Can we all agree that there is no such thing as a Christian?

Question

Aren't they all really just Paulists?

Answer 1

The majority don't even follow Paul.. they follow what their preacher tells them from a pulpit, or what gossip they hear in church on Sundays.
I haven't seen a real christian in my lifetime, and I doubt that there are any, really.

Answer 2

Interesting thought. First the Romans were occupying the area of Israel. The Israelites didn't just say gee your such swell guys why don't you rule our lives - they overthrew them. This oppression continued through time into the middle ages where it was illegal to carry a bible because they didn't want people to see how many versions of the gospels there were. This was done by the Roman Catholic church, the same Romans that Paul was and that occupied Israel. The very earliest gospels were copies and written several generations after anything that did or didn't happen, plus each gospel had more than one copy which varied from other copies of the same gospel.

Answer 3

There are many "Paulist" Christians; I believe that those who put the Bible together were such.

But, that does not mean that all CHristians are Paulists.

OTOH, the word "Christian" was supposedly first coined by non-believers, to describe those Jews who followed Christ and His teachings. In the Bible, believers referred to each other as Saints, mostly.

Answer 4

Paul was the leading apostle to the gentiles. Actually I was reading 1 Peter a few days ago and was quite interested to see how similar some of his teaching was to Paul's.

When Paul was converted he received a vision of Jesus, telling him he would preach the gospel to the gentiles. He spent 3 years in the desert, probably rethinking his Jewish faith and praying much, before going to Syrian churches, and being commissioned there, some time later when he had matured in faith, to evangelise territory contained in modern Turkey.
He had great bible knowledge by training, studying under Gamaliel, a famed Jewish scholar, in his youth. Then as well as receiving revelations (some of them referred to in 2 Corinthians), he also prayed in tongues for edification greatly, more than others as he says. This supernatural gift brings insight into God's will and plan. Because he had behaved so appallingly towards christians in his early career, he was highly motivated to devote the rest of his life to Jesus' salvation purpose.

Christians believe in Christ, ie the Messiah. That means he is the 'anointed one'. When christians believe they get born again, receive forgiveness, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. so christians are also anointed with the Holy Spirit. We have the witness in our hearts that he is Saviour and Lord.

Answer 5

I'm a Christian and I say you make a good point.

However, if you were a Christian, you wouldn't ask that question. Once you understand Him, you understand Paul.

Paul was only the first one with influence who wrote the details of the Church. If it wouldn't have been Paul, it would have been Luther, or Billy Graham.

It doesn't matter really who it was that lead the church. You still wouldn't believe him.

Answer 6

Certainly not. Christian means Christ-like and as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I try to imitate Jesus' example to the best of my ability.
Paul was a very fine example, too, as many others in the Bible were. But Paul did NOT want others to follow him. At 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 he said, "What, then, is Apollos? Yes, what is Paul? Ministers through whom YOU became believers, even as the Lord granted each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept making [it] grow; so that neither is he that plants anything nor is he that waters, but God who makes [it] grow."
Jehovah's Witnesses never lose sight of who the true Leader of the Congregation is. Jesus.

Answer 7

There are people who claim to be "christians" and then there's Disciples of Christ..Only my opinion though..There are people who just play church, and then there are true, authentic worshippers..People who look past the cross and worship who's on the cross..Paul did'nt start christianity..He was merely God's tool to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles..

Answer 8

You've got a good brain behind that ridged forehead. The real "Christians" were probably the followers of James, brother of Jesus, who died out shortly after Paul took over. Paul gave Jesus a makeover and threw in a little Roman, Greek and Babylonian mythology to give it more appeal to the masses.

Answer 9

Anyone who believes in Christ is a Christian. Even Paul established the church believing in Christ not in himself as Paul (because he was originally Saul). We have almost close to a billion worshippers of Christ; so I guess only few if none will agree with you

Answer 10

Agreed!

"The Mythmaker, Paul and the Invention of Christianity" by Hyam Maccoby