Define 'Christian'?

Question

I mean, I am an Atheist, but I want to know what exactly a Christian is.

Why did several of you go to the dictionary for a reply?

Answer 1

One who believes in the divinity of Jesus.

Answer 2

Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

Christians believe Jesus to be the Son of God and the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and they see the New Testament as the record of the Gospel that was revealed by Jesus. Christianity is the world's largest religion. It is the predominant religion in Europe, the Americas, Southern Africa, West Africa, Philippines and Oceania. It is also growing rapidly in Asia, particularly in China and South Korea.

Christianity began as an offshoot of Judaism, and includes the Hebrew Bible, known to Christians as the Old Testament, within its canon. Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity is classified as an Abrahamic religion

The name "Christian" (Greek Χριστιανός) meaning "belonging to Christ" or "partisan of Christ", was first applied to the disciples in Antioch, as recorded in Acts 11:26.

Although Christianity has always had a significant diversity of belief, most Christians share a common set of doctrines that they hold as essential to their faith, which include: Jesus Christ, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, Salvation, The Trinity, Non-Trinitarians, Scriptures, Interpretation, Creeds, Afterlife and Eschaton, and Worship and practices (Christian life, Christian love i.e. agape, Liturgical worship, Eucharist, Liturgical Calendar, Symbols) history and religion, and lastly persecution.

Answer 3

A Christian is someone who is like Christ. To truly be like Christ, you have to have him in you spiritually. God left his glory in Heaven and came down as man and died for our sins. If you accept that gracious gift and commit your life to Jesus, repenting of your sins, then the Holy Spirit enters your body and THAT makes you a CHRISTIAN, because you have Jesus living in you. Now, whether you follow God's law-to love- that is different. You could be a hypocrite. Or a backslidden Christian. But if you have the Holy Spirit, you are a Christian. Great Question! :-)

Answer 4

A person who 'is trying' to follow the Word left to the Apostles. Believe me, nothing harder!

PS - Professor Farnsworth
And this is the first and unique definition of the word Atheist in the first and irreversible edition of the Jumpimg-Jack-Flash dictionary:
A king of bigots who don't know the difference between christian and catholic!

PS2 - Gre2000
Christ > Christian - Cristianus (Latin)
America > American
Samaria> Samaritan
etc.
an = anus = first person in Latin male form. So, to be subject about.... , to be a representant of.... (Christ, America, Samaria, etc.)

Answer 5

I recently saw this one in an email and thought it was a very good description of the ideals of Christianity:

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to
forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Answer 6

A Christian is quite simply a follower of Christ. The term was initially used pejoratively, but because it was a good description, it became the term used through the ages to describe those who follow Jesus Christ.

Answer 7

A Christian is someone who has given their life and heart to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We adore and follow Him and His teachings. He has given us His Holy Spirit to live inside of us to comfort and guide each one of us. It is the Spirit within us who will raise us from death, just as He did Jesus.

We believe that Jesus Christ is God's Word in the Flesh and that He came to the earth in the form of God's only begotten Son. A Christian should be known by their love for God and others.

A Christian is a sinner who has been forgiven by Jesus.

---Beta-fishy--That was awesome. A good reminder for us.

Answer 8

Christian means "Christ-like". Those who act in a way consistent with what Christ taught are Christians. Christian is a way of living, not to be confused with the "religion known as Christianity" which I think falls well short of being Christlike. I find many people on here who do not follow the religion of Christianity to be more Christian than many of the followers of Christianity here. Pangel, Kallan, Proud Muslimah (sorry if I misspelled), come to mind right away, however there are many others.

Blessings in the light of Christ!
~Embracing my Pangelism

Answer 9

Good news everyone!

This is the latest definition of the word "Christian" as released in the newest edition of Miriam-Webster-Mongo Dictionary, copyright 2998:

Christian, n. (kris-tyen) - a person bigotted against all who think differently; usually found protesting gay rights and abortions, but occasionally strays into other areas.

Answer 10

a christian is one who follows the teaching of Christ. His only law is love. There are many deep meanings about achieving spiritual assention in His teachings, but these are not apparent on the surface.

Being a Christian means being so full of love and compassion that you are incapable of harming anyone.

Answer 11

A follower of Christ. Being baptized as a baby doesn't make you a Christian for example. Going to church twice a year doesn't make you a Christian (going to church every day doesn't make you a Christian).

The problem comes when people redefine Christ and/or God, change the Bible or twist it to suit their purposes, and come up with new "revelations" from God that contradict the Bible.