What are the qualifications of being a Christian?

Question

I always hear people say they are Christian but they do not follow the bible at all - They do not obey the commandments - they make the bible mean what ever is convenient. Seems like many Christians do not know what they believe in. One thing I respect about Muslims - (I am not Muslim) is that when they say that are following their religion - they truly make a lifestyle change. It takes nothing to be born again Christian. Just say a couple of verses and then go to the bar and celebrate being born again. Shouldn't one follow the words of the bible before they can clam to be Christian - other than that they are just people that like what Christianity has to say but they do not live as Jesus - I know people will say no one can live like Jesus but it seems like the goal should be to try to walk his path. I always thought the moral of the story was to be Jesus - not to cop out and wait for him! What do you think??? What make a person a Christian???

Father K:
So if someone is baptized as a Christian then converts it Buddhism later in their life - They are still Christian when the follow a different belief system. And I get the judging part - I am not judging anyone - I just am observing the fact that many Christians do not truly follow the bible. If I say I am a Democrat but I have all Republican views- wouldn't that make me a republican? If I said I was a Crip but I always wore Red - would I still be considered a Crip? Sound to confusing to me?

Art Mom:

I can feel that 100%!!!

BaseballGrrl:

I agree!!!

chris p:

You got all wound up on a simple question and made all kind of assumptions that have no merit! I did not mean to offend you. Regardless if I am a Christian or not - I have to right to ask what ever I want to. Who are you to tell me what my right are anyhow. Asking questions is how I learn. And living like Jesus is not far out. I see people who walk like Jesus all the time. I do not mean walking across water or physically rising to heaven in three days - I mean his teaching. Jesus said to love everyone regardless of what they believe. He said all people are our brothers and sisters. Your comment was an oxymoron to the teachings Jesus . Its all good tho .... Peace and love back to you!

Cathy:
I can dig it!!!!

Father K:

I see where you are coming from. I am not sure I agree but I see what you are saying. I will have to do my research on Baptismal regeneration. Thanks for the reply.

Answer 1

I am a Spiritual person and raised a Christain. I am here to grow spiritually on this earth- I do that by trying to be an example and to practice what I know to be things that better me everyday,. I say my "thank yous" in the morning and ask for "doors" to help guide me down the right paths in times of trouble. I don't go to church because its getting so commercial and I don't see it as a club. Sharing with like-believing people is different and I get it, but around here- I see clubs. Jesus is not a God- he was a teacher and a guide. I think a christain is shown by deeds and lifestyle not affiliations.

Answer 2

The Christian Creed is the agreed upon doctrine of all Christian Churches and the theology set forth is clear:

Believe in One God the Father

Believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, only son of God, Begotten and not made, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pilate, suffered died, buried and on the third day rose again. He will Come again.

Believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life.

Believe in one (united) holy catholic (universal) and apostolic church.

One baptism(here Father K is wrong, because it means one baptism in giving ourselves to God but there are several different types of recognized baptism baptism by water(the ceremony), baptism by blood (dying for belief) and baptism by desire (never experiencing either of the two but living a life that shows that you desire to love and be with God).

Look for the world to come.

Now there are many who profess this creed but do not follow the teachings of love and unity and brotherhood that Christ taught. You can be a clinical Christian (stating the words but not the deeds.) but that does not make you a real Christian.

A real Christian follows Jesus commandment love God and love your neighbor (which everyone is our neighbor).

Answer 3

It really depends on the the person as to what qualifies as a Christian. Some people claim to have exclusive knowledge of who is and is not a Christian.

I follow Christ as a Mormon. I consider myself a Christian because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe that he is the Son of God, and that he is my savior and I read from the same Holy Bible as Christians do. I think that anyone that believes Jesus Christ is their Savior and the Son of God is in essence a Christian.

Personally, I am told I am not a Christian because I don't believe Jesus is God, and I read from the Book of Mormon. I'll let God be the judge of that.

Answer 4

There are the real Christians. Then there are the so called Christians.They are not real christians, they are the religious.
If you yourself are not a christian, you have no right whatever to impose your thoughts of what a christian should or should not do.
I tend to get that you are one of those who think that a christian should do whatever you think he should. Who gave you that right?
Who are you?
I think that to be like Jesus is a bit far out don't you? He was God in the flesh, I am a man, not God.
This idea that a christian should be perfect is bonkers.
Can't be done. Anyone who tries to do this is in for some severe head problems. After a while, time for the rubber room. I do the best I can.
I believe in my heart that Jesus paid the price for me. He did it. Get it. Not me, not now not ever.
They KEY IS BELIEF. OLAY!

Answer 5

To be saved, according to Acts, you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This involves believing the Bible is true (else why would you believe), that Jesus is God come in the flesh, Who died for the sins of the world, and rose again on the third day (else there is no payment for sin) Jesus is the only way to the Father (because He said so) God exists as a three fold unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (else Jesus' sacrifice was not perfect).

That is pretty much the core. Everything else is cult or imposter.

Answer 6

I agree with Artmom.

There are many wonderful Christians. Those that don't take the bible literally and don't claim to be the only religion to get to God.

Answer 7

To be a Christian is to have a personal relationship with Christ. To love Him. He says that to love Him means to obey Him. So , yes, a Christian should be following the guidelines laid out in the Bible, and yes, unfortunately, many do not.

Many people have been misinformed that all they need to do to go to heaven is say the sinners prayer at some point in their life. They think that they have a get out of jail free card. That just isn't true. You have to have a relationship.

Matthew 7
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

This shows us that even if you go through the motions, without that personal relationship, you're left out in the cold. We are not perfect, we still sin all the time, but God judges our hearts, and if we are truly trying to do better and asking His help to get free of sins, we'll not be dealing with the same stuff forever. I dealt with one sin for 8 years, learning how to fight it. The issue is the heart. Do you want to stop and are you trying?? Jesus can help us get free if we have relationship.

Answer 8

Only one thing: Being Baptized. That's it. God does that. It is not any matter of what you do, good or bad. It's all God's doing - and He does that in Baptism. Period.

Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Rom. 6:3

Answer 9

to me being a christian is to live christ like but sometimes we have faults that need to be worked on but God says judge not or though shall be judged in that same manner,but if you see a brother in a fault to death to confront him and if he change you have saved a soul.

Answer 10

being human is what makes a person christian...