How do you define a Christain?

[Gearoidin]

From another thread on Unitarians:
**

To be a Christian one must be baptized

. For one to be validly baptized, it must be done using the Trinitarian formula:
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

Is this the standard defination used for a Christain? Where does this leave Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) who do not believe in the practice of the outward rites and sacraments?

This is a discussion I got into with some Baptist missionaries after Mass last Sunday. That were told that the Catholic church had the highest number of converts in the area and had come to see why. (They seemed rather shocked by the amount of Bible based prayers in the Mass.)
A group of us went out for a meal afterwards and during the course of conversation about Christain schools in Japan I mentioned that I had attended a boarding school run by the Religious Society of Friends. They were horrified that my parents had sent me to a school run by people who are non-Christain. I had never though of Quakers, at least the Friends I know, as non-Christains and a bit of an arguement resulted, with them stating that one has to be baptised with water and accept Christ and I argueing that onyone who follows Christ in His teaching and life are Christain.

So how is a Christain defined?

Gearoidin

**

 

[ralphinal]

I see two answers to this question. First, I consider a Christian to be anyone who has been baptised in the proper way with the proper proceedure: Trinitarian and with water. They must also understand the Trinity as defined by the Catholic Church. That is a Christian. That is not always an example of a Christian who lives the faith. That is the problem with Quakers. They do not have the correct beleifs, if that is the proper term, but they live the life much better than most of us.

It is a difficult issue. Is it better to beleive the correct things or live the proper life? In actuality, we are called to do both.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Someone baptized into the Orthodox Church, or whose baptism can be accepted by economia. So the Quakers are out, like the JWs and Mormons, Christian Scientists, etc. In the case of Quakers, it is somewhat like those who accept Christ as a philosopher but not the Savior.

 

[thirdn6]

We are Christians if we obey Him through what She tells us because He said so that we all may be one by Him.

 

[ChristianKnight]

Someone who actually believes Christ, and tries to commit as little sin as possible, even though we will, and tries to study all theologies of christianity, and has been baptized with water, and was done in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost.

I was baptized as a baptist, I was put fully underwater, to be honest, I didn’t like the idea of going fully underwater, but was kinda glad I did in the end, instead of being sprinkled with water.

I had mine done in a church that had a heater, except they forgot to mention the heater was broke, until a hour or so before it happened, so ya, kinda cold.

 

[thirdn6]

We are Christians if we obey Him through what She tells us because He said so that we all may be one by Him.

We are Christians IF we obey GOD through what THE CATHOLIC CHURCH teaches because JESUS CHRIST said so that we all may be one by THE HOLY GHOST.

 

[Rolltide]

Actually, I believe it was the strife between mainline Christians and Arians in the fourth century that originally caused this question to be asked, and the result was the Nicene Creed… a list of the VERY MINIMUM once must believe in order to consider themselves Christian.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Actually, I believe it was the strife between mainline Christians and Arians in the fourth century that originally caused this question to be asked, and the result was the Nicene Creed… a list of the VERY MINIMUM once must believe in order to consider themselves Christian.

I would concur…in addition to what ralphinal and Rolltide said…I would add all of the ecumenical creeds as necessary to be saved. The Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian.

 

[curtishouse29]

From another thread on Unitarians:
**

Is this the standard defination used for a Christain? Where does this leave Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) who do not believe in the practice of the outward rites and sacraments?**

This is a discussion I got into with some Baptist missionaries after Mass last Sunday. That were told that the Catholic church had the highest number of converts in the area and had come to see why. (They seemed rather shocked by the amount of Bible based prayers in the Mass.)
A group of us went out for a meal afterwards and during the course of conversation about Christain schools in Japan I mentioned that I had attended a boarding school run by the Religious Society of Friends. They were horrified that my parents had sent me to a school run by people who are non-Christain. I had never though of Quakers, at least the Friends I know, as non-Christains and a bit of an arguement resulted, with them stating that one has to be baptised with water and accept Christ and I argueing that onyone who follows Christ in His teaching and life are Christain.

So how is a Christain defined?

Gearoidin

Are we talking about what makes us a Christian initially? If you mean that, then it would have to be baptism in the valid trinitarian way. But to STAY a Christian is much more difficult to explain.

 

[Syele]

1. Understands and Believes all of the Nicene Creed (catholic can mean universal for this purpose IMO)
2. Has repented of all past sins and continues to Repent when they sin again.
3. Strives to do ALL that God asks of them. This includes things commanded in scriptures as well as things given in personal revelation. examples: Scriptures tell us to be baptized so we must, If I believe God told me to sell all my things and move to a new country I must do so.

 

[strngrnrth]

I thought it was someone who believes that the God of the Israelites as the Old Testament describes Him is the real God and the only God, worships and attempts to serve Him in some way, and believes that Jesus of Nazareth as described in the canonical Gospels is God and the Son of God and is the Jewish Messiah and that the canonical Gospels are true, and worships and makes some effort to please, obey or serve Him, and that God is a Trinity of a Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In that sense, then, Evangelical and Orthodox Friends are Christians at least. Gearoidin, were you in an Evangelical or Liberal Friends school, or some other branch? My first Christian community was Evangelical Friends.

 

[Gearoidin]

In that sense, then, Evangelical and Orthodox Friends are Christians at least. Gearoidin, were you in an Evangelical or Liberal Friends school, or some other branch? My first Christian community was Evangelical Friends.

Liberal, I guess. Unprogrammed meeting, no clergy etc. I think most Quaker meetings in GB and Ireland are unprogrammed. I’ve never been to an Evangelical meeting. Quakers-in-Ireland.org define Quakers as a
Quakers are a Christian denomination, committed to following the teachings of Jesus Christ. quakers-in-ireland.org/
Gearoidin

PS. I like the Our Father in your sig.

 

[thirdn6]

We are Christians IF we obey GOD through what THE CATHOLIC CHURCH teaches because JESUS CHRIST said so that we all may be one by THE HOLY GHOST.

I’m talking about the “universal” CATHOLIC CHURCH. Please don’t be mistaken…

 

[vee8]

This is a discussion I got into with some Baptist missionaries after Mass last Sunday. That were told that the Catholic church had the highest number of converts in the area and had come to see why. (They seemed rather shocked by the amount of Bible based prayers in the Mass.)

The highest number of converts in the area but I thought the Catholic church was on the decline/.never succeeded in Japan

 

[Gearoidin]

The highest number of converts in the area but I thought the Catholic church was on the decline/.never succeeded in Japan

I know. It is quite amazing! 14 people got baptised and/or received into the church this Easter. We are a very small parish so 14 is unbelievable. 2 people were from the local Anglican church the rest converts from Buddhism. Most were young people in their 20s or 30s, a few older in their 50 and some children.
Gearoidin

 

[Ahimsa]

Matthew 12:28-31:

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.a] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’**(“http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12:28-33#fen-NIV-24697b”)] The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'c]There is no commandment greater than these.”

 

[thirdn6]

Matthew 12:28-31: One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’** The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c]There is no commandment greater than these.”
**

That is perfectly true! And as the ten commandments are still true.
All these commandments are taught by the Catholic Church.
But remember, that the Word didn’t come to dwell among us to just say one or two liners. He became man and spoke with the apostles and His disciples for some time- to reveal the gospel of salvation and the kingdom of heaven. He then founded His church, to be known as the pillar of truth, that whoever enters Her finds sanctifying graces. And teachings that IF obeyed will lead to that heavenly kingdom. Because that “universal” 'C’atholic Church… is His own mystical body.