Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What is a Christian
12/30/01 | Me

Posted on 12/30/2001 7:44:36 PM PST by Sparkvark

Ive noticed alot of threads on FR that mention Christianity. I was wondering, how do you define yourself as a Christian? Does merely professing oneself a Christian make you one? Im curious, how do you perceive the Christian faith?


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Philosophy
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-163 next last
To: Alas
I recognize Christians, as those who revere and follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

They are generally easy to spot, but unfortunately somewhat rare.

They are peaceful people. Compassionate, considerate, and caring. They actually take the "love thy neighbor" thing seriously. They serve as excellent witnesses, but as much by example as by word. In short, they strive to model their live after the teachings of the Nazarene. You can tell a Christian by the feelings he inspires in others.

And by contrast, there are the people who spend their entire lives professing Christianity, but who haven't the slightest desire to follow the teachings of Christ. They see their faith as an instrument of self-righteous scorn and ridicule. They see it as a tool with which to set themselves above others, for their own agrandizement. In short, they model their lives after their desire to spit in the eye of those they deem unworthy. And just as with the true Christian, you can tell these folks by the feelings they inspire in others.

141 posted on 01/01/2002 2:37:58 PM PST by OWK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: OWK
good answer!
142 posted on 01/01/2002 3:05:52 PM PST by Gasshog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: Ol' Sparky
True Christians believe the Bible is inspired word of God and follow the principles contained in it.

So there were no "true Chrsitian's" before the KJV? The Apostle Paul didn't believe in the Bible at all.

143 posted on 01/01/2002 3:16:10 PM PST by Eagle Eye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: markn
And in some regard, thats one of the elements that seperates Christianity from Catholicism.

What in heaven’s name could you possibly be referring to? There is no heredity element to being a Catholic. Neither of my parents were Catholic. Neither of my wife’s parents were Catholic. Yet, we both are Christian Catholics.

144 posted on 01/01/2002 3:27:52 PM PST by TankerKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: Eagle Eye
So there were no "true Christian’s" before the KJV? The Apostle Paul didn't believe in the Bible at all.

A good question. I'm interested in answers to this. Was Christianity stated with the canonization of the Bible (New Testament)? Or, was it started when the Bible became readily available in print? Or, was it when literacy reached a certain point? Or, was it when a local “preacher” opened his House of the Holy Fire in an old dry cleaner’s near my house?

145 posted on 01/01/2002 3:40:39 PM PST by TankerKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: OWK
Good answer, other than the part below,

'And just as with the true Christian, you can tell these folks by the feelings they inspire in others. '

That would eliminate the Apostel Paul and actually, if you read John 6:28 through the end of John 6, the Lord Himself. For the feelings the Lord inspired in many of His followers that day was for them to flee from Him.

My only other question would be, why refer to Him as the Nazarene, instead of as the Messiah. many were and are Nazarenes, but only Yeshua is Christ, Messiah.

Merry belated Christmas.

146 posted on 01/01/2002 4:20:12 PM PST by Alas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: Eagle Eye
So there were no "true Chrsitian's" before the KJV? The Apostle Paul didn't believe in the Bible at all.

I would be most interested in knowing your source for claiming that Paul did not blieve in the Bible. Both He and Peter repeatley refer to Scripture and in 2 Timothy 3:16&16 Paul defends Scripture to Timothy, telling him: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

147 posted on 01/01/2002 4:25:43 PM PST by Alas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: TankerKC
How about Christianity starting in reality when the disciples were in the temple and they were filled with holy spirit, but didn't start in doctrine until years later when Paul figured out by revelation that the jews and getiles were one body in Christ etc etc. Col 1:27.
148 posted on 01/01/2002 4:26:28 PM PST by Eagle Eye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: Alas
I would be most interested in knowing your source for claiming that Paul did not blieve in the Bible.

Maybe you should actually think about this before you react. Or are you one of those that actually believe that 'if the KJV was good enough for Paul, it's good enough for me'? What version of Bible did Paul carry? Red letter edition? Complete with concordance and atlas? Heck he didn't even carry a pocket size set of scrolls, now did he?

Or maybe he had a Gideon's New Testament?

149 posted on 01/01/2002 5:27:07 PM PST by Eagle Eye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: Alas
My only other question would be, why refer to Him as the Nazarene....?

Because he was a Nazarene.

150 posted on 01/01/2002 6:11:45 PM PST by OWK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: Sparkvark; All
The New Birth....Starts at the BEGINNING!!................ie. Romans 10:17
151 posted on 01/01/2002 6:17:28 PM PST by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sparkvark; All
The New Birth....Starts at the BEGINNING!!................ie. Romans 10:17
152 posted on 01/01/2002 6:17:42 PM PST by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TankerKC
What in heaven’s name could you possibly be referring to? There is no heredity element to being a Catholic. Neither of my parents were Catholic. Neither of my wife’s parents were Catholic. Yet, we both are Christian Catholics.

I would like to state that I never said that it is impossible to become a Catholic when you don't have Catholic parents. However, I said Catholicism was hereditary. I mean that in the sense that the primary way of becoming a Catholic is having Catholic parents (instead of trusting on the Lord Jesus).

Obviously, there are many people who became Catholics without having Catholic parents. However, Catolicism regards a person who has never believed in Jesus as their Savior to be a "Christian" simply because their parents were Catholic and had them baptized. That is in contradiction with what is taught in Scripture. I realize that there is a confirmation when they get older. That is irrelevant. Baptism is only for those who repent and can testify that they have experienced the salvation through the atonement of Christ.
153 posted on 01/01/2002 6:18:13 PM PST by markn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: semaj
What is a Christian? A friend of Christ. Someone who wants to introduce others to the best friend a person can have.

That is an insightful definition. I would say that "follower of Christ" or "disciple of Christ" would be more accurate, though.
154 posted on 01/01/2002 6:21:33 PM PST by markn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: markn
I mean that in the sense that the primary way of becoming a Catholic is having Catholic parents....

What religious sect, shamanistic tradition, mythos, or other supernatural belief set is the NOT true of?

155 posted on 01/01/2002 6:22:41 PM PST by OWK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: InvisibleChurch
Yes.
156 posted on 01/01/2002 6:31:31 PM PST by alnick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: OWK
What religious sect, shamanistic tradition, mythos, or other supernatural belief set is the NOT true of?

I am not talking percentage-wise. (obviously the majority of Christians have Christian parents) What is really significant is whether the children of Christian parents automatically become Christian, which is the case in Catholicism.
157 posted on 01/01/2002 6:38:21 PM PST by markn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: markn
What is really significant is whether the children of Christian parents automatically become Christian, which is the case in Catholicism.

?

158 posted on 01/01/2002 6:41:19 PM PST by OWK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: shoedog

I AM A SINNER, AND I NEED A SAVIOR. JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR MY SINS. THROUGH HIS GRACE I HAVE BEEN SAVED AND I KNOW THAT GOD'S PLAN IS A HOME FOR ME IN HEAVEN. NO MAN WILL ENTER PARADISE UNLESS IT IS THROUGH HIS SON. I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND I TOO LOVE GOD TO THE DEPTS OF MY SOUL. THROUGH DAILY REPENTANCE AND LOVE OF JESUS ALL MEN MAY ALSO HAVE REDEMPTION.


159 posted on 09/25/2006 1:54:18 PM PDT by sistanani
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sistanani

Wow, you signed up today to resurrect this thread? I'm impressed.

Turn off the caps lock.


160 posted on 09/25/2006 1:55:44 PM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160161-163 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson