Whether you follow the Catholic tradition or the protestant way of Christianity...ultimately "WE ALL FOLLOW LORD JESUS CHRIST".
But why is it that many people always prefer to be known as a Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, etc.... by their denominations rather than as a Christian.
Why should we separate ourselves?
Is this what God wanted to see, his followers separated and angry towards each other? Did He wanted us to ultimately forget our Christian roots?
2007-09-17 15:14:04 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes. When you believe Jesus Christ is the Lord God, then you are Christian. All who accept Him as our Savior, are Christians. We are different only by secondary issues like worship styles.
2007-09-17 15:21:28 · answer #1 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Because Catholics, Methodists, etc. are a denomination which means of a group. Christian means Christ like. No, not everyone follows the Lord Jesus Christ, because then you would be right and there wouldn't be any need for different denominations. Truth is, the denominations have taken the word of God and translated to fit their beliefs and put a name to that religion. That is why it is encouraged that you study the Bible and believe that and not just what people teach about it. In the book of John, Jesus challenged the Jews if you study them out they are the most religious, educated people about God, yet they were the ones that didn't believe in Jesus! You may want to read Matthew 7:21. Good luck.
2007-09-17 22:35:39 · answer #2 · answered by Brain 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
actually you might have some disagreement over that as well, as I kinda wish those who claim Him but don't really follow would please NOT call themselves "Christians" at all. You can be saved and call Jesus Lord and Saviour and still not be following Him all the way mostly through ignorance.
The Word "Christ" isn't really a name per se, but is supposed to be an action verb, literally meaning from the Greek "the Anointed One and His Anointing". And it was at Antioch in the Book of Acts that the followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" because the people of the town SAW something about these people that was completely different from any other kinda of deity follower that they had ever seen before. And that was a bunch of people saying and DOING, - action, faith in action, works without faith is dead - the exact, EXACT same things a man named Jesus had done or that they had heard He had done when He'd been physically alive on the earth.
Well now here were a bunch more folks DOING those same things as well! What things? Healing the sick, curing the lame, helping the blind to see and the lame to walk and the DEAD TO RISE AGAIN [ie Isaiah 61] soooo the people of Antioch called these followers of Jesus, those "CHRISTians" "little" anointed ones and the anointing of GOD that was upon them as well.
WELL now, how many followers of Jesus do you see today running around DOING the Word of God that Jesus taught us to do? Unfortunately not too many even among all the denominations of the land. If you are not DOING the WORD, the LIVING WORD and helping the lame to walk and the blind to see and the dead to rise again, please do not shame His Name by calling yourself a "CHRISTian"? thank you and have a nice day!
2007-09-17 22:40:29 · answer #3 · answered by kay 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I guess people don't identify themselves simply as Christians because there are so many differences in the different denominations. They don't all believe all the same things. I hear it often, "I'm a Christian, but I can't agree with (fill in the blank)." I'm pretty sure God wants all of us to know Him, and to worship Him the way He intended. Our Christian roots go a long way back, and I know that the Catholic Church thinks they're the ones with the original religion. But, Martin Luther was not of the same mind when he posted his thesis on the church door 400 years ago. I know, too, that many holidays are based on pagan practices. Easter, for instance. Jesus' resurrection has nothing to do with fertility, but Easter is associated with bunnies and eggs, two pagan symbols of fertility. I'm not kidding. Any encyclopedia will give you the same information. That's where I got it.
2007-09-17 22:27:12 · answer #4 · answered by alikij 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
All Christians hold certain things to be true. There are some disagreements having to do with theology, but there is definitely a core faith of Christianity, something that all Christians can agree upon.
Just make sure that if you are saying someone is a "Christian", that you mean someone of the religious faith that defines the core of Christianity. Do not use the term "Christian" as a synonym for the word "nice"; otherwise, using it as such a synonym will cheapen the meaning of the word "Christianity".
Anyone that holds the Nicene Creed to be true is a Christian, regardless of how nice (or mean) that person might be.
2007-09-17 22:56:44 · answer #5 · answered by MJQ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't even think it matters that we call ourselves Christians. It simply identifies that we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. If one said they were non-denominational and said they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior I say cool.
I appreciate one less person getting religious and just sticking to the bottom line. Jesus did it all. No need to add to it or take away from it with stuffy names or titles. It is done.
2007-09-17 22:27:23 · answer #6 · answered by Makes Sense 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree with swoosh. God created us all with different personalities, so what's wrong with Christians being part of different denominations that suit their personalities and worship styles? I don't think there is one church better than the other as long as Jesus is the one being served in it. I think Christians need to follow where the Holy Spirit leads them to attend church, and if they are being spiritually fed in one particular denomination over another, then so be it!
2007-09-17 22:30:32 · answer #7 · answered by blessed1 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says " there needs to be heresies/divisions among you to show those who are approved"... Salvation in scripture is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ's finished work on the cross.... those who add rules or tradition change the true gospel from "grace" to "works", and insult His finished work... what gospel you believe matters very very much. Styles of worship can change, but the saving gospel can not change.... the NT epistles (letters to the church such as Galatians. etc) tell us to stay away from those who preach a different gospel...... Truth matters...
2007-09-17 22:22:00 · answer #8 · answered by Dulos 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, first of all, you are correct in that using the denominational terms is wrong. Paul delt with this very issue within the Corinthian Church, Read His words:
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
Denominationalism is a sin. We are to all be disciples of Christ. Christian is used only 3 times in the Bible and only once by an Apostle - Peter. It means a follower or disciple of Christ. When I am asked what I am, I say, "I am a disciple of Christ.
2007-09-17 23:05:27 · answer #9 · answered by Scott 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Because there are far to many people out there that are following the 'church's religion' and like to pass themselves off as Christians.. when in fact they are not when they are hating others.
One of the number one rules are to love one another as we love ourselves.
Far to many do not follow this rule and make it look bad for others.
I'm Spiritual and proud of it. I will not say my religion.. although I 'will' say' I AM NOT 'Catholic.
When asked what denomination I'm with, I'd say none. I know what I am.. and that's good enough for me.
2007-09-17 22:23:04 · answer #10 · answered by Jas 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋