....he/she is not a "real Christian"? Like, all of a sudden if a christian person rapes someone, takes harmful drugs, or does something else generally considered wrong by all faiths, people will say that he isn't a "real christian". Even if he worships the same way as them and praises their god.
Isn't it a little pompous to assume that being of a certain religion makes you perfect?
2007-09-01 03:00:51 · 44 answers · asked by transitangst 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christians, like some other predators, kill their wounded.
2007-09-01 03:04:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 6⤋
No, you cannot assume that being Christian should make a person perfect, but taking drugs, raping someone etc takes a decision that is directly opposed by the religion.
The Bible warns against drugs, and says that your body is a temple, and a gift from God - using drugs is AGAINST the Christian faith. If you go through the effort to locate illegal drugs, you pay (generally quite a bit) of money for them, you take them - even knowing that they could cause your death, or ruin your social reputation as a 'good Christian', thus damaging the Christian reputation, you take them because you WANT to feel an unnatural high. It's not like yelling at your family or breaking something that isn't yours or faking a sick day to relax from work... it's a BIG thing. Rape is that same. It's not a little thing, it's a freakin' big deal.
I say this as a person who TAKES illegal drugs, and who misuses legal drugs - but I don't claim to be Christian - I love the religion, yes, but I don't follow it.
A murderer, pedophile, terrorist, kidnapper... anyone, really... can repent and be a Christian, but when you repent for something, you admit it was wrong, you admit you went against God and you prommise to change your ways and not do it again. For example, a priest who repeatedly molests children can not call himself a true Christian - he abuses his position, he commits acts against God, he disobeys the teachings and commandments of God - he is not a TRUE Christian, or he would not do that.
2007-09-01 03:13:58 · answer #2 · answered by Pebbles 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Uh...considering that all of those things go against the Christian religion...I think that the label "not a real Christian" actually works.
If an atheist actually believed in God, and went to church to praise Him, or started doing things like that...then it would be impossible for them to be a "real atheist".
Or would you still say that they were an athiest?
If someone goes against the fundamental basis of "something"...then they really arent true to that "something" and should not be considered as such.
You can enter ANYTHING into the "something". Not necessarily religion.
If a doctor screws his patients while they are sedated, gives the wrong medications to people, doesnt sterilize his hands before going into someone, etc, etc...then can he be called a "real doctor"? Because they have to take an oath that they will do whatever they can to better the lives of their patients.
I think the only thing pompous here is the fact that people who think because they are part of a minority of atheists, and the majority of the planet believes in a higher being, that they are right and everyone else is wrong.
2007-09-01 03:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by Vol 5 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Apparently, in some circles, it's the little-known fine print found under "once saved, always saved".
A simple prayer (with certain things required to be said -- know you're a sinner and need a savior/invite Jesus into your heart, etc., but it's okay to put it in your own words) and one is "saved". Washed clean, born again. That's all you need, brother, you can't lose your salvation, your ticket to heaven is punched, you're all set.
Unless ... one does something, such as some of those you mentioned among many others that are less serious, that is perceived to reflect badly upon the body of believers. Then the fine print kicks in, which reads: Your conversion wasn't genuine, you weren't really saved because you weren't sincere, we are known by our fruits and yours rotted off the tree or never grew ... you weren't really Christian. Sorry. It didn't take. Your ticket's no good.
Love it. It was just that attitude that eventually led me out of fundamentalism to the Catholic faith. So now I'm really "unsaved", according to some. Fortunately, I rely on my Lord and Savior alone to determine the status of my heart and the ultimate destination of my soul.
2007-09-01 03:23:30 · answer #4 · answered by Clare † 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is "pompous" to assume that any religion makes you "perfect". The person who says he's perfect is a liar at worst or more than a little misled at best. Christians can and do definitely make some serious blunders, the same as anyone else. God does not judge someone by the occasional lousy choice, but by the general trend of their lives.....and by the fact that a Christian will be sincerely repentant of their wrong doing. Consider King David, "a man after God's own heart", but the Bible says he committed murder and adultery, but the Bible also quotes his heart-felt prayer of repentance. He knew he had messed up "royally" (excuse the pun), and he begged God to forgive him....and God did. We are not to judge whether someone is a "real Christian" or not. That's between him and God.
2007-09-01 03:10:56 · answer #5 · answered by transplanted_fireweed 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nothing makes us perfect in this world. Being a "real Christian" is a heart condition, not just lip service or going to church on Sunday. Only God can determine the real condition of a person's heart.
We can observe the actions and go by the Bible standards. This does not mean the person can not change or doomed to fail. If a person hits himself on the head with a hammer, he determines it hurts. Does he continue to do it 30 times more? Most people figure once is sufficient. There are some people that 30 times is not enough. We can say this is a bad pattern to follow with few people who disagree. Would we want to be close to such a person, always offering to share his hammer with you? I think there are more healthy associations to cultivate.
2007-09-01 03:20:35 · answer #6 · answered by grnlow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians are not in a "box" all labeled and tidy anymore than any other people can be "put into a box". Some that life a lifestyle of crime and murder and hate can't possibly be Christians because there is no fruit of the spirit (Galations)........but then the guy who wrote the song Amazing Grace was a slave trader who got born again and repented (turned away from his sinful lifestyle) never to return to it again. the thing is Paul said "in our flesh dwells no good thing" and we should "crucify the flesh with it's evil passions and desires"..he was speaking to Christians. he talked about beating himself into submission so that "after he preached he would not be a castaway"........much of this is in the book of Romans. I don't think it's wise to stand around judging Christians just judge for yourself if Jesus is real or not and if you don't ever ask him or call on his name how will you know or how will you explain that to him if he is real? Which we believe he is and have seen-heard-experienced him for ourselves.
2007-09-01 03:24:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "real" Christian wouldn't do that. Its against God's laws and if they pray to the same God and worship the same way they would know better. Yes even "Christians" make mistakes but if they were serious about their Faith they would not put themselves in that situation where they would have to repent for such a horrible sin or ruin the life of another human being.
Rape is wrong in every society, it should not be defended and the victim should not be made to feel at fault.
2007-09-01 03:09:07 · answer #8 · answered by littleredhen 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
some people just make mistakes. if someone that says they are a christian and rapes someone??? then theres something really wrong there. there are non christians that dont do that
nobody is perfect no matter if you are a christian or not. if you are a human being then you are a sinner!
im a christian and i made a mistake and slept with someone i dated. this happened over 2 years ago. i havent done it since. i just made a mistake. it happens sometimes
2007-09-01 03:23:57 · answer #9 · answered by Holly D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this one was asked last night and had some great answers. We know who is a Christian by their actions. No one is perfect. The difference for christians are many so called Christians try to justify their sins. We are to mortify the sins of the flesh not justify them. We must try our best to not sin but when we do we are suppose confess and repent and admit they are wrong. small example some one cut me off on the road and I took the lords name in vain. Do I say oh it's just words no one heard me. Or do I say that was I am sorry. Looking at your examples, I know many drug users who are christians but they are trying to stop they know it is wrong. as far as a rapist I would have a hard time believing the were ever a Christian but I guess it would be possible. Remeber if you are a Christian you must mortify not justify the sins of the flesh.
2007-09-01 03:13:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't say it just when a person makes a mistake, but if someone consistently rapes someone, murders others, steals, etc., that person is not living the Christian life.
NO ONE EVER SAID that we were perfect. ALL Christians are sinners.
However, a true Christian does not go around raping people time and time again. A true Christian is not going to become a serial killer or sell drugs illegally as a career.
2007-09-01 03:05:02 · answer #11 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋