can be be put together and well-supported by scripture, but I'm not going to take the time now to check. Maybe you could instead?

Answer 11

Well lets see what Thus Saith The Lord and not take it out of context how about that okay: The first time folks were called Christians in Acts chapter 11 we read:
11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
This is the first calling of that word and it means CHRIST-LIKENESS, find out more of what THE BIBLE SAYS and without taking it out of context free on line bible lessons www.itiswritten.com bible questions www.bibleinfo.com talk to me also [e-mail] God bless