Since whenever someone asks a question about the questionable deeds of people calling themselves Christians present and past they are never 'real' Christians.
Is there a way to detect them before they start slaughtering people, or do we have to wait until they cross a line?
Why would a a religion of love attract such people in the first place?
And do you really think these people were secretly thinking to themselves "Ha ha stupid christians I fooled you all"?
2007-04-07 03:49:32 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's actually easy (and I love circular logic):
Christians can't judge. So, any Christians that tell other Christians that they are not 'true Christians', are by definition not true Christians themselves.
Which, in the end, means there are no true Christians.
2007-04-07 04:19:03 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 8⤋
Good question. I reproduce my answer here to a similar question. I hope you'll find this informative.
1. They have love for one another. They have international brotherhood. No discrimination among them. . John 13:35
2. They are no part of this world. Just as Christ was no part of this world. They have high moral standards vs. rampant immorality in this world. They don't join wars that have caused widows and orphans. ( James 1:27; John 17:16)
3. They are hated by this world. Many call them "cults" and other worse names. But, remember that the early Christians were also called "Sect of the Nazarene". Even Jesus was called demon possessed. ( Acts 24: 5; John 8:48; 17:14)
4. They are not selfish. They teach people the good news wherever they are. ( Matthew 28:18,19; Acts 20:20)
5. Their teachings are bible based. They are humble to change their beliefs if these are not in accord w/ the Bible. (2Tim 3:16; 1Corin 13:9)
6. They have positive attitude towards the future. Although they are not immune to this world sufferings--illness, poverty, etc--they generally can cope w/ their problems better than the rest. Why? Because they apply biblical principles in their lives. ( Isaiah 48:17,18)
2007-04-07 03:59:05 · answer #2 · answered by Victor B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A genuine Christian demonstrates by example. They live their lives according to what Jesus commands and teaches. Anyone can "say" they are a Christian, but if their speech and lifestyle doesn't match what Jesus instructs, they are fake. There is no judgement in holding others accountable to being truthful to their faith. A Christian's life is straightforward. If they don't "practice what they preach", they blend into the crowd like every unbeliever.
2016-05-19 03:35:18 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you don't have to wait until they cross the line. The Bible is the touchstone of Christianity - true Christianity.
When you want to know what constitutes an inch, you consult a ruler, yes? If you want to know what constitutes a true Christian, consult the Bible.
To illustrate: Matthew 7:16-20 reads: “Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those [men].”
What is their fruitage? That is to say, their thoughts, their attitude, behavior, personal position, teachings, doctrines. Do they match what is outlined in the touchstone - the Bible? What we feel becomes what we think. What we think becomes what we say. And what we say becomes what we do.
At Luke 6:45, Jesus said: "A good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart, . . . for out of the heart’s abundance his mouth speaks.” Jesus also said at Matthew 15:19: "For example, out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, fornications, thieveries, false testimonies, blasphemies."
These things don't just pop up overnight. They begin in the heart and manifest themselves long before a slaughter takes place. Do we then get the sense of Jesus' words? If so, we will use the Bible to measure a professed christian, be it an individual, a group or a sect.
Hannah J Paul
2007-04-07 04:03:43 · answer #4 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
True Christian is a member of a religious organization or congregation whose answers to questions regarding religion is based on the bible. The doctrines of a true christian is based on the bible and there are no false belief which came from the teachings of his pastor, evangelist or preacher or priest but solely on the bible.Everything in his answer is biblical.
False Christian is a member of religious organization or congregation whose teachings are the doctrines of his relgion and only few of its teachings came from the bible.He believes on superstitious belief and traditions which are not biblical.His answers to a question on religion is questionabale in the bible..
All christian religions teach love because that is the word of God which is being obeyed by the Christians and it attracts many persons because of the love and kindness being shown by any christian religion member, however some members are boisterous.
We could easily detect from a question if the one asking the question is just to fool others or just to embarass or insult a christian religion and when we can feel that he is only fooling, Upon examination of his question and have determined that it is a foolish question we may not answer his question or may we give him a foolish answer also, a silly answer and nonsense answer,however that is not advisable in the bible.
jtm
2007-04-07 04:26:24 · answer #5 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says we will know the real from the fake by the fruit they bare. In saying this let me say the following: Is the Christian you mean living according to the biblical teachings of Jesus? Is he or she displaying an agape love for his fellow man? Does he show by his speach and actions what it means to be a christian? If the answer to this is yes then they are real. Only God really knows for sure but many things can display what a person really represents in his life and who he serves. I have known many people that I knew in my spirit was a 7th day christian.
2007-04-07 04:00:09 · answer #6 · answered by Georgia Preacher 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of tests that the Bible gives us, here are a couple of them for you.
Romans 8: 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Compare and contrast a post to see what the source of a person's answer is, the flesh or the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Is there any love in a person's answer? That's often hard to tell because people think that if a Christian warns someone that if they don't repent and turn to Christ that they are on their way to Hell then they are being "judgmental" or something like that. But it's more loving to warn a sinner who will resent you for it than to care about them liking you and to let them continue on the broadway to Hell for all eternity.
Matthew 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 13:34 A new commandment I (Jesus) give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
1 John 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him (Jesus), if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
2007-04-07 04:28:50 · answer #7 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
u r onto something: "by their deeds they shall be known." That's scriptural guidance for recognizing what their life sez about their practice of Christian principals.
I've noticed that it's not: "by their deeds they shall be saved," which is a different matter, but they are known, recognized, by their deeds.
Can people "fake" Christianity in order to fool others? Absolutely!
How to detect: "Having eyes, see ye not?"(Jesus). In other words: Use your eyes to see beyond the mere surface of the label. Trust your spiritual intuition.
2007-04-07 04:05:33 · answer #8 · answered by luv books 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No,it is not so much about that they are not real Christians. It is just sometimes we do not follow what Jesus is about. Everyone can call themselves Christians but if they never pray, they do not attend the church, they do not study His word, how can they be 'real Christians'.
I am originally from Finland. Almost everybody is baptized to Lutheran faith. But do people think about Jesus in their real life, NO. You hardly hear His name anymore.
We all fall short from the glory of God. All of us, Including Christians. I follow Jesus. I still make mistakes and errors of judgment all the time.
Many times Christianity is more like a family tradition instead of personal faith.
Anyone can be saved. We need to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We all sin. That does not mean that it is OK to sin. All the good people do not go to heaven, but all the forgiven people go to heaven. That is why it is important to ask forgiveness. God wants to know if we recognize Him for who He is. And He also wants us to be humble. And when we are, God forgives us : )
2007-04-07 04:00:52 · answer #9 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In general real Christians do not judge others. You have so many so called Christians running around with the Bible in their hands 7 days a week claiming that they are so called "walking in the spirit," yet they look down on those who may not go to church as much as they do or have the same understanding. Also real Christians admit to making mistakes and repent for them. Real Christians "keep it real". They don't clap in church screaming and jumping around praising God, then curse out everyone on the high way on the way home.
2007-04-07 04:23:57 · answer #10 · answered by Venus P 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why should we discern the difference? Who gave us the right to test or rate any body's religious belief? And I cannot understand the connection between 'pretending to be a Christian' and 'slaughtering people'?
I am a Hindu and believe devotion mostly begins with pretending to believe. In my view even in Christianity one first pretends to believe and having realised the Grace and Happiness in the religion becomes a 'Real Christian'.
2007-04-07 05:48:23 · answer #11 · answered by smartobees 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋