• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

what makes a Christian?

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Exactly. This is why we should not dismiss science saying the earth is 4.5 billion years old, when our guesses and calculations using the Bible only tell us it's 6000 years old.
I find nothing in Genesis to conclude each of the 6 creative days were one-thousand-year long days.
There is nothing there to even indicate that each creative day was of the same or of differing lengths of time.
For that matter, each of the creative days are summed up by the single world ' day ' at Genesis 2:4.
So, nothing in Genesis is out of harmony with CMBR about earth's age.
Plus, Genesis is telling us more about getting Earth ready for mankind to inhabit Earth.
God's 7th Day is still on going as found at Hebrews 4:4-11.

Interesting that you point out that there are some people who say Earth is only 6,000 years old.
I've heard it said there are people who believe God only made the young Earth look old.
Scripturally that would be wrong because that would be saying that God is deceitful.
- God can not lie / deceive -> Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
I don't imagine a salvation of works whatsoever. That's not how I applied it. How I applied it is how James meant it, and how Jesus stated it, "By their fruits you shall know them". If you claim faith, your fruits will tells the truth of that faith. That's all that is meant.

Simply believing, is nothing. Belief that leads to transformation, is everything. In which case, it's not about beliefs, it's about fruits. Fruits is where it at. Belief without fruit, is empty. Or as Paul put it so perfectly poetically,

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Do you agree with me now?
I think it was well said.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Plenty of people can make themselves martys and think that is what makes them followers of Christ.
The emphasis should be about bearing fruit in your life here and now, not "hanging on to death". That's too easily an easier path as a salvation of works. It's a way to fool yourself thinking you've actually cast off the old man and put on the new, when you have not.

To me endurance is not making oneself a martyr but proving faithful under trial - Matthew 24:13
Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20 is about bearing fruit in one's life here and now - John 15:5
The figurative 'sheep' are found 'bearing righteous fruit' at Jesus' coming Gory Time - Matthew 25:31-34,37
To me Jesus is the 'way to life' and Not death. Way to eternal life/ aka living forever.
The Resurrection Promise (John 6:40,44) is about life, Not death. - Acts of the Apostles 24:15
We can't resurrect oneself or another so we need someone who can resurrect us, Jesus can and will - Rev. 1:18
Casting off the old man (old sinful personality) and putting on the new man (new personality fashioned after Christ) in obeying Jesus' New commandment is about life found at John 13:34-35 to love others as much as Jesus loves us.
 

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
What beliefs do you think makes someone a Christian?

I think it's all about accepting Christ as Lord:
  • Christ is God
  • Christ saves
Do you agree or disagree with this?

If so, why?

Can you think of anything else, that defines a Christian?
It is very difficult for me as an outsider to have a good idea what a Christian is, when you consider that Christians themselves can't even agree on what makes a person a Christian.

I have kind of settled into the very broad idea that a Christian is anyone who believes Jesus is the messiah who died for their sins. Although believing that Jesus is God is Christian orthodoxy, those who do not agree would be considered heretical Christians, not non-Christians.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
In my humble opinion I find Jesus humbly said he was the way, the truth and the life.
So, in my humble opinion why else would a person belong to a faith if he did Not believe it was the right faith _______
Because:
If it's the right faith to him
Does not imply it's the right faith to all
Hence phrasing it as a claim for all is wrong
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Well, to that I can agree. It's a valid thing.

But as many believers usually, esp. among
all Abrahamic Faiths, tend to superimpose their beliefs upon others their beliefs, as in the phrase "Jesus is the only way....for everyone"...and mind you, they flatly even refuse to add "In My Humble Opininion".

And when I observe and mirror back to them "You are extremely arrogant, to tell me this", they usually can't even see that, but a few did admit "well, but it is true, then I be arrogant, but I do insist in this"


But, I am glad you agree. So, I'll share my answer to "what makes a Christian"

My answer is simple:
"Only God knows what makes a Christian, and it might be different than just believing in Jesus, reading the Bible or going to Church"

It might even be that God (also) sees a true Muslim as a true Christian, or a true Hindu, or a true follower of Sai Baba, or an Atheist, or a Lucifer worshipper, or a Humanist, or those who pray to Mother Nature or ...


I agree with this but you won't get much traction about this belief on this forum. I said a few days ago that I don't spend time trying to figure out whether or not other people are going to heaven one day - that's between them and God and I have enough to worry about just trying to keep my own self straight!
 

1213

Well-Known Member
I find the Constitution of the Mosaic Law was only for one nation, the nation of ancient Israel.
Under the Law there were animal sacrifices so in order to keep the Law today one would be sacrificing animals.
....

There were rules for sacrificing. But, I don't think the law really demands that people must sacrifice.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
I think that is a misapplication of what James talked about. Salvation is not by works lest any man should boast. Or, as Jesus said, "whoever believes will not be condemned". John 3
I think that James is referring to "works" under Jewish Law: all 613 Commandments. "Works" under Jesus' teachings are very much mandated, such as we repeatedly see in his Sermon On the Mount, Parable of the Sheep & Goats, and other teachings.
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
I think that James is referring to "works" under Jewish Law: all 613 Commandments. "Works" under Jesus' teachings are very much mandated, such as we repeatedly see in his Sermon On the Mount, Parable of the Sheep & Goats, and other teachings.
Yes! As noted by Windwalker, I think we are talking about two different things. Salvation is not by works but if you are saved, works are the fruit of it.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
What beliefs do you think makes someone a Christian?

I think it's all about accepting Christ as Lord:
  • Christ is God
  • Christ saves
Do you agree or disagree with this?

If so, why?

Can you think of anything else, that defines a Christian?

I believe it must be Jesus as Lord. People can have different ideas of who a messiah might be.

I believe I base that on the fact that most often a Christian is what Jesus intended a person to be.

However I do recognize that some are calling themselves Christian because they believe a lot of things about Jesus and most surely His Messiahship. A Muslim believes things about Jesus but most likely insufficiently for calling themselves Christian and they probably wouldn't see themselves as anything but Muslim.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
I've asked that question to Christians of different denominations, here, on another forum and IRL. The conclusion was always that there is nothing all would agree upon. "Christian" is a label without meaning.

I believe if one were looking for a single reference then it is without meaning but as a general reference it does distinguish between that and other religions.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
AFAIK, the only requirement is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

I usually prefer a person to have Jesus as Lord but my wife probably fit into the case of receiving Him as savior. She the would try to run her own life and hope that Jesus would save her from herself. I wouldn't say it worked all that well for her but I do think she returned to Heaven.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
I agree with this but you won't get much traction about this belief on this forum
:)
Indeed not many. Good my Master explicitly told us to not evangelize, would be really frustrating if that were my goal

. I said a few days ago that I don't spend time trying to figure out whether or not other people are going to heaven one day
:cool:
Neither do I. I have never thought about it even (If I recall my past thoughts correctly)

that's between them and God and I have enough to worry about just trying to keep my own self straight!
:cool:
Exactly my thoughts. I rather change myself, that is not easy, but at least I am open to change. If I can change myself, then others can also change themselves ,and they don't even need me

Love, Peace and Blessings to you
 

Kelly of the Phoenix

Well-Known Member
As far as slavery goes, no matter how it goes, we all are slaves to death at the very least. If you don't believe that, ok, have a nice day. Your points against the scriptures show me you do not understand that (1) having slaves was the thing then and sometimes now in the form of keeping humans as slaves, and (2) societies were different to an extent. Anyway -- again -- have a nice day. :)
Idolatry was back in the day too.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
It is very difficult for me as an outsider to have a good idea what a Christian is, when you consider that Christians themselves can't even agree on what makes a person a Christian.

I have kind of settled into the very broad idea that a Christian is anyone who believes Jesus is the messiah who died for their sins. Although believing that Jesus is God is Christian orthodoxy, those who do not agree would be considered heretical Christians, not non-Christians.
Aside from Jesus dying for mankind's sins, I have a few comments here. One, do you believe mankind needs a messiah? Second, what would a messiah do for you? And third, if a sect or religion represented or practices atrocities, how would you feel about that in reference to putting it as the "right" religion for you even if they claim salvation among their midst? Not sure if you get the drift but let's see...
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
What beliefs do you think makes someone a Christian?

I think it's all about accepting Christ as Lord:
  • Christ is God
  • Christ saves
Do you agree or disagree with this?

If so, why?

Can you think of anything else, that defines a Christian?
The baseline is accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and Messiah, and striving to follow His teachings. Other than that, accepting the Nicene Creed, imo.
 

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
Aside from Jesus dying for mankind's sins, I have a few comments here. One, do you believe mankind needs a messiah? Second, what would a messiah do for you? And third, if a sect or religion represented or practices atrocities, how would you feel about that in reference to putting it as the "right" religion for you even if they claim salvation among their midst? Not sure if you get the drift but let's see...
Well, the Jewish idea of messiah is significantly different from Christians. There doesn't exist in Judiasm any notion that the Messiah will die and rise and save us from our sins. Basically for us, the messiah is simply the man who will rule from Jerusalem during the messianic era -- the last era of the earth before the resurrection... He will usher in this era of worldwide peace, and bring all the Jews out in the world back to the land of Israel. He is a very earthly leader. His kingdom is of THIS world.
 

YoursTrue

Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
Well, the Jewish idea of messiah is significantly different from Christians. There doesn't exist in Judiasm any notion that the Messiah will die and rise and save us from our sins. Basically for us, the messiah is simply the man who will rule from Jerusalem during the messianic era -- the last era of the earth before the resurrection... He will usher in this era of worldwide peace, and bring all the Jews out in the world back to the land of Israel. He is a very earthly leader. His kingdom is of THIS world.
So where does God in heaven fit in? You gave an interesting answer, but -- again -- where does God come into the scenario you present?
 
Top