What it takes to be a Christian

Every so often reference is made to Mormons as something other than Christians. In fact one can even find articles alluding to it:

and there are even questions about Catholics qualifying as Christians.



In light of these rather odd (in my opinion) perspectives, I'm curious as to what others feel are the elements a religion needs to qualify as Christian.


(NOTE. If you have any insight as to why Mormonism or Catholicism wouldn't qualify, please share.)

.

To be a Christian, one must be a follower of Christ.

What axe elf said.

Axe Elf said:

To be a Christian, one must be a follower of Christ.

Click to expand...

Not if you're Catholic, they just have to dunk you in a small swimming pool and you're in. You can't even get out unless they throw you out. It's like a virus, once you catch it you're stuck.

The Catholic issue goes back to Martin Luther and developed into Protestants thinking Catholics are not "real" Christians in the same way that some Sunni Muslims don't accept Shi'a as "real" Muslims.

Mormon theology is pretty far from Catholics and Protestants so that intellectual difference is sufficient.

What is a real Christian? The internet is full of opinions on this topic starting from accepting Jesus, accepting the Nicean Creed and going even further into intellectual/theological hair splitting. To me, a Christian is something who tries to live the kind of life that Jesus is reported to have advocated in the Bible. But take your pick.

Mindmaster said:

Not if you're Catholic, they just have to dunk you in a small swimming pool and you're in. You can't even get out unless they throw you out. It's like a virus, once you catch it you're stuck.

Click to expand...

No, even if you are Catholic, you must be a follower of Christ in order to be a Christian.

To the extent that Catholics are not followers of Christ, then that would be evidence that Catholics are not Christians.

sunrise123 said:

The Catholic issue goes back to Martin Luther and developed into Protestants thinking Catholics are not "real" Christians in the same way that some Sunni Muslims don't accept Shi'a as "real" Muslims.

Click to expand...

Off topic, but I've always wondered how many "Shiite Happens" t-shirts I could sell in Baghdad.

Axe Elf said:

No, even if you are Catholic, you must be a follower of Christ in order to be a Christian.

To the extent that Catholics are not followers of Christ, then that would be evidence that Catholics are not Christians.

Click to expand...

The process for leaving the Catholic Church formally is pretty complicated: Actus formalis defectionis ab Ecclesia catholica

Certainly, most people don't bother...

How are Catholics not followers of Christ? I'm sincerely confused by your statement. They are the largest denomination of Christians period. Other than me, of course, who gives less than a single flying about that status.

Mindmaster said:

How are Catholics not followers of Christ?

Click to expand...

I did not say that they were not.

1. The OP asked what it takes to be a Christian, and I said that one must be a follower of Christ to be a Christian.
2. You said not for Catholics.
3. I said yes, even Cathoiics must be followers of Christ to be Christians; if they are not followers of Christ, then they are not Christians.
4. You asked me how Catholics are not followers of Christ.

Do you see the non-sequitur now?

Skwim said:

Every so often reference is made to Mormons as something other than Christians. In fact one can even find articles alluding to it:

"Mormons and Christians: So Close, Yet So Far Away"

"What are the Key Differences Between Mormonism and Christianity?"

​

and there are even questions about Catholics qualifying as Christians.

"Are Catholics Christian?"

"Should Roman Catholicism Be Considered a Christian Religion?"
​

In light of these rather odd (in my opinion) perspectives, I'm curious as to what others feel are the necessary elements a religion needs so as to qualify as Christian.


(NOTE. If you have any insight as to why Mormonism or Catholicism wouldn't qualify, please share.)

.

​

Click to expand...

What qualifies someone as being Christian? to answer that Jesus said I am the way and the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me. So Jesus left a patten for us to follow. John 14:6, 1 Peter 2:21
In order to be considered we must follow what Jesus taught.

We have the bible as a revelation in those books can be found Jesus words. we must use gods word as a lamp to see who really is following gods word. So you figuratively shine the lamp on them and you will see if it matches up or not.

Jesus said by their fruits (works, doings) you will know them. Matthew 7:19-20

Here is a nice criteria I use and this removes many religions

1. Jesus said only Jehovah (YHWH) must be worshiped Matthew 4:10, Jesus has Deuteronomy 6:13 in mind
2. loving your neighbor as yourself Matthew 22:39
3. we should go preaching Matthew 28:19-20
4. Paradise earth Psalm 37:29, Matthew 5:5, 2 Peter 3:13
5. using images in worship is a no no Exodus 20:4-5, Deuteronomy 4:16-19

of course there is a lot more but just to give an example

So your either following his teachings or not, but of course making changes takes time, so as long as when we find out new information we make adjustments then you can be considered christian. Because religion is so broad and even the bible on its own can be daunting

Skwim said:

Every so often reference is made to Mormons as something other than Christians. In fact one can even find articles alluding to it:

"Mormons and Christians: So Close, Yet So Far Away"

"What are the Key Differences Between Mormonism and Christianity?"

​

and there are even questions about Catholics qualifying as Christians.

"Are Catholics Christian?"

"Should Roman Catholicism Be Considered a Christian Religion?"
​

In light of these rather odd (in my opinion) perspectives, I'm curious as to what others feel are the necessary elements a religion needs so as to qualify as Christian.


(NOTE. If you have any insight as to why Mormonism or Catholicism wouldn't qualify, please share.)

.

​

Click to expand...

Sacraments of christ

Anyone who follows Christ is Christian. Any other definition is politics.

Skwim said:

Every so often reference is made to Mormons as something other than Christians. In fact one can even find articles alluding to it:

"Mormons and Christians: So Close, Yet So Far Away"

"What are the Key Differences Between Mormonism and Christianity?"

​

and there are even questions about Catholics qualifying as Christians.

"Are Catholics Christian?"

"Should Roman Catholicism Be Considered a Christian Religion?"
​

In light of these rather odd (in my opinion) perspectives, I'm curious as to what others feel are the necessary elements a religion needs to qualify as Christian.


(NOTE. If you have any insight as to why Mormonism or Catholicism wouldn't qualify, please share.)

.

​

Click to expand...

To be a Christian, one must believe Jesus is the definitive divine incarnation in human history and the messiah for humanity.

Seems to me there are two issues here; one of Christ and one of the Church. Early Christianity bills the Church as Christ's bride/body - ie. indivisible. This was expressed by the administration of holy sacraments among other things.

Nowadays there are different "churches" and sects, all claiming to be 'authentic' and some Christians who have nothing to do with any Church or sacraments, as they feel they just need to 'believe' and study the bible.

The absence of traditional sacraments, theology and apostolic succession has resulted in a plethora of schismatic, atomized, charismatic christianities aimed at gaining 'believers' by appealing to the lowest intellectual and spiritual denominator. In the west this has been depressingly successful but by its very nature, it's unstable.

As long as the charismatic pastor can hold his 'church of glory-be' together, then it's all good. As soon as controversy and contention sets in, the utter lack of foundations mean the house of cards collapses and the surviving detritus breaks apart, spawning numerous new offspring.

That said, I guess like anything else, Christianity is what you need it to be for you.

Axe Elf said:

To be a Christian, one must be a follower of Christ.

Click to expand...

Totally agree. Because this is true. Christians are the followers of Christ

I believe that Christ is for the peace of God, so anyone, whether he calls himself a Christian or something else, I may consider Christian or Christ-like. I think there are some people who call themselves Christian but are not for the peace of God. Them, I do not consider them Christian and I have been bashed for saying so already, so you need not hit me. So, some Mormons, some Catholics, and everybody else can be Christ-like or (from my pov) Christian.

@kjw47 I'm not going to guess what percentages of any group of people are really for the godlike peace. I know that the doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses doesn't make peace. Is it leading to peace on Earth? Who knows? I don't.

I think that "to follow" someone does not make the person like that someone they are following. Think surveillance and that other thing that I can't think of the word for.

A Christian is someone who is learning from Christ and then living that way.

In my opinion.

Maybe people have noticed that I don't always call Christ, "Jesus". The reason why is that I think there are many true christs and that the Bible calls that number "144,000".

The word for to follow someone is stalking. (the one I couldn't think of before).
And the Bible might call those, "wolves in sheep's clothing".

Paul Chavez said:

We have the bible as a revelation in those books can be found Jesus words. we must use gods word as a lamp to see who really is following gods word. So you figuratively shine the lamp on them and you will see if it matches up or not.

Click to expand...

So you're saying a Christian should take their understanding of what they are reading in the Bible, and use that understanding as the litmus test against others who claim to follow Jesus to see whether or not the measure up to their understanding? Isn't there an injunction in the Bible about not doing that, such as "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls"?

Paul Chavez said:

Jesus said by their fruits (works, doings) you will know them. Matthew 7:19-20

Click to expand...

I agree with this. And someone who has never read the Bible can discern this quite easily in another. You don't need theology to understand Love and its fruits.