For those who call yourselves "Christian"... What does that actually mean?

Question

Another Curiosity Question... Please know that this is NOT meant to be a demeaning question, but rather one of simple curiosity! :-)

For those who call yourselves "Christian"... What does that actually mean? I get the impression that you are not meaning one of the many Christian denomonations (Catholic, Methodist, etc.)

So... do many people use the word "Christian" in place of "Protestant" or something like that?? I, personally was raised in a Catholic home and never heard anyone refer to themselves as "Christian". It was always denomonation specific. Just curious as to your thoughts on that??

Answer 1

We are believers in the salvation that we can attain through Jesus Christ!


ADDED: Many people do use their denomination to describe themselves. I would say "Protestant" is used less often. People do this to tell a little more about their beliefs to others, if you say "I'm Catholic," you are telling people with knowledge on the subject a great deal about what you believe. But "Christian" is the broad word used to describe all believers.

Answer 2

That is a ton of questions. Yes, it was Jesus on the cross who was crucified. Why would it have been anyone else, and wouldn't those closest to him know it was him, including his very own mother?! I know Muslims think God pulled a switcheroo but that is an incorrect teaching. There were too many eyewitnesses. And there were eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after his resurrection. The correct bible would be the one that you find the easiest to read, or read in conjunction with another translation as well. The message is exactly the same. A translation doesn't change that. No you don't stop following the ten commandments -- Jesus never said to. He just said that all the law could be summed up in "Love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." Genius, really -- read the 10 commandments through the filter of that saying and you'll see what Jesus meant. Why was Mary the chosen one? She was a righteous young woman -- she must have really been something. Why does the Koran say she was the one? She simply was chosen, that's all. Why not Mary? The sound proof that Jesus is the son of God is the Old Testament prophecy saying that he would be born, plus all his own words about himself, and the sayings of all his followers who also made that claim. To say otherwise is to call Jesus a liar. I don't know why you practice your belief -- that will be for you to discern. When I say I don't know why -- I mean I REALLY don't know why. Islam seems a false religion to me, upon my reading of the Koran. Regarding the sun -- I don't know what you'd do. I guess we'd all be freaked out a little bit. Your eternal life is going to be decided by God, not me. Have you done enough? Probably not. You can never do enough to become perfect enough in the sight of God. In Islam you have no assurance of pardon. Through Christ, believers do have this assurance. Yes, I'm ready to meet God, because scripture tells me that because I'm a believer, though my soul was stained scarlet with sin, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, now I can stand before God with a soul washed as clean as snow. I'm forgiven because he was forsaken. I'm redeemed because he was condemned. Blessed be the name of the Lord, Jesus the Christ.

Answer 3

Personally I'm not sure if I'd call myself a Christian yet because there is still so much I don't understand and am trying to get.
I would say that a Christian is simply someone who believes in and follows the word of Christ.
I think some would probably try and over complicate it and say that you have to go to Church 3 times a week or limit your sins, never swear, never lust, etc, but I don't think that makes you any more a Christian. In theory a Christian is just an average person trying to lead a better life and acknowledges that they're sinful and make mistakes.

Answer 4

I am a Christian. I say that because I believe in Jesus. I believe that He loved us enough to die for us. I can not say that being a Christian makes me a better person, or that I have the secrets of happiness, and prosperity. What I can say is the only time I am truly at peace and happy is when I am with the Lord. I am non denominational. I am not perfect, I am a horrid sinner in the eyes of God, but I am forgiven.

Answer 5

To be a Christian means I have accepted the teachings of the church of Jesus the Christ and try to follow New Testament teachings. To be a Christian is not to follow the teachings of Christ Jesus but to follow the teachings to the church. i.e., the teachings in the New Testament do no include tithing nor to keep the Sabbath Day holy. The New Testament teaches us we are to be Holy as He is Holy and not a certain day because one day is the same as another.

When a Christian goes back to the Old Testament for their laws, Paul in Galatians 5: teaches we are fallen from grace.

Answer 6

For myself I turn away from all denominations as they are merely traditions of man and God has spoken against such practices. I call myself Christian because I follow Christ and not the church, the church in my opinion has failed it's first mission and is too similar to the market in the synagogue where Christ turned over the tables. I don't need to be steered down a bumpy dirt road (church and false teachings there in) to get to heaven, I prefer the supper highway (Christ, his teachings and his examples and my faith).

Answer 7

I believe in one God, almighty, creator of heaven and earth and all that is seen and unseen.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, true God and true man, who came down from heaven, was born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, from whence He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church.
I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Answer 8

to be a Christian is overwhelming...it's a life of' becoming' what Christ is all about..and that sure isn't about personal salvation..no matter how many 'christians' claim it...it isn't in scritures or history...anywhere...What is all over the Christian experience is connecting, relating, joining your deepest beliefs ,desires, needs with the REST OF THE WORLD, until all are one...not just yourself, as that would be the way of pride(satan)...of course, now all our differences are killing us...It's Christ who will make all things new again...the lion lay down with the lamb...the blind see...until 5 loaves of bread will feed the world,...until then ...happy are those who are called to His supper...now go and make disciples of all nations so that they may know and understand.

Answer 9

My experience is that those who call themselves "Christian" belong to a non-denominational church.

I call myself a "Catholic" with the understanding that I am also a Christian. A Christian is someone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Lord and savior and obeys His command to "love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength and your neighbor as yourself".

Answer 10

A born-again Christian is someone who has repented of their sins and turned to Christ for their salvation, and as a result has become part of God's family forever. All this takes place as God's Spirit works in our lives.

You see, by nature we aren't members of God's family, and we don't have any right to inherit eternal life. The reason is because of our sin. We have rebelled against God, and because of that, the Bible says, we are "separated from the life of God ... due to the hardening of (our) hearts" (Ephesians 4:18). No, you may not see yourself as a bad person (and you probably aren't)—but in God's eyes even one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven.

But Jesus Christ came to save us and to make us part of His family forever! He did this by dying for our sins on the cross and by conquering death through His resurrection. You see, as a human being you were born into a family—and nothing can ever change that. But when we come to Christ we are spiritually reborn into another family—the family of God. The Bible says to Christ's followers, "You have been born again ... through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).

My prayer is that you too may be born again and become part of God's family. By a simple prayer of faith, tell God that you know you are a sinner, and you are sorry for your sins. Then ask Christ to come into your life and save you. When you do, God will come to live within you by His Spirit, and you will be born again.