What makes someone a Christan?

[Ziggy Stardust]

There are also people out there who believe in Jesus' divinity, but do not view themselves as Christians.

Ah yes, I see what you mean.

 

[IglooDame]

And I would add,

- Actively commits to the teachings of Christ and tries to follow them.

Because if you dont, then by definition you think people like the Lords Resistance Army out of Africa are Christians while they still engage in hugely non-christ like activity. I tend to think its really hard to legitimately call yourself a christian when your cutting the arms and lips off a person....

Nope, they're Christian too, just really bad or misguided or badly taught ones. They are Christian, the Westboro congregation is Christian, child-molesting priests are Christian, IRA bombers were Christian, the Crusaders were Christian, and the Spanish Inquisitors were Christian. Religion is about fundamental beliefs, and for Christians it is as Ziggy said. By the same token, Muslims that fly planes into buildings, blow themselves up at weddings, or throw acid in women's faces really are all Muslims, it's just a question of whether they're really doing what Muhammed told them to do.

And this isn't just my opinion, it's my wife's as well (and she's a Christian by any standard mentioned in this thread so far).

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

And that makes sense. Why use a label that Jesus didn't use ("Christian") for a definition he did use (those that follow him)?

 

[warpus]

And that makes sense. Why use a label that Jesus didn't use ("Christian") for a definition he did use (those that follow him)?

Cause "Christian" and Christianity are ideas that only arose decades (centuries?) after Jesus died.

 

[Formaldehyde]

According to Wikipedia, you are all wrong - at least partially:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian

A wide range of beliefs and practices is found across the world among those who call themselves Christian. A 2007 survey in the United States identified the following typical categories:[6]

Active Christians: Committed to attending church, Bible reading, and sharing their faith that salvation comes through Jesus Christ.

Professing Christians: Also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" as the key to being a Christian, but focus on personal relationships with God and Jesus more than on church, Bible reading or sharing faith.

Liturgical Christians: High level of spiritual activity, mainly expressed by attending and recognising the authority of the church, and by serving in it or in the community.

Private Christians: Believe in God and in doing good things, but not within a church context. In the American survey, this was the largest and youngest segment.

Cultural Christians: Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation. They are the least likely to align their beliefs or practices with biblical teachings, or attend church. They favor a universal theology that sees many ways to God.

Rice Christian: Someone who converts to christianity for survival.

Other countries may not show the same variety, especially where there is active persecution of Christians.

People who have a distinct heritage and come to believe in Jesus may also identify themselves differently. Messianic Jews believe that they are a sect of Judaism and that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and the Divine Savior. They seek to live in obedience to the Hebrew Scriptures, including the Torah and Halakha.

The definitions I have read thus far have ignored Cultural and Rice Christians along with Messianic Jews.

 

[El_Machinae]

And this isn't just my opinion, it's my wife's as well (and she's a Christian by any standard mentioned in this thread so far).

Basically, you know you're a Christian if you go to Heaven after you die. Jesus himself is quoted as saying that a lot of people who thought they were Christian won't be accepted into Heaven. So, belief is clearly not the sole factor.

.

I waffle between "follows the teachings of Christ" and "self-identifies as Christian.

 

[Bill3000]

I waffle between "follows the teachings of Christ" and "self-identifies as Christian.

Heretics are Christians too. Just lost souls. I wouldn't call people who follow sola fide non-Christian.

 

[GenMarshall]

On the basic level (to include Mormons and non-Trinidadian Chrisians), someone who acceps Jesus as their lord and savior.

On the orthodox level (Trinidadian Christians), same as above but acceps the Nicen Creed.

 

[Stile]

I don't think most posters definitions go far enough. A few years back, then-President Bush implied in a speech that was supposedly reaching out to Muslims that we, Christians and Muslims, worship the same God. Is that right? We do both, along with Jews, worship the God of Abraham. Doesn't knowledge of the character of God make a difference? Do all monotheists worship the same God with the difference being their knowledge of who He is?

For example, say I had a friend from school named Josh. If ten years after we parted ways I met his wife of 5 years, we would know the same man only with different stories and a different relationship. I would say we know the same man, but what if his character or nature has changed. I say that's too far. The man I know no longer exists.

I think you have to look at the gospels. As the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith said, the first principle of the gospel is to know the nature of God. Therefore, I say to be a Christian, and this is distinct from salvation of which I make no judgements, one must adhere to the Jesus of the gospels as they were known to the first apostles. This includes Catholics, restorationists, but not LDS or Strong City cultists (as an example of a cult to someone who claims to be a returned Jesus). Sorry, saints.

 

[Aegis]

Aren't you Christian as long as you believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and was resurrected?

That's the standard definition 'round these parts.

 

[Truronian]

And I would add,

- Actively commits to the teachings of Christ and tries to follow them.

Because if you dont, then by definition you think people like the Lords Resistance Army out of Africa are Christians while they still engage in hugely non-christ like activity. I tend to think its really hard to legitimately call yourself a christian when your cutting the arms and lips off a person....

Christian =/= good Christian. If you discount sinners from being Christians then by Christianity's own doctrine you're gonna be left with no-one.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Therefore, I say to be a Christian, and this is distinct from salvation of which I make no judgements, one must adhere to the Jesus of the gospels as they were known to the first apostles. This includes Catholics, restorationists, but not LDS or Strong City cultists (as an example of a cult to someone who claims to be a returned Jesus). Sorry, saints.

Who decides who the Jesus of the early gospels was? Clearly, it is acceptable to believe non-gospel things about him as well (else I don't see how Catholics make the list.)

 

[Death_Machine]

For example, say I had a friend from school named Josh. If ten years after we parted ways I met his wife of 5 years, we would know the same man only with different stories and a different relationship. I would say we know the same man, but what if his character or nature has changed. I say that's too far. The man I know no longer exists.

I think you have to look at the gospels. As the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith said, the first principle of the gospel is to know the nature of God. Therefore, I say to be a Christian, and this is distinct from salvation of which I make no judgements, one must adhere to the Jesus of the gospels as they were known to the first apostles. This includes Catholics, restorationists, but not LDS or Strong City cultists (as an example of a cult to someone who claims to be a returned Jesus). Sorry, saints.

In regards to the first paragraph, I can't help but think of Obi Wan Kanobi talking about Vader.

Second paragraph: how do Mormons not follow the teachings of Christ?

 

[Stile]

Who decides who the Jesus of the early gospels was? Clearly, it is acceptable to believe non-gospel things about him as well (else I don't see how Catholics make the list.)

You could be right. I might not know enough about Catholics. Could you give some examples of things they believe that are not gospel based? I think having a difference in theology is OK, as long as it is based on the Bible.

 

[bigfatron]

It is not possible to give your child the "complete picture" no matter what - even if you are an atheist, you will be teaching specific values to your child, and those values will pretty much be only the ones you already hold. But it is possible to at least explain the difference of other views to your kid no matter what you believe.

But you can be honest about which things you tell them are facts, which are theories and which are beliefs.

So in terms of my strong agnosticism/weak atheism, I have been very open with my children that this is my opinion, and that I can never be sure and do not expect them to reach the same conclusions as I did. At least one of my kids has toyed with christianity, we neither encouraged nor discouraged her.

It annoys me how many things which are unsubstantiated or downright untrue are taught as 'facts' because they are religiously inspired. IMHO this becomes dangerous when it leads people to have unfounded certainties about life.

BFR

 

[Stile]

Second paragraph: how do Mormons not follow the teachings of Christ?

They might. That's not my point. I think their subsequent scriptures makes them a distinct religion as they have stories of Jesus that reveal a Jesus that would be foreign to the first Christians. They've changed his character. Should I research some specifics?

 

[Masquerouge]

You could be right. I might not know enough about Catholics. Could you give some examples of things they believe that are not gospel based? I think having a difference in theology is OK, as long as it is based on the Bible.

The whole thing about Mary being a virgin even after she gave birth, IIRC.

 

[holy king]

well, this is what catholics have to say about their belief:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

[Formaldehyde]

It annoys me how many things which are unsubstantiated or downright untrue are taught as 'facts' because they are religiously inspired. IMHO this becomes dangerous when it leads people to have unfounded certainties about life.

http://www.evilbible.com/Top_Ten_List.htm

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Trinitarianism is not really Biblical either, but no one suggests that all Trinitarians are non Christian (that I know of).