What is the difference between a true and a religious Christian?

Question

This is my definition of the two:
A true Christian is someone who follows the Bible 100% because the Bible comes from God 100% and he/she does not follow man made religious rules.
A religous Christian is someone who has a clear mind of what the religious rules are of their particular religion and has vowed to follow these rules over the rules that the Bible's rules. This person also keeps certain rules of the Bible but the man made rules of their religion overpowers on how this person believes. In another word, a religious Christian loves man made rules over God's rules and shows that in his her traditions and actions.

Please give your responses on how you feel on my definition and how accurate you feel my definition is and how would you define each Christian if it was up to you?

The old testament when terrible things happened is just to show us what people did to each other when Jesus was not around. I thought everyone knew this. I see not all people do.

Answer 1

To my perception, your definitions are very close to mine. A true Christian follows ALL of Christ's teachings and commandments. They may not follow 100%, but very close (since all men sin.) For example, David slept with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. However, he repented from his sin and followed God with all his heart. Repented is a commonly misused word. Repent is to confess and never again return to the sin. Also, a true Christian shows he has Christ within him by responses that reflect the nature of Christ. A true Christian is always down to earth and very wise from the insight he has acquired.

Your definition of a religious Christian is also very close to mine. I would have to add that some religious "Christians" may not be Christians but claim they truly are. Other may have Christ in their life, however, they devise their own rules and never pray for God to guide them daily. In addition, these Christians are the superficial ones. They are also the hypocrites who claim one thing and then engage in the opposite continually.

Answer 2

A religious person goes through the motions as dictated by the religion. It's amazing to watch Catholics, for example, who know exactly when to pull down the kneeling rail, put it up, stand, sit and go forward to eat a wafer. All of that is religion and it has nothing to do with Jesus, because he didn't do most of those things! Jesus was JEwish, so any rituals he followed were common Jewish rituals, many of which involved wine, covering the head, etc. Jesus didn't spend a lot of time in the temples. Mostly he was out among the people. He told us how to live and conduct our lives in a manner he wished. Turning the other cheek when struck. Doing twice as much work as asked for. Living a spartan lifestyle. Ministering verbally and non-verbally through actions and deeds as Jesus did. That's considerably different from stand, sitting, kneeling and singing a song of praise, which is what all religions are about.

Answer 3

A true Christian has love in his or her heart. Religious people are motivated mainly by appearances, social pressure and superstition.
Kind friend, no life can be lived in a book, but a heart led by love, sincerity and respect can guide a person through a proper life.
Before you completely dismiss the idea of "man-made rules", there are a few serious questions you must ponder. All the scriptures that we have now have been copied by human hands and have been subjected to social pressures and political climates. One question you will need to ask yourself is whether human society is worthwhile or not.
A negative answer is the one that leads to Armageddon.
What did Jesus say about loving your neighbor?

Answer 4

A true Christian is a person who believes that Jesus Christ is God, that he resurrected from the dead (and is therefore alive today) and was born of a virgin (indicating his sinless nature). According to Romans 8:9 this requires the indwelling Holy Spirit; '... however, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.’
A religious Christian behaves just like a Christian but does not have the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

A christian is a born- again believer, who has accepted
Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and the Bible is the
principle guide line for their life.

2. Some religions up-hold man made guide lines as more
inportant than the teachings of God's Word.

Answer 6

In serving God, Christ set an example:

1 Peter 2:21:"In fact, to this [course] YOU were called, because even Christ suffered for YOU, leaving YOU a model for YOU to follow his steps closely. "

Hebrews 10:7: "Then I said, ‘Look! I am come (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do your will, O God."

Christians gladly give public testimony to Scriptural truth:

Romans 10:10: "For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation."

Hebrews 13:15: "Through him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name."

Isaiah 43:10 - 12: " “YOU are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. I—I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.”

“I myself have told forth and have saved and have caused [it] to be heard, when there was among YOU no strange [god]. So YOU are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I am God.

Please examine your own Bible, thank you!

Answer 7

I don't think I fit either of your definitions.

Some would call me a "Christian," I'd describe myself as a follower of Christ.

If you follow the Bible "100 percent," then I encourage you not to follow this Biblical rule . . .

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 - 18 If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father and mother, who does not heed them when they discipline him, 19then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the gate of that place. 20They shall say to the elders of his town, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death. So you shall purge the evil from your midst; and all Israel will hear, and be afraid.

I encourage you to follow Christ, not an anthology of books.

Godspeed.

Answer 8

one can not follow the Bible 100% it is impossibility. But to answer your question according to the Bible read the story of the good samaritian.

Answer 9

That was totally the message at church today! John said 'whoever says he loves me and doesn't obey my commands is a liar'.... so yea, you've got to live it.... from 'going to church' and reading your Bible to the most important parts.... loving your neighbor, caring for the widows and orphans, etc. So you can do 'all the right things' but if your heart isn't loving and kind, you've got religion, but not Jesus.

Answer 10

There are true Christians and there are false Christians by Jesus' word. You must belong to a true Christian religion so as to be properly taught, you cannot do it on your own.