What is a christian?

[bobgote]

much more acceptable

 

[Smidlee]

Originally posted by Margim


The two greatest commandments? Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. The second man did both, in accordance with the understanding he had.

Jesus gives the good samaritan, an unclean heretic, credit in the bible purely for his good deeds. Who are we to lay judgement? Who are you to lay judgement?

you made some interesting points but you have badly underrated the two greatest commandments. You can't honestly believe anyone could keep those commandments fully? Notice theses commandments said nothing about TRYING to love God and your neighbour. remember Jesus told the lawyer about these commandments " Thou answered right : this do and thou shall live " then the lawyer ask who was his neighbour because he was trying to justify himself . then he told the parable of the good Samaritan. the good Samaritan isn't about me being a good person since I can't keep the rightous law of God. Since man can't keep these commandment ( that lawyer knew this) there must be another way for man to be rightous before God. Notice the good Samaritan Is Jesus Christ and I'm the one who needed help and left for dead ( I was dead in tranpasses and sins). the Law and religion couldn't help me even though the law itself was good( the priest and Levite in that parable represents the Law and religion) but Thank God the Good Shepherd come by my way one day had compassion on me and did for me what the Law and religion couldn't do : took away my sin and make me rightous before God. ( I'm not going to heaven because I did anything but by trusting in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

 

[ybbor]

Originally posted by Smidlee
...but Thank God the Good Shepherd come by my way one day had compassion on me and did for me what the Law and religion couldn't do : took away my sin and make me rightous before God. ( I'm not going to heaven because I did anything but by trusting in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

amen

 

[JoeM]

Regarding Catholicism

Originally posted by Speedo


I thought Catholics believed the pope was infallible? Had a "direct link" to God (or something like that)? AFAIK, he's not worshipped, but he's not just a "mere human" like the rest of us.

Infallible in matters of Faith, not infallible in all matters.

Luiz/Achinz/Shadylookin,

Jesus is was a man and the Lord simultaneously, not exclusively. I recommend you read the Catachism, as I am, for clarification.

Originally posted by Iggy


Well you learn something every day. You can act against Christ's teachings, but as long as you beleive he died for you thats ok? You may convert some agnostics with that line. Interesting take on being a Christian.

This is a common misunderstanding which I once held, but the truth is love of God. If you love God, necessarily you accept His existance, and through this love why would you hurt other people?

Perhaps a bad analogy, but a husband who beats his wife claims to 'love' her, but most people would accept this to be untrue. If I behave in a fashion which displays that I have no love of God, hence no faith, and hence no regard for others, then how can I claim to believe?

As far as I understand, love is the crucial aspect (implicit is belief), and through this love all Christian principles are based.

Forgiveness is the consequence of love of God. It is not for us to judge anyone, it is for the Lord to forgive those who sin and it is part of the Catholic religion that there is no sin too great to be forgiven.

 

[Guildenstern]

Originally posted by Smidlee
I'm not going to heaven because I did anything but by trusting in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Going to heaven, are you? Isn't that called "presumption"?

And what's with the cannibalistic voodoo blood magic?

 

[Dr Jimbo]

Originally posted by Smidlee
... the good Samaritan isn't about me being a good person since I can't keep the rightous law of God. Since man can't keep these commandment ( that lawyer knew this) there must be another way for man to be rightous before God. Notice the good Samaritan Is Jesus Christ and I'm the one who needed help and left for dead ( I was dead in tranpasses and sins)...

eh - aren't you overinterpreting this a bit? Why not take the parable at face value - a heathen who does good works is admirable and is obeying commandment 2/2. Why equate the Samaritan to JC? JC doesn't need to be saved. The Samaritan is a good guy, plain and simple. How do we know this? Through his deeds.
Dare I say your arguments are a touch pharisaical.

 

[Smidlee]

Originally posted by Dr Jimbo

eh - aren't you overinterpreting this a bit? Why not take the parable at face value - a heathen who does good works is admirable and is obeying commandment 2/2. Why equate the Samaritan to JC? JC doesn't need to be saved. The Samaritan is a good guy, plain and simple. How do we know this? Through his deeds.
Dare I say your arguments are a touch pharisaical.

It seem you don't know the purpose of a parable. The parable of the sower in given in Luke 8:4-8 then Jesus explain the spiritual meaning of this parables in verse 10-15 . all parables has a deeper meaning to them than just " face value". But don't just take my word for it read it in Luke 10:25-37 where it clearly states that the lawyer was trying to justify himself after Jesus told him to do these commandments.

 

[Zarn]

Of course Catholic are Christians. Not only do we believe Jesus is the Son of God, we go as far as saying He is God, too. Now, how is making Jesus insignificant?

 

[Thorgalaeg]

The question is not if Catholics are christian. Catholics are THE Christians.
The question should be that all the other new little sects are.

 

[Margim]

Originally posted by Smidlee

you made some interesting points but you have badly underrated the two greatest commandments. You can't honestly believe anyone could keep those commandments fully? Notice theses commandments said nothing about TRYING to love God and your neighbour. remember Jesus told the lawyer about these commandments " Thou answered right : this do and thou shall live " then the lawyer ask who was his neighbour because he was trying to justify himself . then he told the parable of the good Samaritan. the good Samaritan isn't about me being a good person since I can't keep the rightous law of God. Since man can't keep these commandment ( that lawyer knew this) there must be another way for man to be rightous before God. Notice the good Samaritan Is Jesus Christ and I'm the one who needed help and left for dead ( I was dead in tranpasses and sins). the Law and religion couldn't help me even though the law itself was good( the priest and Levite in that parable represents the Law and religion) but Thank God the Good Shepherd come by my way one day had compassion on me and did for me what the Law and religion couldn't do : took away my sin and make me rightous before God. ( I'm not going to heaven because I did anything but by trusting in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

Actually, those commandments say everything about 'trying'. All your stregnth means there is tremendous effort involved. Christianity is not an easy ride, and the history of the early church is littered with the blood of teh martyrs to prove it. We've gotten so soft in our preaching that 'simply believing' is seen as a jsutification for the worst act imaginable. I can cheat on a wife, steal money from the poor, and kick puppies - but that's ok because i trust my life to Christ.

As for Jesus Christ being the Samaritan, my answer is simply, 'no'. Jesus was telling that story to demonstrate what loving means - self sacrifice and acceptance of others - that's what the kingdom of heavan is, not pretending loving Christ while serving yourself.

 

[Goober]

One who believes in the fictional character Christ.

Seems like a "Duh!!!" to me, but meh.