What is a Christian?

Melody said:

The very definition of Christian is a believer in Christ. No, the idea of Christianity is not to help others. It is to find salvation through acceptance of Christ's sacrifice. Helping others (good works) is a sign that you have.

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I replied to her in another thread, but then it got me thinking.

Is that what Jesus would have wanted? I feel he would have wanted us to follow his teachings, follow in his footsteps if you like, rather than set up a sort of death cult in his honour. When i think of Jesus's death it makes me sad, not happy. I feel he could have offered us so much more had he lived to a ripe old age, I feel rather than a gift, his death was a great loss.

So if i believe in Christ and follow his teachings, that does not make me a Christian because i don't think it was a great thing that he was horribly murdered?

What do you think?

Halcyon said:

Melody said:
I replied to her in another thread, but then it got me thinking.

Is that what Jesus would have wanted? I feel he would have wanted us to follow his teachings, follow in his footsteps if you like, rather than set up a sort of death cult in his honour. When i think of Jesus's death it makes me sad, not happy. I feel he could have offered us so much more had he lived to a ripe old age, I feel rather than a gift, his death was a great loss.

So if i believe in Christ and follow his teachings, that does not make me a Christian because i don't think it was a great thing that he was horribly murdered?

What do you think?

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That's a hard question Halcyon.

For my part, I think there are degrees of it. There is Christianity pure, which I would naturally qualify as Orthodoxy, but when other groups break off, they don't suddenly cease to become Christian to me. So, people just move further and further out. If somebody wants to call themselves "Christian," I'm normally pretty obliged to it, though there is a line that I will not cross (and no, I cannot explain where it is).

To that point, I tend to say "This is Christian" with reference to beliefs or practices, or I will say "this deviates here," and still grant it "Christian" (like the Filioque) despite its being flawed or even downright heretical.

So, basically, I think it's a hard question, and I don't think it's possible to draw an easy line.

Halcyon,

As Christians we celebrate the death of Christ because we believe in the resurrection. Yes, he would have had much to offer if he had lived to a ripe old age, but we confess that his death (and only his) can give humanity victory over sin and his resurrection makes his divine teachings worth their salt. That is, if Christ is not resurrected, then his teachings are of little value because most of his teachings are concerned with his role as Messiah and the role of his people in the kingdom. If Jesus is not the Christ, then his ethics really are an idealistic fantacy. We need his power to live up to his teachings, and if he is not powerful, and indeed if he is not who he says he is, then he is a liar and his words are of no value.

And not to throw orthodoxy at you, but Christians have long asked that question (what is a Christian) and we have answered it confidently for the past 1700 years. We can see the earliest confession from Scripture "Jesus is Lord" which means "Jesus is God" later written into the earliest Christian creeds: the Apostles' Creed and the Nichene Creed. Both of these creeds and the biblical creeds can be viewed at http://www.creeds.net/

Halcyon said:

Is that what Jesus would have wanted? I feel he would have wanted us to follow his teachings, follow in his footsteps if you like, rather than set up a sort of death cult in his honour. When i think of Jesus's death it makes me sad, not happy. I feel he could have offered us so much more had he lived to a ripe old age, I feel rather than a gift, his death was a great loss.

So if i believe in Christ and follow his teachings, that does not make me a Christian because i don't think it was a great thing that he was horribly murdered?

What do you think?

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Halcyon,
If Scripture is to be believed, his sacrifice was necessary for our salvation. If it is only through His sacrifice that we gain salvation, then he could not have offered us more by living to a ripe old age. He already offered everything He was and is. I see His sacrifice as this incredible gift.

I know there are people out there who believe the definition of Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Christ and who am I to argue with that? I was initially responding to someone who said they didn't even believe Christ existed and was calling themself a Christian. I didn't (and still don't) understand the logic.

Melody said:

Halcyon,
If Scripture is to be believed, his sacrifice was necessary for our salvation. If it is only through His sacrifice that we gain salvation, then he could not have offered us more by living to a ripe old age. He already offered everything He was and is. I see His sacrifice as this incredible gift.

I know there are people out there who believe the definition of Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Christ and who am I to argue with that? I was initially responding to someone who said they didn't even believe Christ existed and was calling themself a Christian. I didn't (and still don't) understand the logic.

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I believe that too.
i believe I feel a fruball coming on ..........

What is a Christian?

To me, Christians are a group of people who got George W. Bush reelected and oppose gay marriage.

What the name Christian means to different people has nothing to do with its meaning. We cannot make up our own meaning of words if we wish to engage in an intelligent conversation. The word "Christian" is found only three times in the entire Bible. (Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:16) I side with those who teach that this word is made up of the Greek "Christos" and a Latin suffix which together means "a follower of Christ". To "believe in Christ" does not mean one will follow Christ. It is far more than believing. It's living Christ as Paul wrote, "For to me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). If you want to see the Christian life at its best follow the life of Paul. He was indeed a "Christ intoxicated man."
Prosecutor

prosecutor said:

What the name Christian means to different people has nothing to do with its meaning. We cannot make up our own meaning of words if we wish to engage in an intelligent conversation. The word "Christian" is found only three times in the entire Bible. (Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:16) I side with those who teach that this word is made up of the Greek "Christos" and a Latin suffix which together means "a follower of Christ". To "believe in Christ" does not mean one will follow Christ. It is far more than believing. It's living Christ as Paul wrote, "For to me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). If you want to see the Christian life at its best follow the life of Paul. He was indeed a "Christ intoxicated man."
Prosecutor

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Please consider this an honorary fruballing. I cannot frubal for a while LOL.