What makes a Christian a good Christian?

[brennan]

Good Christians are Ex-Christians

We have a winner.

 

[LucyDuke]

First of all, God does not only exist in church. God exists in everyone, and one of our goals as Christians is to see God in everyone.

Jesus said "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there as well." So it doesn't have to be in a church.

Oh, I'm not trying to suggest that God lives in a church or anything like that. People usually say God's all over the place. I'm just wondering if maybe church is one of the places where God tells you what he wants you to do!

 

[JollyRoger]

Good Christians feed the poor hungry lions

 

[Lillefix]

I agree with this. To me the Bible is less of a rule book and more of a source of inspiration, or an example to strive towoards.

Does that mean you find all of the bible just as inspiring and worthy of example or do you just choose what you think sounds reasonable and ignore the rest(Yes Joshua I'm looking at you).

And if it's the last thing(you use your reason), why do you need the bible in the first place?

 

[Zarn]

I agree with this. To me the Bible is less of a rule book and more of a source of inspiration, or an example to strive towoards.

Many, if not most, Christians would agree with that.

 

[Bigfoot3814]

Does that mean you find all of the bible just as inspiring and worthy of example or do you just choose what you think sounds reasonable and ignore the rest(Yes Joshua I'm looking at you).

And if it's the last thing(you use your reason), why do you need the bible in the first place?

Are you suggesting that I'm a part-time Christian? There are things to be learned from all parts of the Bible. Why do we need it? Well, as I said before it provides inspiration and an example to strive towoards. Not to mention, it's the word of God. The Bible also serves as a tool for bridging the gaps between sects. We all use the Bible.

 

[Lillefix]

Are you suggesting that I'm a part-time Christian? There are things to be learned from all parts of the Bible. Why do we need it? Well, as I said before it provides inspiration and an example to strive towoards. Not to mention, it's the word of God. The Bible also serves as a tool for bridging the gaps between sects. We all use the Bible.

It also separates from those that don't use the bible, but that's beside the point.

Listen, parts of the bible are simply not examples for anything(genocide, stone your children because they disobey you). I admit Jesus had many good ideas, but much of the bible consists of many horrible things now matter how you twist it.

 

[Ansar]

Pretending to be MobBoss.

 

[Zarn]

It also separates from those that don't use the bible, but that's beside the point.

Listen, parts of the bible are simply not examples for anything(genocide, stone your children because they disobey you). I admit Jesus had many good ideas, but much of the bible consists of many horrible things now matter how you twist it.

The Bible was inspired by Jahveh but written by man.

 

[El_Machinae]

I guess being a good Christian is loving God and others so much that you actually do everything you can to help people.
On specifically emulating Christ, I say don't whip the moneychangers unless you can also walk on water.

 

[MobBoss]

It takes more than simply believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God and devine for the simple reason that Satan and his demons know this to be true as well but they most certainly are not 'christians' in any sense of the word.

Which is to say anyone can claim they are a christian, just like I can claim to be a black man from Zimbabwe, but it will be quite evident that I am not such, just like so-called Christians that engage in non-christian behavior without reservation or repentance.

Being a Christian means declaring Jesus as your lord and savior and following his tenents in your life. There is no such thing as a 'good' christian. Jesus is clear in stating there is no such thing as a 'good' person as well in Matthew 19:17 where he states: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

So, if there are by definition no good christians then what are we? Simply christians trying our best to emulate Jesus and following his teachings, albeit imperfectly. Does that make us hypocrites? Possibly, but only inasmuch if we refuse to repent/or ask forgiveness of our sin.

 

[Gooblah]

I'm not Christian, but hey? Why not try:

Believe that Jesus Christ was the son of god and died for humanity's sins; follow the word of God as described in the Bible; be a good person; (IMO) don't try to convert people; Emulate the holiness that was Christ (also my opinion, since even though I'm not Christian, Hindus believe - here, at least - that Jesus was a great guy...we just don't follow his path)

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

(IMO) don't try to convert people

The heck is wrong with that? Christians have been doing that for millenia . . .

(Hindus believe - here, at least - that Jesus was a great guy...we just don't follow his path)

There are a lot of people who see him as a good person or moral example, but are not Christians because they don't meet the 3 characteristics I mentioned above; maybe I should come up with a name for that.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

I largely agree with Elrohir here and I'm too lazy this evening to write up much more.

I do have a comment to this, though:

I'm not Christian, but hey? Why not try:

Believe that Jesus Christ was the son of god and died for humanity's sins; follow the word of God as described in the Bible; be a good person; (IMO) don't try to convert people;

Opinion, meet text.

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

 

[Masquerouge]

The heck is wrong with that? Christians have been doing that for millenia . . .

Don't try to convert people by knocking on their doors at 8:00AM on a Sunday morning, I'd say.

There are a lot of people who see him as a good person or moral example, but are not Christians because they don't meet the 3 characteristics I mentioned above; maybe I should come up with a name for that.

I for one think Jesus is, on the whole, a good person and a good moral example.
Maybe secular humanism would be an adequate term?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Don't try to convert people by knocking on their doors at 8:00AM on a Sunday morning, I'd say.

I think "don't try to convert people with threats or coercion".

I for one think Jesus is, on the whole, a good person and a good moral example.
Maybe secular humanism would be an adequate term?

Except it is just as common among Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, even some Jews (and often in a religious context); I am not trying to describe all the people in general, just their attitude towards Jesus.

 

[Masquerouge]

Except it is just as common among Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, even some Jews (and often in a religious context); I am not trying to describe all the people in general, just their attitude towards Jesus.

Gotcha.

...

Hippies?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Nah nah nah, it goes deeper than that.

Jesus sympathizers?

 

[Lillefix]

I think "don't try to convert people with threats or coercion".

Now here's the thing(we're going back to the bible and morality). First of all, christians have never done that. Most of europe have been christianized by the words "get baptized or taste the sword". Then the later years it has been with threats. "Be christian or go to hell." Only the last few decades christians actually are beginning to ask nicely if others people want to adopt God or no. What does that say you may ask? Well I'll tell you. It means that christians have followed the exact same road as us secularists and only recently have developed(by our standards) good ethics. Which in turn must mean that the bible have been useless as a moral guide.

 

[Zarn]

Nah nah nah, it goes deeper than that.

Jesus sympathizers?

I don't know, man. Hippies are pretty deep, or at least off the deep end.

@Lillefix, that would not make the Bible irrelevant as a moral code. It just means people are nuts, regardless of religion.