Christian? (Jesus Christ, Messiah, beliefs, choice, doctrine)

[Aasimar]

Alright, another broad question, I just want to put this out there to see the varying responses. Open to everyone, theistic or not, whatever. In your own words:

Define "Christian"

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by Aasimar

Alright, another broad question, I just want to put this out there to see the varying responses. Open to everyone, theistic or not, whatever. In your own words:

Define "Christian"

Someone who follows what they believe to be the teachings of Christ?

[Aasimar]

I'll respond to my own question.

I define Christian as someone who believes Jesus Christ was the son of God and the Messiah.

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by Aasimar

I'll respond to my own question.

I define Christian as someone who believes Jesus Christ was the son of God and the Messiah.

I think your definition might be too narrow, does it not exclude for example Unitarians?

[UltraViolet]

Originally Posted by stephenw

Someone who follows what they believe to be the teachings of Christ?

*BUZZ*

I'm sorry but that would be the wrong answer!
Christians must follow the "Jesus" package
put forth by the mainstream churches
of their choice.

No "correct" church doctrine=
no christianity.

I absolutely ADORE the teachings and stories of Y'shua,
and I SEE AND UNDERSTAND them for myself...
yet no one in their RIGHT MIND would call me a christian.

(and I would cringe at the thought!)

I also think there is alot of TOTAL BS in the Bible.
Y'shua never said we should learn our faith from a book though.
It's the churches who do that.

So no,
someone who follows what THEY think are the teachings of Christ...
would not be the right answer.

[UltraViolet]

Originally Posted by Aasimar

I'll respond to my own question.

I define Christian as someone who believes Jesus Christ was the son of God and the Messiah.

I think that would be a pretty good general answer,
but still that could be even understood in ways
that no mainstream church/christian would accept.

Do MS christians consider gnostics to be christians?
I don't think so... right?

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by UltraViolet

*BUZZ*

I'm sorry but that would be the wrong answer!
Christians must follow the "Jesus" package
put forth by the mainstream churches
of their choice.

No "correct" church doctrine=
no christianity.

So no,
someone who follows what THEY think are the teachings of Christ...
would not be the right answer.

I disagree. You are being too narrow. The Anglican church for example includes liberal Christianity which -"broadly speaking, is a method of biblical hermeneutics, an individualistic method of understanding God through the use of scripture by applying the same modern hermeneutics used to understand any ancient writings. Liberal Christianity is not a belief structure, and as such is not subject to any Church Dogma or creedal statements. Unlike conservative Christianity, it has no unified set of propositional beliefs. The word liberal in liberal Christianity denotes a characteristic willingness to interpret scripture without any preconceived notion of inerrancy of scripture or the correctness of Church Dogma"- Wiki

[UltraViolet]

Originally Posted by stephenw

I disagree. The Anglican church for example includes liberal Christianity which -"broadly speaking, is a method of biblical hermeneutics, an individualistic method of understanding God through the use of scripture by applying the same modern hermeneutics used to understand any ancient writings. Liberal Christianity is not a belief structure, and as such is not subject to any Church Dogma or creedal statements. Unlike conservative Christianity, it has no unified set of propositional beliefs. The word liberal in liberal Christianity denotes a characteristic willingness to interpret scripture without any preconceived notion of inerrancy of scripture or the correctness of Church Dogma"- Wiki

I was only teasing about the "wrong answer" thing BTW.
Just wanted to be a game show host for a minute.

If a viewpoint is not mainstream enough does it count?
Surely less mainstream views , and personal interpretations of Y'shua,
will get you black eyes in most any christian forum. no?

I don't know?
you can buzz me now
if you still think I'm wrong.

I only know what I have seen and encountered.