Is the term "Christian" losing its meaning?

[rcwitness]

Is there such a wide, and loose connection with those who call themselves Christian, that it has lost some meaning? Scripturally, it means to follow Christ. But if so many Christians do not agree what is following Him in many different matters, does it lessen the meaning of the name?

 

[adamhovey1988]

Is there such a wide, and loose connection with those who call themselves Christian, that it has lost some meaning? Scripturally, it means to follow Christ. But if so many Christians do not agree what is following Him in many different matters, does it lessen the meaning of the name?

I think that’s a good point I mean most Mormons probably would consider themselves Christian, but I as a Catholic couldn’t do so because of their lack of belief of the trinitarian view of God. I think likewise some Baptists wouldn’t consider me Christian because I don’t accept the way they view salvation.

 

[rcwitness]

I think that’s a good point I mean most Mormons probably would consider themselves Christian, but I as a Catholic couldn’t do so because of their lack of belief of the trinitarian view of God. I think likewise some Baptists wouldn’t consider me Christian because I don’t accept the way they view salvation.

Right. Now I’m sure most Baptists would say some Catholics are Christian, if they are truly following Christ. But what does that mean? According to their standard? Would they be able to say, “If a Catholic is in a state of adhering to the Catholic faith, then they are Christian.”?

 

[Bridgit_Andrews]

I think you may be over thinking this. A Christian is a follower of Christ, not a list of rules to follow.

I’ve done a lot of reading on this website since i came back over the weekend and it seems so very rule-oriented. One must follow these rules exactly to be Catholic or even non-Catholic Christian. The spirit and essence of Christianity or Catholicism seems to be lost in the rules. What happened to love of Christ?

We are all heading to the same place, but every single one of us is on a different path and in a different place on the path. Love and serve the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ. Let others do the same and don’t worry so much about what they are doing. Lord knows it is hard enough to travel this path to Salvation without worrying about where others are or what they call themselves.

Be at peace,
B

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Yes, a lot of division so where does one draw the line as to who is following Christ and who isn’t?

And even as a Catholic, I feel the need to tell people I am a practicing and fairly well informed Catholic. Because there are so many nominal, Easter and Christmas Catholics who don’t know their faith and they make the rest of us look bad.

 

[Padres1969]

Is there such a wide, and loose connection with those who call themselves Christian, that it has lost some meaning? Scripturally, it means to follow Christ. But if so many Christians do not agree what is following Him in many different matters, does it lessen the meaning of the name?

No more so then it has since at least the Great Schism. Christian has always had varying degrees of meaning.

 

[adamhovey1988]

No more so then it has since at least the Great Schism. Christian has always had varying degrees of meaning.

I don’t think that’s quite true I mean generally when you said you were a Christian in the early days of the Church, people knew that you being a Christian also meant that you were a Catholic. I have seen no historical evidence of what you’re saying now there have been schisms early on but it’s not always been so.

 

[Fiasco]

Right. Now I’m sure most Baptists would say some Catholics are Christian, “If a Catholic is in a state of adhering to the Catholic faith, then they are Christian.”?

Catholics are definitely hellbound. Just ask the late Jack Chick!
(Slick over at Carm would probably say the same thing.)

I think you may be over thinking this. A Christian is a follower of Christ, not a list of rules to follow…

Our Lord said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”. He founded the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church to teach us how to do that.

To define a Christian, maybe the Fundamentals of the Fundamentalists could be used*** as a starting point?

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[Peter_J]

Possibly.

 

[1neophyte]

Most definitely. But many English words have been robbed of their meaning over time.

 

[RomanoAmerio]

Is there such a wide, and loose connection with those who call themselves Christian, that it has lost some meaning? Scripturally, it means to follow Christ. But if so many Christians do not agree what is following Him in many different matters, does it lessen the meaning of the name?

I believe it was Pope Francis who said that one cannot love Christ without loving His Church.

These words (which echo the teachings of countless Saints and Popes) remind us that even if the word “Christian” (like the word “love”) has been debased by popular usage and secular culture, it still retains an authentic meaning - the Christian Faith is the one true Faith, and subsists in His Church.

 

[exnihilo]

Is there such a wide, and loose connection with those who call themselves Christian, that it has lost some meaning? Scripturally, it means to follow Christ. But if so many Christians do not agree what is following Him in many different matters, does it lessen the meaning of the name?

I think in some ways it has lost its meaning. I think Christian for many, maybe most people, means a fairly simple ethic of charity and welfare for the less fortunate. This is the mere Christianity of our day. And one need not even believe in Jesus in any meaningful way to practice that faith. The sexual morality component has been ignored by a large number of men who call themselves Christian. I think these moral differences are more important than the various theological issues that divide like what does predestination mean.

I think you may be over thinking this. A Christian is a follower of Christ, not a list of rules to follow.

Why would you think that? Why would following Christ be exclusive of following rules? From day one God had a rule in the Garden of Eden. He sent Moses down the mountain with a literal list of rules. Rules aren’t a limit to good behavior but to bad.

 

[ffg]

I don’t think meanings change.

But I do think people apply opinions of which they think are meaningful, rather than just ask…

What is the meaning of this?

 

[rcwitness]

Possibly.

That settles it!

 

[Peter_J]

Most definitely. But many English words have been robbed of their meaning over time.

Indeed. I’d be willing to bet that in some Protestant circle somewhere the word “Catholic” basically means anything that’s bad.

 

[1neophyte]

Indeed. I’d be willing to bet that in some Protestant circle somewhere the word “Catholic” basically means anything that’s bad.

Exactly! But to be fair, Catholics also sometimes throw around the word “Protestant” incorrectly as well.

 

[Bridgit_Andrews]

Why would you think that? Why would following Christ be exclusive of following rules? From day one God had a rule in the Garden of Eden. He sent Moses down the mountain with a literal list of rules. Rules aren’t a limit to good behavior but to bad.

Beyond the 10 Commandments, the admonishments to love one another and make disciples of all nations, the Golden Rule, we were not given a set of nit-picking rules from Jesus. I suppose one could add that we should receive the Sacraments instituted by Jesus. We are not Jewish, we do not have 600+ rules for our daily lives.

We should be led by our faith in Christ and God’s grace. Not fear that we might accidentally break some off-the-wall rule. We are not told to wring our hands and tremble in fear because we may or may not have said or done something inappropriate. We have faith. We are given Grace. And if we inadvertently flounder we have the means of reconciliation. Even if we purposely muck it all up, we have the way back!

Peace
B

 

[Bridgit_Andrews]

Catholics are definitely hellbound. Just ask the late Jack Chick!
(Slick over at Carm would probably say the same thing.)

Our Lord said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”. He founded the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church to teach us how to do that.

]

Yes, He did. However we can’t follow those basic 10 and love one another and follow the Golden Rule and make disciples of all nations if we are stuck at home trying to figure of if we inadvertently sinned by doing XYZ. We can’t follow Jesus’ command to love one another if we can’t love ourselves first.

If we count the 10 Commandments as a single entity, what we were told to do after Jesus fulfilled the Law can be counted on one hand. And if we screw it up, we are not to fret and fuss. He gave us the means to fix it.

Catholic guilt is a horrible insidious thing. Don’t let it take hold.

Peace,
B

 

[rcwitness]

In the beginning, there were His “Disciples”. These were those who saw Him and followed His mission with belief. Then there were those converted through the message of Peter and the Apostles.

And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.*For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”**And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”*So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.**And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
These first disciples and believers received Peter’s words as representing God’s Revelation. They devoted themselves to the Teachings of the Apostles. Not just certain disciples, but the Apostles.

Then, these followers were first called Christians in Antioch. These also, received direct Teaching from the Apostles (Paul and Barnabas) for at least a full year.

Now, Christian meant, those who followed what the Apostles Taught and had all things in common.

And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.*And all who believed were together and had all things in common;*and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.**And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts,*praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Now days, there are Christians with many different teachings. Yes, they have some things in common! I’m not saying that they are not Christians. But that the name Christian has lost its identity over time. It no longer means a profoundly unified Body. There are many different groups to chose from. This is a departure from the beginning.

 

[rcwitness]

Catholic guilt is a horrible insidious thing. Don’t let it take hold.

Peace,
B

That’s true. But Catholic conviction is good, right? We do wish that Catholics would allow the Spirit of the Church’s Teachings to convict and give direction, understanding and council.