What defines a Christian Church?

Question

My friend said that because I am Lutheran, I am not a true Christian. She said that her church teaches that Lutherans, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and so on are not really Christians because they don't take The Bible literally. She said that the biggest problem is baptism. Apparently her church believes that children are not to be baptised because they are not old enough to understand and that God wants us to be old enough to understand the meaning and to make a public testimony. Then she said, that confirmation is not needed and the that the seven sacraments of catholic belief are not accurate and so on.

I just read a question of someone else and this person answered, "Catholicism and Christianity are not one ant the same."
What? I thought that anyone that church that has God and the center of it teaching and beliefs and believes that Jesus is the son of God is supposed to be a Christian based church. Am I wrong?

That second paragraph should say, I thought that anyone that attends a church with God as the center of its beliefs and teachings is attending a Christian Church and is a Christian.

Answer 1

No, you are not wrong. As a matter of fact, the church you are going to is the right one for you. A true Christian does not create a division nor condemns other religion. God made us all equal to respect one another and to love one another despite our differences in all aspects of life. Jesus healed the sick even the outcast to show that we are all equal.

If the church is teaching division or anything that can demoralize other religion, that is a red flag. You should be praying for your friend and the church he is going to. I am a Catholic and the church that I go to does not teach this way about other religion. You have to remember; even the devil goes to church and reads the Bible. His job is to seek and to destroy.

As long as you are kind, respectful, loving, compassionate, you belong to God. It is sad to treat other people just because they don’t believe what we believe in. We may have different beliefs, but the bottom line we are all God’s creation.

Answer 2

You should read "Letters from a Skeptic." It will clear up a lot of this for you. It's a dialogue between a relgious professor and his atheist father; his father has all sorts of questions for him and he answers them very well.

And, some of his questions were about churches. Let me tell you this: a church can not be "Christian." Only people can be Christians. A church is a building. It is an organization. It might have some doctrines that it holds to be true, but it cannot be Christian. Some people WITHIN the church may be Christian, some may just be warming the bench.

Your friend sounds like she goes to a very hypocritical church.

For a person to be Christian simply means that they believe that Christ died for their sins and was resurrected. He is the Son of God. They have accepted Christ as their savior and put their faith in Him. That's a Christian. It doesn't matter if they have never been baptized or never taken communion; that's part of joining a church-- an organization. Children can most certainly be Christian, as can anyone who is not baptized. Being baptized is more of a public declaration of your faith, that's all.

Read the words of Christ if you want to know which end is up. He didn't make this stuff real complicated; he WANTS you to understand. People have made religion complicated in an attempt to make themselves feel superior and keep others out, and Christ was nothing like that at all.

Personally, I prefer a non-denominational church for this reason; I'm not interested in a bunch of man-made rules. Teach me about Christ; help me apply these lessons in my life. That's it.

Answer 3

Your friend seemed to have judge too quickly. And your definition about God being the center and belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is very much close.

Try reciting the Apostles Creed: both the original and the Nicene version and you will see the fundamentals of the Christian faith. If you are a Roman Catholic then you'll know both of them.

In case of practices, the book of Acts chapter 2 relates a clear picture of what kind of church we ought to look into. First, there's baptism openly declares your faith before the public (let's not confuse water baptism with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy Spirit happens upon acceptance of the Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repentance of your sins, while water baptism is public confession of your faith.) Second, a church that teaches the Word of God, have fellowship with other true believers, devote themselves in remembering the sacrifice and victory of Christ over sin, and devotion to prayer should be present. Third, there should be social action complementing the spreading of the gospel. And lastly, worshipping with all their hearts, mind, soul, and might should be present among church members.

If Christ is the real center of the heart, mind, soul, and might and one relies to Christ and to God more than any practices, tradition, and minor/non-fundamental doctrine - then there is the church of God/ the church of Christ.

Answer 4

Nah, rest assured, you are a Christian :)
I would think anyone who follows what Christ taught is a Christian, wouldn't you? A lot of people like to create sects though. Lutherans, for example were started by Martin Luther, a German man. I bet you're German, aren't you? If you were English, you'd probably have the same beliefs but go to a Methodist church. If you had hick parents, you'd probably have slightly different beliefs as a Southern Baptist. Most Americans today are non-denominational since race became a taboo thing to discuss areound the turn of last century.
Indeed, you are a Christian though :)

EDIT: @ Fisherofmen: Dude, it's called a caps lock key... take it off when you're typing...

Answer 5

As long as someone believe that Christ Jesus is the Son of God, they are Christian.

Picture a circle with many outer circles. At the very center is belief in Jesus as incarnate God. Just outside that center circle is orthodoxy of Biblical innerancy or the Trinity. While these make complete sense to Christianity and are widely accepted, not all Christians hold to them.
Outside that second circle is Theological systems which support orthodoxy, systems able to be named as denominations. And even outside these denominations is another circle of personal preferences where churches split in ideas and concepts.
Only belief in the center circle is necessary for salvation, being faith in Christ.

As long as King Jesus is preached, followers of Christ are Christians, be it Catholic, Lutheran, or Pentecostal

Answer 6

Christ organized the Church (Eph 4:11-14)

The true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ (Eph 5:23)

The true church must have a foundation of Apostles and Prophets (Eph 2:19-20)

The true church must have the same organization as Christ's Church (Eph 4:11-14)

The true church must claim divine authority (Heb 5:4-10)

The true church must have no paid ministry (1 Cor 9:16-18; Acts 20:33-34; John 10:11-13)

The true church must baptise by immersion (Matt 3:13-16)

The true church must bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17)

The true church must practice divine healing (Mark 3:14-15)

The true church must teach that God and Jesus are seperate and distinct individuals (John 17:11; 20:17)

The true church must teach that God and Jesus have bodies of flesh and bone (Luke 23:36-39; Acts 1:9-11; Heb 1:1-3)

The officers must be called by God (Heb 4:4; Ex 28:1; 40:13-16)

The true church must claim revelation from God (Amos 3:7)

The true church must be a missionary church (Matt 28:19-20)

The true church must be a restored church (Acts 3:19-20)

The true church must practice baptism for the dead (1Cor 15:16&29)

"By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt 7:20)


Those are the 17 points to the true church.

Answer 7

Hi. I believe, of course this is just my opinion, that a Christian Church is a church in which you worship Christ, believe Jesus is his son and died for us. I have to agree with you on the second paragraph. Hope I helped a lil bit.

Answer 8

A Church that teaches the need for Salvation, and to be Saved you must go through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. To be Saved you must be called upon by our Lord, answer the call and ask for forgiveness of our sins with a sincere heart (Repent).

Answer 9

What must we do to be saved..they ask Peter....what did he say?

Acts 2:38

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

A belief in Jesus Christ as your Savior is the center of the Chrisitan Church......to accept the sacrifice he made for you on the cross. Jesus Christ is the only way. He is the way, the truth and the life....no one comes to the Father but by him...

Answer 10

Yes. Lutheran church is not true religion with false ministers and pastors. All what you mentioned are not true religion and its members are not true christians. Children should not be baptize at their young age because they are still ignorant of what is right and what is wrong and not yet committed a sin. There is such thingas inderited sin. Remember that baptism is the washing away of sins. This is in the bible.Yes, confirmation is not necessary and not needed. Not biblical.The seven sacraments are not true to a true religion. Not biblical.
Christianity believe ssolely on the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is said to be christiannity because of the name of Jesus Christ. The true followers of Christ. The religions you have mentioned are not true followers of Christ.Catholicsim is false religion and were enticed to follow the wrong path instead to the right path.
jtm