Is it not foolish for a person to consider everyone a Christian that "calls" themself a Christian?

Question

I notice a lot of people ignorantly do this. It seems to be a sort of "self-justification" tactic. Actually it's "self-destructive". NO ONE is justified by what another is or is not.

It's impossible for one who has never BEEN a Christian to discern who is or is not a Christian.

samantha, I sorry. I'm not talking to you PERSONALLY. There are THOSE that do that. You agree?

fatboy, Many people commonly go as far as to say America is a Christian nation. But I am a citizen of this nation. Thus, I am a Christian. The major premise of the argument is false. America is not a Christian nation. No nation (except that spiritual nation, the church – Mt. 21:43; 1 Pet. 2:9) is Christian. One is not a Christian by virtue of residence.

Jules,
We had bette judge whether one is or not. How are you going to know the wolves from the sheep?

PW, SO true. Some people would suggest that if one lives by high moral principles, he or she is surely a Christian person. If one is a providing father, loving mother, or benevolent neighbor, then the individual is perceived as a Christian. Not so.

pue,
Good for you.

skyclad, It's not a matter of arguing to me. It's a matter of "abiding in the Truth" as "ou brothers keeper".

pull, That' true. is a vast body of people that endorses the concept that anyone who believes in Christ, i.e., he subscribes to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God, is a Christian person. That simply is not the case.

originaljackass, Good for you, son.

Amanda, Thank you.
Consider the case detailed in John 8. The record indicates that as the Lord taught, “many believed on him” (8:30). Christ thus spoke to those who “had believed him” (8:31). As the dialog heated up, Jesus charged: “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do” (8:44).

They were believers in a sense, yet still unregenerate.

katie, There's nothing wrong with THAT.

movie, "We" can know we are in the faith. You're mistaken on THIS.

cooky, Thank you for that answer from THE WORD.

Regius, AMEN! We have some "work"to do! We have a "race" to run! We have a "faith" to finish! Thank you, brother.

Taliesin, That's right! Perfect example!

smiling, don't feel bad, son. You're NOT going to understand EVERYTHING. Eveyone has to be taught at sometime.

b@tgirl,
Some feel that so long as one is a member of some church he or she must be a Christian. What of those who are members of the Unitarian Universalist Church? These folks do not even believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Are they Christians simply because they are members in a “church”?

Hundreds of churches populate our land of which God is not the author. All Christians are in the church of Jesus Christ, but not all “church members” are Christians.

tonks says:
"I expect that anyone who says that they are a Christian, are in fact a Christian"
My Lord says:
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
I'll go with the One that has the keys to heaven.

that guy,
You're not alone on this.

atticus, The issue is discerning who IS a Christian. ATLEAST I aught to be sure that I'M in the faith.

Answer 1

it is cool to be christian today...however, it is very NOT cool to be CHRISTian...if you understand my meaning.
i seperate the 2 by calling the majority of todays churchgoing-and nonchurchgoing for that matter, christians from those who worship the one, true, living GOD, obeying HIS will and laws, as opposed to worshipping a self created image of HIM that justifies their lifestyle. the first kind, since they chose the title, i call christians...the second type, i call children of the living GOD.
did you know that when GOD says "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your GOD in vain"...it doesnt mean the g-d word. HE covers that in using filthy language or a perverse and froward mouth. what it does mean is taking the name of GOD or JESUS upon yourself, then not living in obedience to the NAME. for instance...a chritian who does not follow the example that CHRIST lead and taught us to follow...he has taken the name of the Lord in vain. it is in vain because it does him no good...they will say "Lord, Lord, look what we did in your NAME...and HE will reply...""I never knew you"".
and again, you are right...it is impossible for a christian or a nonbeliever to discern who is a true believer or child of the living GOD, just as it is impossible for one who has rarely or never read the bible to intelligently discuss the meanings of the passages.
however, being impossible doesnt seem to deter them in the least from doing just that.

Answer 2

Wicca, as we understand it today, seems to be a new religion, however there have been hereditary Witches throughout Europe practicing this religion in secret since the beginning of the "burning times". Wicca only recently came out publicly in the 1950's, where suddenly, people who did practice in secret realized that they were not the last ones practicing. Prior to that, it was only known as Witchcraft and had no other name, if given any name at all. However, whatever name it may have had prior to modern times, it did exist, in some form or another, since before the times of the Phaerohs. But the real question here is about being a believer; As others have stated, all who have some form of belief system are believers. Just believers in different things. As a Wiccan, I understand that what we perceive as deity is actually like a wheel, with the ultimate expression of deity as the hub and all of the world's different belief systems as the spokes leading to it. Many different paths, all leading to the same end destination. We run into problems when some religion's believers insist, quite arrogantly and ignorantly, that theirs is the "only true path". No one path is the only true path for all and each path can only be the one true path for those that choose it as theirs. No one path fits everyone. If there was only one true path for everyone, then there would only be one religion in the world and there would be no need for some religions to feel as if they needed to force their beliefs on others.

Answer 3

Well,look at fundies. They reject the most tenets of Christianity but who bleats louder 7 longer about what terrific gung-ho Christians they are? They don't believe God's covenant with the Jews was transferred to Christians,a non-racial religion open to all; they think Jews are still the Chosen People; they don't accept that Christ's teachings contradict Jewish law and when they see a conflict they side with the hebrew scripture; that's why they like the death penalty. No forgiveness with those folks - just "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."

Answer 4

It's a scary proposition when you admit it. If you decide the traditional view is wrong, are you any different than the JWs? If you go form your own faith and church, is it any different? What are the requirements?

This led me to a very strict, maximalist approach, which in turn led me to a very traditional theology. Christian in the strictest sense can only refer to the practicing members of the Orthodox Church (and we are all at different stages of salvation in her) since she is the original Church, and thus, the one Christ founded. In this strictest sense, all the groups that broke away are not Christian.

Once inside, I realized I had my hands full with my own salvation, so I don't worry about others in the Church that often (I'm bad enough), but I do practice the kerygma. If she is the Church, then she should be proclaimed.

Answer 5

I think you're getting a little to esoteric. A Christian is a person who believes, or claims to at any rate, that humans are sinful and Christ is the savior from the consequences of that sin. It's not rocket science. You don't have to be a Christian to understand the concept.

I do understand that not everyone who claims Christianity is Christian. The Church Lady troll/comic relief person who rolls through here claims to be Christian while it is obviously playing a role for parody. However, you'll find that most people who claim Christianity are Christian. Whether they are practicing, that is to act in a manner consistent with Christian teachings, that's another story altogether.

Having been a Christian at one time, I don't feel that my personal belief system has anything to do with my ability to understand the basic tenets of religion. That's all research.

Answer 6

It is indeed foolish to accept as Christian everyone who says she is. Either way, I am to love the person as Christ loved me. If the person does not behave like a Christian in some respects, I can share the word with the person as a Christian to encourage the person to be like Christ.

Answer 7

There are many who come in the Name of Jesus who aren't . We are to know them by thier fruits meaning are they representing God's love, patience, kindness, mercy etc.? If they are talking the talk but not walking the walk , I'd say that yes, it's foolishness to assume one is a Christian by what they say. We recognize each other by the Spirit and the Word.

Answer 8

Huh?? I expect that anyone who says that they are a Christian, are in fact a Christian. Now if you have some narrow minded view of what a Christian is and is not, I would say that it is not up to you to make that judgment. In fact, that is part of the sin against the Holy Spirit. You know, that sin that you are *never* to do?

PS. According to you I have the right to judge if YOU are a true Christian. You can not say where the Spirit of God is. It is not my right or your right to judge who is and who is not a follower of Christ. Whatever you are, one thing is for sure, young man, you are an arrogant fool.

Answer 9

If that person talks the talk but doesnt walk the walk then they are just fake and not really a christian. People use the word usely to describe that they go to church, but going to church saves no one. Its that personal relationship with God that will change who you are and wil radiate from you that you are indeed a true christian.

Answer 10

I think so. You can tell a Christian by their love, words and deeds. It is the life you live that will be your witness, not just your words. This is not passing judgment either, it is using common sense.

The KKK states that they are a Christian organization, but do things that are contrary to God's ways.