What Christians believe?

Question

I always read posts saying what "Christians" believe and don't believe, and most of them by protestants who seem to think the name "Christian" only applies only to them and not Catholics or Eastern Orthodox. My questions is: How can a group that represents less than 20% of all Christians say what Christians believe? Here are some simple facts:

The total number of Christians in the world is: 2.1 billion. This is how it breaks down:

1) Catholics: 1.3 billion
2) Eastern Orthodox: 0.4 billion
3) Protestansts (Baptists, Lutherans, etc. etc): 0.4 billion

In light of these statistics, how can a group that represents less than 20% of Christians say what Christians believe? And, more than that, among themselves they argue endlessly because that small group is divided into hundreds of "denominations" who all disagree on doctrines. Yet they claim that the Holy Spirit guides them when they read the Scriptures. The arrogance is stupifying. I have never a good reply to this.

BY THE WAY: I'm not saying the majority is always right, I am simple saying that a group that represents less than 20% of Christians cannot say what all Christians should believe !!

LINKS FOR TRUTH SEEKERS.....
On the Church:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Pillar.asp
On Purgatory (includes lessons in Real Audio):
http://www.fisheaters.com/purgatory.html
On the saints:
http://www.catholic.com/library/mary_saints.asp
On the Pope:
http://www.catholic.com/library/church_papacy.asp

Answer 1

Of course you're right. Lots of people just assume that their opinions on God and spirituality are the same as God's. But a lot of it might be typing-laziness too. Maybe some of them MEAN "Christians I know and who agree with my church's teachings believe that ...." but out of laziness they just type "Christians believe that...."

Just a thought.

Answer 2

In my opinion there are three criteria to judge a true belief: based on the bible, based on reason and based on consensus.
Christians are divided by version and interpretation of the bible.
Christians do not think logically. Superstition prevails over science 24/7.
Your point, which is a very good point, Christians do not care what other people think.
At this point the Christian witness is so bad most people ROFL with the atheists.
There is nothing to stop people from choosing a good translation and a valid interpretation, to start thinking logically and to start caring about others.
To answer your question a group of less than 20% Christians can say what Christians believe and they can be more than 80% wrong. That does not exclude them from the family of Christians. We have to bear one another's burdens.
On a bright note I would say more than 80% of Christians are less than 20% wrong.

Answer 3

The smaller the denomination the more likely a person is on the right path..... According to the Bible:

Luke 13:24-28 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. Because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ’sir, open the door for us.’
But He will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from, away from me, all you evildoers.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:21-23 “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

It seems if the denomination is larger, they are most likely NOT teaching what God intended. God knew that few would find it. The Catholic Church is huge. It does not seem that few are finding it. This coupled with various teachings that are only proclaimed by the Pope and are in violation of what the Bible says, also leads me away from the larger denominations.

As a non denominational Christian, I do not believe I can say what everyone else believes. I can say what I believe from what I have learned and pass that evidence on, but then it is up to the other person to be open minded enough to review the information and come to their own logical conclusion.

My insight is based on the Bible and not the traditions of the Church or the decree's of the Pope.

"The arrogance is stupifying." Arrogance is loudly proclaiming to have the truth but at the same time denying the very scriptures they are based on.

EDIT: I am sure that this will not be satisfactory also because I really don't think you are looking for a satisfactory answer.

Answer 4

That book, the Bible, says what we believe. That's what I go by. At one point there were way more Jews than Christians, hmmmm.
Please don't generalize the 20%.
Of 2.1 Catholics how many actually practice their religion and have a relationship with Christ? My guess: .3 billion

Answer 5

You are in error in believing that all who say they are Christian, are indeed Christian. Christ said there would be many who claim him to be the Christ and claim to follow him, but they do not follow his doctrine (Matthew 24:5, 7:21-23, Luke 6:46, 13:25).

True Christians are the FEW of the world:

Matthew 7:13-14 -- "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it.

Matthew 20:16 -- So the last will be first, and the first last. For MANY are called, but FEW chosen."

But then, to a Catholic, the Words of God are of no consequence? What they believe is right, and no one, not even God, can tell them otherwise.

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Matthew 24:5 -- For MANY will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

Matthew 7:21-23 -- "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. MANY will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

Luke 6:46 -- "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?

Luke 13:25 -- When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'

Answer 6

Christians are followers of Christ. Christians are known by their love not a religion.

Jesus Christ is not a religion, He is God's way of reaching down to man with love, grace, salvation and the personal relationship with God that God intended for man to have from the start.

James 1:27 (King James Version)
27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Answer 7

St Paul makes an attempt in 1 Corinthians chapter15. No doubt one can discuss what he says, but it's a good place to start.

Answer 8

Well, there may be 1.3 billion catholics, but I am sure those figures are based on them counting every child born to them as a catholic. Whereas, we as protestants only count those who have stated that they are Christians by virtue of having accepted Jesus as their Saviour. We don't baptize babies and add them to the roster.

Answer 9

i've got faith catholics are Christian when you consider that they settle for Jesus Christ! My mum is catholic and he or she has an rather massive kin whilst in comparison with my dad so maximum my kin is catholic. i'm a non-denominational Christian and grew to become into pondering transforming into catholic yet then i found out staying non-denominational is the appropriate for me.

Answer 10

I understand but when one (Christian) hears the lable Christian he or she implies that the person believes in Christ as his or her Lord and Savior, that he died on the cross and arose on the third day, is the Son of God and forgives every sin as in ....for ALL have sinned....and that means everyone from the beginning till the end to you understand what tis implies. Christian as in to be Christ-like; a Christ-follower, Christ-centric not one that partakes of certain actions---abortion, drug use, alcohol, pornograpy, and other acts that demonstrate a laxed mindset or belief on God or distracts (messes up the Christian belief in those simply waiting for Christians to fall on thier face; Christians are so judgmental), "you call yourself a christian and you do ........". A Christian is one that follows or accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, believes the Bible and the teachings granted by Jesus and yes at times it is difficult; we are not perfect but are forgiven and we will get our just rewards for what we do---there are reprecussions for actions taken by a Christian when they go against the teachings of God; of the groups you mention, do they accept Jesus as Lord and Savior or do they follow other teachings as Catholics--they believe in saints and the holy mother as a means for getting close to the Son and then to God, we can go directly to Jesus, Eastern Orthodox---Jesus is not the One for salvation or redemption---for those that do not believe (accept Jesus) are condemned to a hellish end, Jehova's Witness---that Jesus is a prophet and not the Savior of this world---Jesus is the ONLY way to God and salvation. So when one hears Christian the true believers is perplexed by what is reported because they do not partake of certain actions toward their fellow-men or of certain actions. Do Christains say what Christans believe no we just believe what we believe and that is to tell people what is wrong with this world and some just can take that. Most do not like Christians because they see them as imposing our belief on them and condemn their actions and being judgemental; judging is left to God and this is done by the actions taken by the person as one single individual and not as a group; where is that young man that went to the school of missionary trainning? According to my belief system (if he died in his sins--killed others he will be condemn to hell. I wish I could be nice about that young man's future but that is what the Bible tells me to be the truth. For it is appointed for men to die once and then the day of judgement---is this literal or not?.
What about all the prists that sexually abused the many innocent children will they go to heaven, will they pray to get out of pugratory, will they pary the rosary to gain a place in heaven or will they ask the holy mother to ask Jesus for permission to go to God?
You do not have to answer me but as you said the arrograncei sutpifyin and you have never heard a good reply to this---your question.