Can we clear up this "real/not real Christian" confusion, please?

Question

How do you tell the "not real Christians" from the "real Christians" with whom they share a label?

I ask this because in future, I'd like to avoid lumping all Christians together. I strongly dislike many aspects -- correction, I detest all aspects of Christianity but that doesn't mean it's fair to blame all Christians for the actions of a few.

Or is it a few? Ten percent? Fifty percent? More?

Help a girl out here, willya?

Answer 1

It's tough. It's about like asking how to tell which marriages are functional and which aren't. Some would say that a couple who argues isn't functional. I would say a couple that _never_ argues, just doesn't talk - and I wouldn't say that was functional.

Functional is hard to pin down sometimes, as couples have different strengths and weaknesses. And how well they appear to be doing may change drastically depending on what they face in life. Same with Christians.

There are divisive, mean-spirited people who wear a guise of Christianity, and they harm a lot of people. There are people like Fred Phelps who use Christianity to support their own hatred and personal agendas.

"Real" Christianity is based on becoming like Christ. It's a process, not an event. I think the difference is willingness - motive. That's hard to discern at times. A person who becomes a Christian after living as an alcoholic or with any highly dysfunctional background is not going to be graceful overnight. There's a lot to work through and a lot to overcome. Expecting an overnight transformation without any slips would be like expecting someone to be a black belt after one karate lesson.

Still, with dedication and drive to do so, both students master skills necessary to their discipline. Never perfect, but becoming perfected.

In the end, God is really the only One Who knows and can judge for sure. Anyone spewing hatred raises questions in my mind. It is fair to say that at the very least someone who is living contrary to what Christ lived is missing the mark. My hope is that they repent. Jesus was tougher on hypocritical believers than on unbelievers. I think Christians have an obligation to point that out to those who claim to be believers, but are destructive to others.

Answer 2

It's all a contentious point.
Person A says, I'm a Christian. I believe XYZ and only XYZ. Anyone who doesn't believe as I believe is "not a REAL Christian".
Person B comes along and says, I too am a Christian. I read the Bible, and believe YZA, and maybe a little bit of X, sort of. If anyone does not believe as I believe, then they're not a "true Christian".
Person C says, I'm a Christian because I say so. It doesn't matter what I believe. It doesn't matter what you believe. You can be a Christian if you want to, or not, whatever floats your boat. I believe in A-Z.
Now enter Person D, who says, I don't care what you believe Person A, and Person B, but Person C is full of it. It's Person C that's not the "real Christian". Persons A and B agree with Person D, and begin bashing Person C.
Then Person D goes to Person C and says, Are you going to take that! They say that just because you don't believe as they do, you're wrong. You can accept their beliefs but they won't accept yours? THAT's not very Christian. I think Persons A and B are the ones who are not "real Christians".
Through persistance, Person C agrees with Person D. And soon Persons A, B, and C are at each others throats, while Person D just sits back and enjoys the contention he's created.

My personal belief is that YA R&S is prime real estate for this type of thing.

Answer 3

The Bible says, "by their fruits ye shall know them." If it looks like a skunk, walks like a skunk, and smells like a skunk, it is probably a skunk.

As a Christian, it is hard to group us into real/not real categories. Some people think that because they are not Jewish, they are Christian. A whole lot of people think that because they have a membership in a Christian church, they are Christian. I was a member of a Baptist Church for about 30 years before I really gave my heart to Jesus Christ, and became a "born again" Christian. I still have my own flaws, I am not perfect, but thank God, I am forgiven.

People must make their own decisions. When it comes to where they will spend eternity, I would surely weigh all the facts, study, read the Bible and ask Gods help in prayer, before I made such an important decision. God Bless.

Answer 4

It's hard to get an actual number. But I imagine the proportions are the same as the people who believe in America the way it used to be in old patriotic movies like MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON and the hammerheads who think God put GWB in the White House so he could torture the infidels.

I suggest the book Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity by Bruce Bawer to people on this thread, it's quite good, and lays out both sides of the "real Christian" debate well.

Answer 5

Well, Sweetie, I can try...but I gotta tell you, even "real" Christians struggle with this one. It isn't always easy to tell the difference, especially when we have some who are just beginning in their journey, and others who believe that they are Christians but who have no idea Who Jesus truly is. I have no idea what percentage of people who call themselves Christian really are...I'm very much afraid, though, that your estimates are optimistic.
I can, however, direct you to the only One Who does know...and give you His criteria as to what constitutes His disciple:

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

I am very sorry to hear that you have found Christianity to be so detestable. The only advice I would give you on that score would be to quit worrying about who is a Christian and who isn't...these are only followers, after all. It would be so much better for you to get to know the LEADER...Jesus Christ, Himself. Yeah, I know...there isn't much left of Him here on earth...at least, in a physical sense. Still, there is enough of Him in the Bible to make a good start...and you do, after all, have a lifetime to spend.


Don't hate us, child. Hate is such a waste of valuable time and energy...

Answer 6

If you simply replace the word Christians with the word "people" then things will be easier for you. Like "that doesn't mean it's fair to blame all "people" for the actions of a few. or "I'd like to avoid lumping all "people"together. In your own words, that way, you are saying PREJUDICE is not fair. It doesn't matter what term you put in that sentence, Christians, blacks, Muslims, Yankees, etc. etc. Good job & God Bless you !

Answer 7

It is actually quite simple. Christian means "Christ like" or "belonging to Christ."

The term is mentioned 3 times in the Bible.

"And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" Acts 11:26

"Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 26:28

"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." 1 Peter 4:16

Christ established one church, His church, the church of Christ. The church of Christ in Antioch was where the disciple were first called Christians. These disciples followed Jesus and his teachings. They did not follow teachings of man, man-made traditions nor any other religious leader. They were baptized "into Christ" and were added to the church. Once they were added to the church of Christ, they were called Christians.

That is the Bible definition of a Christian. Does it apply to everyone who calls themselves a Christian? No.

Answer 8

Take Christian A and Christian B.

Each agrees the other is a "true" Christian on first meeting, because they say to each other they are. That's the standard of proof that appeals to them.

Then one or the other expresses a different interpretation of Christianity. Each then believes the other NOT to be a "true" Christian.

Fred Phelps believes he is a true Christian. Billy Graham believes he is a true Christian. Each isn't persuaded by the other. See their problem? Aren't you glad it isn't yours?

Answer 9

The fundamenatlist Christians are the ones who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, (except those parts that affect their life, then they rationalize, cross-reference and explain away the verse).

The fundamentalist Christians are the ones who believe they have the one true faith, and that all other's are doomed.

The fundamentalist Christians are the ones who refuse to acknowledge other's opinions or beliefs....and will be the first to tell anyone that does not agree with them, that they are going to hell.

So, when I refer to the intollerant, bigoted Christians...I refer to fundies.

Unfortunately, the fundies have tried to co-opt the term Christian to only be those that believe as them..but, I refuse to let them steal the word.

Answer 10

I have been a catholic for many a year and I can say that there is not a true Christian that walks on this earth today, Christian hypocrisy, greed, murder, discrimination, and control started during the Crucifixion of Christ, and continues to this day, so if you find a true one you can bet he/she wont be from this planet.