NON-CHRISTIANS ONLY: What is a Christian to you? (Jesus Christ, follower)

[Poisonshady313]

Originally Posted by Tau

Oh..
Did I give the impression I wanted to have a discussion with you, about this?

I'll pretend your eyerolling isn't there and accept your apology. You should be more careful next time.

[Tau]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

Neither one is a very good excuse for sloppy thinking.

So what's your excuse?

Christianity is a judaic religion midnightBlue incidently.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

If you were to meet someone for the first time (either here on RF or in person) and he were to tell you that he was a Christian, what would that mean to you? Keep in mind that the poll is a multiple choice one. Please pick as many statements as you feel apply, and then explain your choices if you wish.

I chose the last two options on the poll. Essentially, a "Christian" is someone who calls himself "Christian" and/or includes himself in a larger group that call themselves "Christian". One need little more to be a "Christian" to me.

[Tau]

Originally Posted by Poisonshady313

I'll pretend your eyerolling isn't there and accept your apology. You should be more careful next time.

I have not the faintest idea about what you are gibbering on about.
Apologise?
Me?

I would sooner bite off my arm.

But anyway....a Christian is a name, a label, nothing more.

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Please pick as many statements as you feel apply, and then explain your choices if you wish.

No problemo, momma.

Let's take this one at a time.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person who believes Jesus Christ is God

I voted yes, but then weirdo's like me, who believe Jesus Christ is "god" and yet do not consider themselves Christians puts a small fly in the ointment. It is primarily the trait of a Christian, however.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person who worships Jesus Christ and looks to Him as his Savior

I voted yes for this one too, as otherwise it would be a bit odd to worship the being without accepting his status, thereby making one a Christian in the most literal sense, however misguided the actual concept is.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person who sees Jesus Christ as a great teacher

Absolutely not a sign of a "christian" although it is part of being a Christian. If you think he was a pretty wise guy, the chances are that you do not consider him to be the Word made flesh, nor is one likely to offer worship in his name.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person whose beliefs are based on the Bible alone

I voted yes, simply because if one takes the Bible as a sole reference then there would be very little reason to think that the person is not a Christian.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person who is believes he is “saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone.”

Again, regardless of how unseemly this might sound to some, this is certainly a sign of being a Christian however small a "C" that may be. I do admit I personally have difficulty with this one, but hey, some Christians believe this, so... hey?

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person who is likely to tell you (a non-Christian) that you’re “damned.”

This is the domain of the wack-jobs, quite frankly. It is not like they personally know anything about the topic and so their thinking should be taken with more than a few grains of salt. Besides this is not just a Christian sentiment, so you couldn't conclude the person was a Christian till they reached for your wallet or perhaps were wearing a polyester suit, a hair piece, pronounced "god" as "Gawd-ah" and "Jesus" as "Ja-eez-us". Then you could safely conclude they were a wack-job with Christian overtones.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

A person who strives to love his fellow men, including his enemies

I voted yes as this is central to traditional "Christian" thinkin', it is just a pity that most do not put it into practise.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person whose life is controlled by fear and superstition.

Again, they could be easily many other groups that instill this into the believer. Isn't this a plank of the Democratic party?

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person who belongs to a specific Christian denomination.

Being a member of a club isn't sufficient, imho.

Originally Posted by Katzpur

a person who calls himself a Christian.

Well, I disagree with the majority on this one, not that that is probably much of a surprise. To me, saying "I am a Christian" is pretty meaningless on the face of it. Once I understood where both your "head" and "heart" were, I could make a fairly accurate judgment, one way or the other.

Originally Posted by Tau

I have not the faintest idea about what you are gibbering on about.
Apologise? Me? I would sooner bite off my arm.

Strangely, I detect only one person who could be said to be "gibbering" and I don't believe it is actually Poisonshady313.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

I voted yes, simply because if one takes the Bible as a sole reference then there would be very little reason to think that the person is not a Christian.

Paul, darling, did you mean to imply that I'm not a Christian?

[YmirGF]