What defines a Christian?

[jsaldar]

Baptism, and belief in Christ as our Lord. Also following all of the commandments.

 

[brianwalden]

Ontologically speaking, a Christian is someone who is baptized.

Theologically speaking, a Christian is someone who believes in the Triune God.

What is your friend really getting at? My guess is that if you ask him to explicitly define what he means by Christian, Catholics will easily fit within it (although his idea of what he thinks Catholics are may not).

 

[BVMFatima]

The fact they said Catholics arnt Christian because we " don’t read the Bible " is ridicilous. First of all says who? Secondly, ask them where did Scripture come from and why are they studying a Catholic book? The early Church did not have the Bible yet, only tradition, so I guess they are not Christians also? What about the Apostles? Third, a Christian is somebody who is validly Baptized Father, son, and holy Spirit, accepts the trinity, and keeps Gods commandments. Mormons and Jehovah witnesses Lack The belief of the trinity and baptism, which shows they are not Christians.

What I would ask them is where in scripture does it say that Catholics don’t read the bible, since they believe in bible alone they will not find it, which means they have the naughty T word… tradition

I use to believe in Protestantism, thank God I’m home in the One True Faith ready to receive more sacraments into the Church!

 

[BrianGular]

I would say the Nicean creed is what defines a Christian. At least that was it’s primary purpose.

As for what JW teachings excludes them? Like LDS they are non-trinitarians. They believe that the Father is the only true god and that Christ is a created being. As such only the Father is deserving of worship and praise. If I remember correctly they believe that Jesus and the Archangel Micheal are the same being. In rejecting Christ’s divinity they remove themselves from the traditional definition of christianity. Like most sects born out of the restoration movement they reject almost everything from even the earliest councils.

Well said, Usige. Creeds were meant to be used to codify Christian distinctives, a purpose they still fill quite well today.

 

[BrianGular]

No, but I doubt he would have accepted “Some Catholics do” as a counter-argument. Oh, and his other main argument was that Catholics don’t know how to answer the question “Do you know Jesus personally?” and therefore aren’t Christian.

I am saddened by the fact that so much of protestantism has become “all about me”. We read our Bibles, which are all about God, and somehow get the idea that it all centers on us. There are good reasons to follow Jesus Christ, but the “personal relationship” cult is not one of them.

Although I am 100% in favor of regular Bible reading, there is no way I’m going to say that one has to read it to be saved. There are several areas where I believe the differences between protestantism and catholicism are worth discussing, but your friend and I would not be able to agree on the two points presented here.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Long story short, my friend doesn’t think Catholics are Christian on grounds of us not reading the Bible. I argued that Christians are actually anyone who A) believes in the divinity of Jesus and B) believes in the trinity. On the same topic, I know Mormons are Christian because (among other things) they believe God and Jesus are two gods, that they each have their own physical body, and that people can become gods. But what about Jehovah’s Witnesses? What do they believe that makes them non-Christian?

Christians are those who profess the Nicene-Constantipolonian Creed.

 

[Regardless]

Long story short, my friend doesn’t think Catholics are Christian on grounds of us not reading the Bible. I argued that Christians are actually anyone who A) believes in the divinity of Jesus and B) believes in the trinity. On the same topic, I know Mormons are Christian because (among other things) they believe God and Jesus are two gods, that they each have their own physical body, and that people can become gods. But what about Jehovah’s Witnesses? What do they believe that makes them non-Christian?

Hi Razanir. That is a fantastic question! But I haven’t noted anyone quoting you God’s word the Bible to answer this yet.

Under “Christian” my dictionary says simply: “Follower of Christ.” So what did Christ teach would identify his followers? He gave us several identifying marks:

“If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, you will know the truth and it will set you free.” John 8:31, 32. So following his teachings- recorded in the Bible. (Rule out religions that teach things that are not in the Bible)

“The world has hated them because they are no part of the world, … just as I am no part of the world.” John 17:14. Christians follow Jesus who was neutral to the political conflicts of his day. (Rule out religions that get involved in the politics of Satans world)

“Love one another just as I have loved you… By this all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves.” John 13:34, 35. Christians would show genuine love – especially to each other. (Rule out religions that go to war and kill their fellow believers)

“This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14. So Christians would be preaching about God’s Kingdom throughout the world before the end.

What do you think? Does that make sense, or have I missed something?

 

[MartinJordan]

Obedience.

Believing in an Apostolic church and being Obedient to it. Apostolic because as an example we have St. Paul who was converted not only after Jesus spoke to him, but also he knew he must meet the Apostles, first to Peter (Cephas).

Lastly, John 17:20 And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me; 21 **That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
**

MJ

 

[GaryTaylor]

“Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything. The Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity; our Creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works.”

—the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 198

Catholic belief is succinctly expressed in the profession of faith or credo called the Nicene Creed:
The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

[PJM]

=Razanir;9868623]Long story short, my friend doesn’t think Catholics are Christian on grounds of us not reading the Bible. I argued that Christians are actually anyone who A) believes in the divinity of Jesus and B) believes in the trinity. On the same topic, I know Mormons are Christian because (among other things) they believe God and Jesus are two gods, that they each have their own physical body, and that people can become gods. But what about Jehovah’s Witnesses? What do they believe that makes them non-Christian?

So you accept what your friend says? WHY:shrug:

Every parish I even heard of offers Bible Study courses

Catholics use a 3-year cycle of Sunday Readings covers more of the Bible than any protestant chuch or faith is FACT not fiction

The Millions of Catholics who attend daily Mass HEAR the ENTIRE Bible READ and explained to them over a 3 year cycle of readings. hat Protestant church offers something like this.

MORMON"S ARE NOT “Christian” for ALL of the following REASONS which I can prove.

There understading of God, and Jesus are VASTLY different from ours even though they use the same terminolgy:

There God is married; has sex and children
There jesus has a brother whi os Satan

God does not have a “physical body” EXCEPT FOR Jesus whi is BOTH and AT THE SAME TIME both God and man

John.4: 23-24" But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

They do NOT accept the TRINITY

They do NOT accept the Bible

While they ARE good and moral people they nevertheless ARE NOT CHRISTIANS.

JW’s hold the same views theologically as do Mormon’s.

God Bless,
Pat/PJM

 

[T_More]

Under “Christian” my dictionary says simply: “Follower of Christ.” So what did Christ teach would identify his followers? He gave us several identifying marks:

“If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, you will know the truth and it will set you free.” John 8:31, 32. So following his teachings- recorded in the Bible. (Rule out religions that teach things that are not in the Bible)

Unfortunately for your sect, the bible never states “if it’s not in the bible, disregard it.” Christ established a Church to teach the gospel. And it sure wasn’t the International Bible Students/Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“The world has hated them because they are no part of the world, … just as I am no part of the world.” John 17:14. Christians follow Jesus who was neutral to the political conflicts of his day. (Rule out religions that get involved in the politics of Satans world)

Red herring. Christ never claimed such a thing.

“Love one another just as I have loved you… By this all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves.” John 13:34, 35. Christians would show genuine love – especially to each other. (Rule out religions that go to war and kill their fellow believers)

Would this include the killing done in Yahweh’s name in the Old Testament? Or did he “change”?

“This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14. So Christians would be preaching about God’s Kingdom throughout the world before the end.

The Church has been doing such LONG before the JW’s heretical sect came along.

What do you think? Does that make sense, or have I missed something?

I’ve been trying to show you this very fact for quite a while now…

 

[Regardless]

Ha. Keep hiding! There are millions of us out looking for you!
One day you might listen.

All the best.

 

[mgteich]

When we list all the requirements, let us consider the example of the thief on the Cross.

 

[brianwalden]

Hi Razanir. That is a fantastic question! But I haven’t noted anyone quoting you God’s word the Bible to answer this yet.

Under “Christian” my dictionary says simply: “Follower of Christ.” So what did Christ teach would identify his followers? He gave us several identifying marks:

“If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, you will know the truth and it will set you free.” John 8:31, 32. So following his teachings- recorded in the Bible. (Rule out religions that teach things that are not in the Bible)

Christ tells us “remain in my word”, not “remain exclusively in the holy and inspired books compiled hundreds of years after my death and resurrection.” By insisting that Christ’s word is equal to the bible instead of the Bible being a subset of the Word of God, you’re following a teaching that’s not in the Bible and thus condemning yourself by your own rule.

“The world has hated them because they are no part of the world, … just as I am no part of the world.” John 17:14. Christians follow Jesus who was neutral to the political conflicts of his day. (Rule out religions that get involved in the politics of Satans world)

Did you miss the Old Testament. God created a whole nation and told them how to govern it. Jesus commands us to love our neighbor - one aspect of which is making society more just in the political sphere. It was Christian involvement in politics that ended slavery in this country; it is because of the lack of enough Christian involvement in politics that millions of innocent babies have been killed over the past 40 years.

“Love one another just as I have loved you… By this all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves.” John 13:34, 35. Christians would show genuine love – especially to each other. (Rule out religions that go to war and kill their fellow believers)

Once again, in the Old Testament God commanded his people to war. And again, we must love our neighbor. When faced with an unjust aggressor we have an obligation to defend our lives and the lives of our neighbors. In Luke 3:14 Jesus instructed the soldiers “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” - he didn’t tell them to stop being soldiers.

“This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14. So Christians would be preaching about God’s Kingdom throughout the world before the end.

What do you think? Does that make sense, or have I missed something?

Well .250 ain’t bad for a batting average.