Notice that in the Bible, God never called men who believed in him and his message Christians. Pagans gave there idea of what a "christian" is . God never reffered to us as christians. He did call us citizens,sons, and ambassadors but never christians. To be a christian.. you would have to live up to Pagans expectations not God's. I do believe in the Bible..not what men opinions are. What do you think?
2007-06-19 17:19:27 · 18 answers · asked by ryan h 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good point. That's why you'll hear a lot of "Christians" call themselves Christ followers instead. I don't want to follow a religion, I want to follow Christ. Following a religion is missing the mark. "Miss the mark" is incidentally the definition of the word sin. God calls us to follow Him, not to follow a bunch of people we think are following Him. Jesus spoke out against the "very religious" on more than one occasion.
You would LOVE a book called "The End of Religion: Discovering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus" by Bruxy Cavey. I know you can get it on Amazon now, and Bruxy has a myspace too. (Search for his name or the book title and I'm sure you'll find him.) I don't know if he still does, but you used to be able to read the entire book in his blog!
2007-06-19 17:30:01 · answer #1 · answered by talliemay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that if you believe in the Bible, then you must be a christian. But I also believe you need to understand first what a Christian is. Jesus was not a Christian...right...because A Christian is a FOLLOWER of Christ. Christ therefore cannot be a Christian or He would follow Himself. God never called anyone in the Old Testament Christians because there were no Christians before Christ, but there were men of God. In the New Testament, God did tell us to follow Jesus, which IS a Christian. Just because some words are not found in The Bible, does not mean The Bible isn't referring to it. Yes, we have given names to some thing that are in the Bible, such as the words: Bible, Rapture and christian. They all exist and The Bible referrences to them all!! And I agree that I believe in the infallible Word of God, not man's opinions. I hope I cleared this up a bit. God bless
2007-06-20 00:36:02 · answer #2 · answered by connie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amen Brother. Jesus was a Nazirene Essene (an ancient Jewish sect) The Essenes where the original followers of Jesus and they had to go into hiding due to being killed by the Roman Church and Government. They hid the original New Testament from King Constantine who was burning all original Bibles. That was easy to do back then because only the higher ups in the church and government had copies and women couldn't read. Christ is not Jesuses last name , it is a title meaning the messenger or anointed one. He actual name was Yesuah Hamasea But it was also changed in translation. Does that mean they would actually be called Hamaseans? Google gospelofthenazirnes.com For sincere seekers of Truth. The main thing is to know what Jesus actually said and nothing else matters. Otherwise one is just following the Roman Governments version from 324 AD. Always seek the Truth and ye shall find.
2007-06-20 00:29:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, first off I'd like to ask if you are Christian? Secondly have you ever read the Bible, ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Even if so, there is no possible way you could memorize this word for word and type out that there is not ONE scripture that says God never reffered to us as Christians. I would put money that you found this on a website somewhere and want other people opinions.
2007-06-20 00:25:24 · answer #4 · answered by smokeyjoe4848 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus did all the rites and rituals of the church at the time but his teaching is what mattered. When you call your self a christian you are excepting his teachings,following his advise, and being his ambassador to the world or another words you are a disciple of Christ. He was trying to show that religion is the practice of trying to improve your self to become more perfect even until you become like him to the point you may live in the presence of God. Not the practice of rituals for the sake of man, but that they were designed to teach correct principles. Teaching correct principals is what religion is all about. With out the teaching of correct principles religion is nothing more than a gathering of people, it would have no benefit to the soul.
2007-06-20 00:38:42 · answer #5 · answered by saintrose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first known usage of this term can be found in the New Testament of the Bible, in Acts 11:26: "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." The term was thus first used to denote those known or perceived to be disciples of Christ. Similarly, in the two other New Testament uses of the word (Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16), it refers to the public identity of those who follow Jesus.
2007-06-20 00:28:33 · answer #6 · answered by purpleaura1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christian only means believing in christ as the son of God. The term is man made for the above.
2007-06-20 00:24:11 · answer #7 · answered by whome 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The believers were first called Christians in Antioch. To be a Christian means to be Christ like or a little Christ. We have to live up to who Christ is...doesn't matter what the world thinks of or about us.
2007-06-20 00:28:15 · answer #8 · answered by Jan P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians are people who follow Christ. Notice how the first 6 letters are the same. This is a clue.
2007-06-20 00:26:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is this I find in Acts 11:26? And the disciples were called "Christians" first in Antioch? Wow, Christians are mentioned by name! www.gotquestions.org
2007-06-20 00:27:08 · answer #10 · answered by an ambassador for risen Christ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋