Christianity - What is a Christian

[Justin]

This is an important question. To define Christianity would be very good to know. Many folks from all over call themselves Christians, but what is a Christian? I'm sure we're going see some different opinions but it's a good place to start.

So tell us, what is Christianity and how can we define a Christian?

[cut2thepoint]

I think the worlds depiction of a christian and what the bible claims a christian is, could be diffrent. Or indeed diffrent sub cultures of christians could exist, ie evangelical , baptist , methodist etc. Would you say they are united In there beliefs to the point they all fall under your perception of what a christian is? Also a christian may be looked upon diffrently in diffrent parts of the world due to stereotypes etc .In the middle east for example. Or look at northern Ireland, the christians there (If the rest of the christian world see's them as so) See thre own place as a christian completly diffrent to an evangelical. you are either born protestant or catholic and are expected to carry on your beliefs and protect them even if it means to kill.

Yet each group claims to know the truth.
I suppose it depends on who in gods view (if he or it exists) what a christan is . I have my own view on what a christian is, but as humans living in the flesh its a tall order to follow , but thats just a personal view.

Does to be a christian in the bible sense of the word ,come down to this : your either saved or going to hell.? I hear the word christian means annointed one.

[perplexity]

Originally Posted by Justin

So tell us, what is Christianity and how can we define a Christian?

It is a form of conditioning, usually.

They may like to talk as if they've shopped around and picked the best of the bunch, but the pretension falls apart on seeing how little they really know of the alternatives, for which, by the way , the same may just as well be said.

--- RH.

[pilgrimshost]

Christanity, as Ive studied it, experianced it and have come to accept how it is 'supposed' to be lived is simply that (I say with a 'sure' face) suppoed to be lived. Yes it is beyond our own power to fully fulfill, actually even slightly fullfil the way he wants us to live, but we were never ment to do it, it is the Holy Spirit in us (Baptised and anointed Christians) that fullfils it. As the parable, the 'vine and the branches' John 15:15 and any references that refer to the Holy Spirit empowering. ''You can do nothing without God''.

Being a Christian is about serving God with everything you have, to not submit to him in all areas is limiting Gods power and ability to move in your life, hence 'live by faith'. There are three things to compleatly submit;DESICIONS, TIME and FINANCES.
''Therefore, I urge you,brothers, in view of Gods mercy,to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,Holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will'' Romans12.

The begining is when a person belives that Jesus Christ is lord, confessing it with his mouth, and believes in his heart Jesus is raised from the dead. Then he/she asks God for forgivness of his sins and 'repents'. Salvation is gained through mercy by the blood shed when the 'Holy lamb of God' was sacrificed to wash away the sins of man forever, EPHESIANS 2:8,9. Repentance is the changing of our minds, turning from our old 'dead ways' to Gods ways, this is from the thoughts and desires of the flesh to the thoughts and desires of the Spirit. Galations 5:16-26.''Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires'' ROMANS 8:5 ''The man who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life'' GALATIONS 6:8-9 Wisdom from the Spirit 1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-16.

A person first should be Baptised in water, this is full submersion, hence the word 'baptise' which sybolises death (with Christ)and rebirth(with Christ), made a-new, set free from your past. It is thought to have a deeper spiritual meaning which is little understood, but a running theme in the Bible is that where there is a physical practice there is a mirror spiritaul aspect to it also. This is done by somebody who is already anointed. Then followed by the 'laying on of hands', where the Holy Spirit is anointed onto the person, the baptism of fire. The person is commanded by God to ''love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strengh and love each other as I have loved you''. And to ''Go ye into all the world and preach the good news to all creation'' ect MARK 16:15. Forgivness comes at a price, however. In order to be forgiven, you must totally forgive everyone else yourself

Now that person is a fully fledged member of Gods kingdom, he must now build his relationship with his 'Father' through Christ. As Christianity is all about 'Relationship, Relationship, Relationship'. The core and true meaning, the whole point of it is to reform the bond between the Lord and Adam (man) in the cool of the day back in the Garden of Eden (presence of God). ''I will reward those who dilligently seek my face'', you dont even have to find it.The more you are filled with the desire to 'seek Gods face' the closer you will get. Humility is the key to this, the formula is to recognise;1, God created this universe and us. 2, God shows that he is much more powerful than we are by what he does and has done in our world. 3, God gives us abilities that we cannot supply to ourselves or explain our worthiness of, then we are humbled.

Faith is all a man needs to bring to the 'body of Christ'. ''Without faith it is impossible to please God'', and a faith the size of a mustard seed ''can move mountains''. ''Be Holy as I am Holy'', we cannot make ourselves Holy, but only by the influence and by being ''filled to over flowing with the Spirit''. Holy means 'different'. Its the 'difference' made in us by the Holy Spirit changing our minds into the 'mind of Christ'.

'Worship' is the most important aspect to being a Christian. Anointing depends on your obedience, from obediance comes sacrifice, from sacrifice comes worship, from worship comes fellowship/sonship/heirship/and reward (or blessings). These are Love, Peace, and Salvation. Christians are commanded to be 'the light of the world','ambasidors of Christ', and 'for as much is given much is expected'.

A Christian should rely on the LORD in all things, regardless. ''Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'never will I leave you; never will I forsake you''. Hebrews 13:5 ''But seek first his Kingdom and all his righteousness and all these will be given to you as well'' MATTHEW 6:31-33 ''Trust the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways ackknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight''. PROVERBS 3:5-6. Christian conduct, a couple examples; ''My Brothers, as believers in our glorious LORD Jesus Christ, dont show favoritism'' JAMES 2:1. ''To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogence, evil behaviour and perverse speech''PROVERBS 8:13.''Do not judge, or ye will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you''MATTHEW 7:1,2. This like many other scriptures and biblical consepts is missinterpreted. Cuppled with other scriptures such as ''dont you know that your are 'gods''', which Jesus said to the people, Hebrew translation means Judges, kings, rulers and Lords (not a deity);and the scripture about ''you will judge angels''. Judging others is not 'banned' by God, it means to do it fairly, and exercise justice and mercy.

Another forgotten or neglected aspect to Christianity is; 'Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons;they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands''(this is wrongly used by some denominations, scripture should always be backed up by other scripture or it gets warped;''Do not test the Lord your God'' ect)and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all(''Do all things with sound judgment and mind''); they will place their hands on sick people, and they will be healed.'' MARK 16:16-18. Also ''of the works I have done, in my name you will do greater works than these. There is nothing to suggest that these things have seaced to operate as they are in the Bible.''Non of these will pass untill the perfect has came''. There are spiritual gifts also 1 corinthians 12:1-11. Fighting against temptation is called 'standing firm in Christ. 'The Armour of God, EPHESIANS 6:10-18.

Just to round-up; ''Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God'' ROMANS 8:12-14.

[cut2thepoint]

Ok you have given an argument from your own perspective, and your own understanding of the bible. All views count, but It is almost completly a one sided one dimensional argument. You have not looked no further than your own understanding which is fine, but when we are trying to get to a deeper understanding, I feel we have to way up many factors such as culture and other peoples view of what a christian is, and many more. As diffrent churhes will and indeed do act out there christian faith according to there own understanding of scripture, yet they read the same book!.

You say you have experienced christianity but you write it with a "been there done that" attitude. Am I wrong in my assumption?. Maybe your own experiences of when you was a christian would have been more helpfull in this thread? You have just quoted bible scripture, of what a christian should do and believe. Without tackling other factors. And in my personal view if you was just going to ramble on, maybe you could have made it a little shorter and forgive the pun cut2thepoint a little more.

[perplexity]

Originally Posted by cut2thepoint

...And in my personal view if you was just going to ramble on, maybe you could have made it a little shorter and forgive the pun cut2thepoint a little more.

My style was developed by writing letters for newspapers to publish, in which case the chance of anything more than 300 words is increasingly slim, and I reckon the same then for the internet, if not more so.

When up to 1000 words at a time, or more, you are lucky to get a response, if not to complain about that, or else on your own.

--- RH.

[cut2thepoint]

Quite but one does not want to fall asleep halfway down the page. There is writing a long piece and there is rambling.

[pilgrimshost]

So am I to assume that you, and everybody else didnt want a full answer? There is lots I didnt include, though I definatly wont bother now!

Christianity I based on what we read from the bible, which is a record of what the original church saw and did (New testament). If there is anything I spent so much time and effort on in my whole life it was my Christian life. I didnt just say, '' yea Im a christian'' and thats it..(halted by the rambling police)

{Brakes free for a moment}...and it doesnt even count 'what churches do today as any indication to what Christianity is, your analysing the wrong source! 1 the bible is the only authority (''All scripture is inspired by god'') 2. Differing denominations and verious traditions today(''Dont nullify the word of God by your traditions'') 3. The criterier for what is a Christian will never change (God is the same yesterday,today and forever).

So IF a list of scripture is not the answer to ''what is a Christian'' then what is?

Its just accured to me this isnt to find out what a Christian is 'ment' to be, but what the 'world' thinks a Christian is. If you read your Bible it will become clear that god clearly states that Christians are ''not of the world'', and ''do not love the world'', ''the world cannot comprehend the things of God'' ect, ect.

And yes, I have asked the question many, many times to why so many denominations with different doctrines all preach from the same book. The Bible answers this when it talks about the Holy Spirit teaching, revealing and instructing the Church. Ill find the scriptures later.

Before they cart me off in the meat waggon, What has anybody else got to add apart from ''there is other things to look at as well, honest''.

I have offically RAMBLED

Im wondering where all the Christians are to back me up, I dont even believe its true.

Oh no, here comes the Rambling police again...

[cut2thepoint]

Very funny you once again did not read what I put it really is a shame, but I'm not going to go on or this thread will be ruined like every other seems to be by going off the point. Its nice to see you can give a balanced argument.....not.......and do you know what makes it worse?your head is so inside itself I see no reason why you should be speaking on a philosophy forum. If you can't weigh up other forms of debate or even try to look at them from there view first before ranting on then what have you given us? If you want to reply do it in the thread I made the other day 'ranters corner' I will speak to you in there as we dont want this thread ruined as well.

[pilgrimshost]

Ok.

There are many things to Christianity that I have uncovered, ultimatly resulting in me (I was about to be ordained as an Evangelist and bible teacher by a Bishop) seeing through it and realising there is so much that doesnt quite ring true. I do have so many experiances and testamonial stories but in hiensight, they raise more questions than answers!

I can debate fairly, and I always seek alternative reasoning. Its never wise to assume anything-ever, as the truth may bite you in the bum. For this thread to develop we need to imput info into it (d'ya like that?).