Say that someone attends mass weekly and makes their obligated donation to the church every week for $100. However, they do not practice the faith and do not follow the words/lessons of God And Jesus. Are they truely a Christian.
2007-03-27 11:19:28 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No more than buying a Happy Meal at McDonalds every week makes you a hamburger! Relationship with God is not a matter of attending meetings or buying yourself out of obligation, it is a matter of loving Christ and obeying Him. If you don't, then you are just a pagan who is using church as a good luck charm or a get-out-of-hell-free card. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). If you don't love Him enough to obey Him, you aren't one of His anyway. You might as well party till you die because eternity is coming and boy will it suck for you. Of course, it doesn't have to be that way.
BTW, during the Reformation, catholics opposed their own Catholic church because it had become a system like you just described; ritual without truth. Those catholics became known as Protestants because they protested. Not much has changed, so may I suggest you find a Bible teaching church and leave the Roman Catholic nonesense?
Your life is at stake.
2007-03-27 11:34:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Becoming a Christian involves a change in spirit. A person can not be born a Christian, do any works or penance to become Christian or buy Christianity for them self.
Practicing the faith - showing the fruits and/or gifts of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23, Rom 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12:8-10) - is a great indication of a persons Christianity. Rarely will a person exhibit more than a few of these characteristics at once, though all are available. A hunger for Gods Word is another really good indication of a changed life.
I would like to add this also. Beware of counterfeits.
2007-03-27 18:35:04 · answer #2 · answered by CJohn317 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That someone is not a Christian, but may be a good Catholic. Being a Christian is not about attending mass, Sunday School, or giving money! Being a Christian is about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is knowing that you are a sinner, admitting it, and asking Jesus Christ to come into your heart. If you are sincere, then you are saved and will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ! How do you know if you are truly saved? The Holy Spirit will assure you of your salvation. You may question whether or not God exists, if the Bible is true, or other things, but the Holy Spirit will never allow your salvation to come into question. If you are heaven bound you will know it, not because you are good enough, but because you will have Jesus Christ as you intercessor!
2007-03-27 18:36:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no such thing as an "obligated" donation. In the Law, the Jews were required to pay a tithe (tax). Christians are not required to pay a tithe, but we do have New Testament examples of free will offerings to support the needy saints. Also we are told to be obedient to His word. But his relationship with God, is between him and God. They may be a christian just not an obedient one....everything has a consequence, Good or Bad.
2007-03-27 18:26:03 · answer #4 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A luke warm Christian is more dangerous than a non-believer. The bible talks about this particular subject. You cannot be in the middle. Either you're for or against God. Giving money doesn't get you saved, going to church doesn't either. Jesus gets you there.
2007-03-27 18:24:56 · answer #5 · answered by VW 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
going to mass and giving donations doesnt make u a christian. Its giving your heart to JESUS that makes u one. After that fact there is no more condemnation to them that are in CHRIST JESUS. Good deed dont get u into heaven or make u a christian i guess if that were so the whole world would be christians. encourage this friend to accept JESUS as LORD and SAVIOR and the the gift of GOD will Transform his/her Lifestyle.
2007-03-27 18:30:30 · answer #6 · answered by Spirited 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People are considered to be Christian by virtue of their baptism. Nothing can change that. So yes, it is possible to be a "bad" Christian or to even be a Christian who goes through the motions but doesn't live in a particularly Christ-like way.
2007-03-27 18:24:41 · answer #7 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Real faith is alive and active. Faith in Christ transforms who you are, out of that faith comes obedience. We obey Him because we love Him, it is not to gain merit or favor with Him in hopes of salvation. I can not tell someone if they are truly a Christian, I do believe that faith in Christ is more than an intellectual belief, it is a change in your heart, mind, and spirit which results in action. We are not transformed by Christ just to remain the same. Real faith brings about a change.
2007-03-27 18:40:56 · answer #8 · answered by Kat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are either in or out. If you Christian, you WILL do whats right, if you call yourself that and dont follow the belifes, then of course your not. Its Hot or Cold. Not warm. You either IN or your Out. Being a Christian you do what you feel right, By God. If you do, and You dont feel to give money, thats between you and God.
2007-03-27 18:25:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not my place to decide.
But by a basic definition a person is a Christian if they are following Christ. Another basic definition is that if they believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
2007-03-27 18:23:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋