Are you a Christian who has other Christians ask you "Are you a Christian?"?

Question

I am a Christian. Other Christians come up to me and ask me this. I bothers me. Why does this happen?

I bothers me because I went to a church when I was younger. My stepfather, who went to church there was abusing me. Yet he was concidered an upstanding member. I however would be asked these types of questions by church members. "Are you saved?" What about HIS pathetic butt?

Answer 1

Yes, I've had this happen to me several times. I think it's because they relate to something I said or they saw me do that's a reflection of Christ in someones life. When I say "Yes" it's usually followed by "I thought so" followed by a nice conversation. Maybe you can look at it in that aspect and it won't bother you?

I'm so sorry to hear about the abuse you suffered. If his heart doesn't change he will be one that's told "I never knew you" and the outcome of that is the worst thing anyone can experience.

I've never had your experience, and hope this doesn't make it sound trivial, but maybe you need to ask God to help you forgive him? You need peace in your heart over what happened & let God take care of your step father. I've read stories about other abused people that have done this and are so thankful they have.

Answer 2

I've been asked that question by people who don't know me or know me just a little. Sometimes it's because I wear a cross, other times they've seen me pray before eating. I presume they're just trying to start conversations or get to know me a bit better. It doesn't really bother me, any more than being asked "are you a teacher here" in the hallways bothers me.

Edit: Your additional details change the complexion of the question a bit. First off, I'm sorry that happened to you. Your step-father may have been one of those who know how to put on a good show in public, convincing the others at your church that he was a "upstanding member". You don't always - or much of ever, actually - know what's in someone's heart.

As for the "are you saved" question, it irritates me a bit, too, and I can see how it would be grating on you. I usually just assume that they're trying to be helpful in the best way they can, answer "yes", and let it go.

Lastly - and please don't take this wrong. Have you spoken to a counselor about this? There are issues that need to be resolved, and I'd urge you to seek professional help with it. Obviously, it needs to be someone you trust. For what it's worth, you have my prayers.

Answer 3

I do not think this has ever happened to me, except possibly if I just first met someone.

I might ask someone that question if they said that they were a Christian in the past and then blatantly did or said something very unchristian, or have shown themselves to be not a Christian. Also, I suppose I might ask someone that question if I thought that they had a strong misunderstanding of what a Christian was.

Why does it happen to you? I don't know, ask yourself these questions. Are you meeting a lot of people for the first time? Are you demonstrating a strong misunderstanding of the word "Christian"? Are you living the Christian life?

Maybe you are simply around a lot of very curious people...like children perhaps.

Answer 4

Okay, here it is.

Most of the time, I can look into someone's eyes, and I can tell they are a Christian. I pick up on the inner peace they have, the sereneness in times of trouble.

Our Spirits connect.

Consider it a great thing that someone asks you that, because they are picking up on your connecting Spirits, and you must give off a "glow" of living in the Light.

I usually don't ask, I say "You're a Believer, aren't you?"

God Bless you.

Answer 5

Question is do you know why you need Jesus? If you are a Christian then it should be very simple. But many that claim to be a Christian are Christian in name only and not in deed.

Answer these questions and see how you do, and then may be you will know why you need Jesus.

Are you a good person? What a question, most of us believe that we are good people because we can look around and find someone that is far worse than we are. We can always point to the things that we think make us a good person.

But how good are we really? Dare we take this test and look at ourselves and see if we really are good? Hmmm.

If you are willing try this and see just how good a person you are.

The Good Person Test.

How will you do? Pass or fail?


Have you ever told a lie?
Doesn't matter how big or small, just a lie.
What does that make you? Before answering think about this, if I told you a lie what would you call me? A liar?

Have you ever stolen anything? Cost doesn't matter, a piece of gum, failed to give back an ink pen that you borrowed, anything.
What does that make you?

Jesus said, "You know the saying of old, you shall not commit adultery but I say that if look at someone to lust after them you have committed adultery in your heart.
Have you ever lusted?

Jesus said that hate is equal to murder.
Have you ever hated anyone?

See one day we all are going to stand before a Holy God on Judgment Day and he is going to judge us based on His Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. These are just 4 of them and how did you do? Guilty? I have broken all of these and more, what about you? How well will you do on Judgment Day?

If we break just one point of God's Law we are guilty of breaking all the law and Gods Wrath abides upon us all. Based on God's Law we are all guilty and all are deserving of punishment. But there is an out for us.

Jesus paid the price for each one of us, took on himself God's Wrath so we wouldn't have to face it on our own. Jesus was beaten, battered, bleed and died so we wouldn't have to face God's Wrath. He rose again so that we would life in his presence. Our crimes, His payment.

The real question is where will you stand on Judgment Day. Pay yourself or have it paid for you. Think about it.

Answer 6

No, I have never been asked that question. What are you doing at the time? Maybe something you're doing looks Christian, like bowing your head before a meal in a resaurant, for example.

Answer 7

Do you know them?
If they do not know you or if they just meet you, then it is understandable- but if you hang out with them, yah that is weird. Are you setting a good example? I mean are your actions showing that you do love the Lord? I heard someone once say that we who are saved should always talk to others as if they were saved....never leaving God out.

Answer 8

Sometimes it's because they see Jesus in you. Or they see your actions and want to know it it's ok or not for a Christian to do that.
I had a Christian friend who was asked by a non-christian if she was one because he could smell it. (There is a verse about how we smell of life to the living and death to the dying).

Answer 9

Yes, that has happened (it's only been upsetting on this board when people shoot back with a "no you're not.")

But in real-life, it's usually before they share something about their beliefs in Christ, and they're just checking to make sure I've got a basic understanding of what they're talking about first - it's seems totally reasonable to me.

Answer 10

Why does it bother you? If they are out telling others about Jesus you should join them....why get offended because they are doing what jesus said-Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature....