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What is a Christian?

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
Please give me a good thoughtful answer, and if you can use Scripture.

To me, a Christian is what Jesus' apostles were. Trained in the ways of the Father by the son who knew him intimately.
Being a footstep follower of the Christ means trying our best to live the life Jesus recommended to his first century disciples. (1 Peter 2:21; John 15:14-15) Not seeking to be tied up in empty pursuits. (John 18:36) Not being part of this world and its greed for material things, but living a simple life with an abundance of spiritual treasures in our heavenly bank account. (Matthew 6:19-21; 1 John 2:15-17)

It means being morally, spiritually and physically clean in God's eyes....and it means enduring the hatred and hardships that being a disciple of Jesus would entail. (John 15:18-21; Matthew 7:13-14)
 

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
Please give me a good thoughtful answer, and if you can use Scripture.
A Christian by definition is a follower of Paul and Simon the stone (petros) (Acts 11:26); they're the people who have been purposely misled by the Pharisees not to follow Yeshua in the Synoptic Gospels...

Christianity also heavily leans on the fake Gospel of John, mostly likely written by the Sanhedrin as it matches their Pharisaic ideas.

The original real disciples of Yeshua were called 'Followers of the Way (Dharma)' or the Ebionites (Poor Ones).

In my opinion. :innocent:
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
As someone raised Christian, but who isn't Christian my answer is ... a Christian is anyone who follows Christ. I don't think anything else is needed for that. What's a good Christian, that depends on who you ask?
 

1213

Well-Known Member
Please give me a good thoughtful answer, and if you can use Scripture.

Christian meant originally a disciple of Jesus. And a disciple of Jesus is person who remains in the words of Jesus.

When he found him, he brought him to Antioch, and for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught a large crowd. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Acts 11:26


Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

John 8:31-32
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Please give me a good thoughtful answer, and if you can use Scripture.
A Christian is someone who follows Jesus Christ - as they understand this - and identifies as Christian.

So I would include all mainstream Christian denominations, many fringe ones, and even some that mamy people normally wouldn't consider Christians (e.g. non-theist Quakers), but not people who believe in, respect, and even follow Jesus but don't identify as Christian (e.g. Muslims and Baha'is).
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
IMO, one who believes in Jesus and living in that basic faith based on love and compassion for all of God's creation. Most of the other items are pretty much "window dressing" in my opinion-- interesting to discuss, but really not the big enchilada..
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
So there were no Christians until the New Testament was compiled?

I never said or even insinuated that. Of course there were.

Are there still Christians alive today that were around before the New Testament was written? If not, you might want to recheck the tense of the verbs both in the question asked and in my reply.
 
A Christian by definition is a follower of Paul and Simon the stone (petros) (Acts 11:26); they're the people who have been purposely misled by the Pharisees not to follow Yeshua in the Synoptic Gospels...

Christianity also heavily leans on the fake Gospel of John, mostly likely written by the Sanhedrin as it matches their Pharisaic ideas.

The original real disciples of Yeshua were called 'Followers of the Way (Dharma)' or the Ebionites (Poor Ones).

In my opinion. :innocent:
Interesting thoughts. Are you saying a real follower of Jesus (Yeshua) are those that follow His commands found in the Synoptic Gospels? Putting the gospel of John aside, is this what you are saying?
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
ah yes... the first christians' thoughts made the nicene creed. the nicene creed is a result, not the cause.
So the Christians who did not accept the creed or would not have accepted it are not Christians in your view. What were they then?
 

syo

Well-Known Member
So the Christians who did not accept the creed or would not have accepted it are not Christians in your view. What were they then?
I guess they accept Christ in an uncommon way. (honestly, the Orthodox Christians call them ''heretics'').
 

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
Are you saying a real follower of Jesus (Yeshua) are those that follow His commands found in the Synoptic Gospels?
In the Synoptic Gospels there is a totally different theological understanding to Christianity that came about after.

Yeshua's Gospel in the Synoptic Gospels is about doing good works, that we make it Heaven on Earth, and thus glorify our Father in Heaven.

The Christian Gospel by John, Paul and Simon the stone teaches jesus came to die as a human sacrifice, and by believing that you are saved - which legally is the exact opposite in the Torah.
Putting the gospel of John aside, is this what you are saying?
It can not be put aside, as John deliberately contradicts Yeshua in the Synoptic Gospels, to catch out the hypocrites.

In my opinion. :innocent:
 

2ndpillar

Well-Known Member
I guess they accept Christ in an uncommon way. (honestly, the Orthodox Christians call them ''heretics'').

And what did the Roman church do with those non trinity heretics and their writings?


"In addition, if any writing composed by Arius should be found, it should be handed over to the flames, so that not only will the wickedness of his teaching be obliterated, but nothing will be left even to remind anyone of him. And I hereby make a public order, that if someone should be discovered to have hidden a writing composed by Arius, and not to have immediately brought it forward and destroyed it by fire, his penalty shall be death. As soon as he is discovered in this offence, he shall be submitted for capital punishment....." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism
 
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