What exactly makes one Christian?

[wmw]

What I mean by the term friend is that God never sent Jesus so we could have a religion but rather to reconcile our relationship with the Father…as it was intended from the beginning when he created Adam and Eve. I grew up in religion and had no relationship with God and thought I was on my way to heaven because I was baptised as a baby (not biblical)… I bought into what was taught to me by tradition. One day I prayed a simple prayer with my heart inviting Jesus into my life and I truly experienced something supernatural (explained in John 3:3) … Yes I was born again!! Accepting Jesus is a responsibility each Christian must do on their own… no one can make this decision for you but YOU. I believe there are people from all different christian denominations that will be in heaven… it is not religion that saves but our personal relationship with God through Jesus.

What is a Church? Is it not a local establishment of a religion. Jesus established His Church on Peter.

Funny thing about the phrase “born again”. Its from Chapter 5 & 6 of John (its rather an unusual and poor division in the chapter numbering here). It’s a quote of Nicodemus that Jesus dismisses and abrupt correction saying, your a rabbi and have so little understanding of this to say a grown man is to reenter their mother’s womb and be “born again”? Jesus says it is to be “born from above” through the water and the Holy Spirit within Baptism. Again part of the beautiful connections between the faith of acceptance and the active practice of the sacramental ceremony.

In the great span of history except for the last half century people were always regarded as part of their family and were either of the faith of the family or not. Children are naturally part of a family and the faith of it until they depart from it. In much of history the shear idea of faith just being an individual decision is contrary to the basic understanding of how things are. Biblical text just doesn’t deal with this individualist concept, that is another reason the Catholic Church is necessary to help deal with these contextual understandings of scripture. This is also why the Family unit concept is in such distress these days. The current day thinking has determined the Family order is to be undermined and diminished.

 

[ldeschambault]

The intend of my sharing was not to get into a doctrinal debate. I am just sharing my personal experience. I definitely had a spiritual awakening and divine encounter with the living God through accepting Jesus into my heart. This experience was very real and happened even before I started to really read the bible. One thing however is that I was hungry for The Truth after seeing that there was more than the catholic faith out there. Once I encountering people with different faiths who all claimed to be so-called christians, I began to seek and ask God to reveal HIS truth to me (Matthew 7:7-8). HE is a loving father and that exactly what HE did. Not long after, a mentor in my business asking me if I wanted to invite Jesus into my heart. The invitation was to good to pass up and I accepted without any hesitation or without trying to analyze the question. I simply said “yes” and prayed a simple prayer inviting Jesus into my life as Lord and Savior… this literally transformed my heart. (Ezekiel 36:26, Ephesians 4:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17) Yes, God took my old heart and gave me a brand new one (thankfully I never had an issue with pride or ego)… I use to be a selfish person however and thank God HE has changed that too It is my hope and prayer that others seek Truth for themselves as well… God is faithful and wants to reveal himself to everyone … HE is simply waitng for the invitation
P.S. As for your comments re: origins of the catholic church, I would recommend this readRemoved link to anti-Catholic propaganda site.)

 

[Miriam1947]

Heresy pure and simple.

Instead of reading that why not study the origins of the Catholic Church with ECF and Justin Martyr and Ignatius, etc.?

Just as a former protestant I would not ask a muslim to define your or my former beliefs, it would behoove you not to ask a non-Catholic what the Church is and what it teaches.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

…

The Truth is in the deposit of Faith of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

You are not sharing you are sadly inviting Catholics to walk away from their Faith, the one true Faith deposited once for all to Christ’s Church.

BTW, reported.

 

[clive_clivee]

As human beings although we are made in God’s image in this life we do not have full knowledge about God he works in mysterious ways. Romans 8 v 1 says " there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus the law of the spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" We are a temple of the Holy Spirit God lives in us and through us he reaches other people. It is not for us to judge others whether they are Christians only God knows the hearts of people. However, I agree that Jehovas Witnessess are not Christians they deny the trinity of God and so do many other many cults. However, our God has a tender loving heart and he loves all humanity and wants all humanity including Muslims, Hindus etc to respond to Christ. In ancient times when the Jews hardened their hearts to Christ, God used St Paul to go to the Gentiles. There is a warning for us all here, God will go to anyone who will love him and respond to Jesus I feel that the new Pope is a wonderful man he is showing us humility a great lesson to us all. The most important thing is to have a personal relationship with Jesus and open all areas of our life to him as Lord and Saviour.

God works in mysterious ways God can save people even by direct intervention which what happened to me and many other people. It is true that the cross and the work that Jesus did onj the cross reconciles us to the Father. We must be aware of spiritual warfare our enemy Satan loves to divide us and he often uses a religious spirit to do this. God love is peace and grace watch out for too many rules and being legalistic this is what got the Pharisees into trouble with Jesus Christ.

A Christian is a person who accepts The Holy Spirit into their life and Jesus as Lord and saviour. It is by being Holy Spirit filled that we are transformed.

 

[Miriam1947]

The Truth is in the deposit of Faith of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

You are not sharing you are sadly inviting Catholics to walk away from their Faith, the one true Faith deposited once for all to Christ’s Church.

BTW, reported.

Well, that didn’t take long.

 

[silvestromedia]

“Even today, some say, ‘Christ yes, the Church no,’ like those who say, ‘I believe in God, but in priests, no.’ They say, ‘Christ: yes. Church: no.’ Nevertheless, it is the Church that brings us Christ and that brings us to God. The Church is the great family of God’s children. Of course it also has the human aspects: in those who compose it, pastors and faithful, there are flaws, imperfections, sins—the Pope has his, as well: he has lots of them; but the beautiful thing is that, when we become aware that we are sinners, we find the mercy of God.”
—Pope Francis

 

[BarryI]

Strictly defined, one who believes Jesus Christ is God. Or, anything that pertains to that central doctrine. Loosely defined, anything pertaining to Jesus or Christianity. Going to church is a Christian practice, but this does not make the person who goes to church a Christian. Gnosticism was a Christian heresy, but is not strictly Christian in an orthodox way. Etc

If Jesus was God, who was he praying to and referring to and saying "the Father is GREATER than I? Can you explain that one, and why God said " this is my Son? Please explain

 

[scwest]

In ordinary circumstances, the meaning of words develops and changes as the language changes over time, and the language changes in response to all the things that influence the society and the culture – which is just about everything, but it takes generations to happen. When you have a set of ideas that are grouped under a general term, like Christian, or Stoic, or Aristotelian, things get very difficult because there are (1) different interpretations of the ideas, and (2) some people pick and choose what they like out of those ideas but still want to call themselves by the name. And here’s the central point: unless you have an authoritative body inherent to the general group which can define what ideas are compatible with itself, the term can mean anything any given person wants.

This is why the Church’s authority is important. I don’t think you’re going to find an objective standard to define who counts as a Christian except the one Christ gave: you have to prove the Church’s authority and prove that it is a central part of Christianity as an institution. Then that Church can define what is compatible and what is incompatible, and who is in partial union and who has completely cut themselves off. Without that authoritative body, the term “Christian” is just like any other term, and can change or be modified by the culture.

I hope that helps. God bless!

“And Barnabas went out to Tarsus to seek Saul. And finding him, it was a whole year they were gathered to them in the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:25-26

Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ.

“And He said to all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

Disciples of Jesus Christ are followers of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus spoke these words and lifted up His eyes to Heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that Your Son also may glorify You, even as You have given Him authority over all flesh so that He should give eternal life to all You have given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:1-3

(Edited)

 

[OROTHLAIN]

I would argue that anyone emulating Christ could call themselves “Christian.”

So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.
Acts 11:26

We, or they, were first called Christians before a formalized faith, before the books of the NT were completed, or compiled.

I think the difference between all these groups is to what faith are they actually claiming. A secular, non-religious person could practice the teachings of Christ and be “Christian.”
However, do they have faith in him as the “anointed one”?

I may get scoffed at for this viewpoint. But…c’est la vie.

The church and our faith is what separates us from these other groups or individuals.
Mormons can call themselves christians. However, they cannot call themselves part of the holy, catholic and apostolic church. I work with loads of them. They definitely try to live like Christ. However, their theology and faith are distorted. So are the Oneness Pentecostals (I knew some of them when I was younger).
I think the term Christian is a broad brush which we can paint a variety of people.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Acts 11:25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.

Notice the chain of events. The disciples met of a whole year. Where: The Church!

And what did the disciples do at the **Church **for that whole year? Teach!

And what happened after the disciples taught at the **Church **for that whole year?

They were called Christians

Catholics take Christ at His word, His whole Word!

When Christ said that He would build His **Church **on Peter, we believe Him.

When Christ said that if you Love Him, we will obey His commandments, we believe Him.

When Christ said that you must be born again of water and spirit, we believe Him.

When Christ said that this IS MY BODY and this IS MY BLOOD, we believe Him.

When Christ said that He would be with us till the end of the age, we believe Him.

When Christ said the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church, we believe Him.

Catholics are Old School, we strive to accept Jesus Christ into our lives every single day. Not just one single day doing one single prayer. We pray and pray until it hurts. And as many prayers as we can.

When Christ said, when you pray, pray like this: Lord’s Prayer. We believe Him.

The Church is the Body of Christ, His Bride.** And We Believe CHRIST JESUS!**

So don’t come here to try to divide us with heresies and false teachings. Come with a humble heart and honest questions. With Christ’s help we will answer them, hopefully in the same love that He gave us.

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

 

[OROTHLAIN]

Notice the chain of events. The disciples met of a whole year. Where: The Church!

And what did the disciples do at the **Church **for that whole year? Teach!

And what happened after the disciples taught at the **Church **for that whole year?

They were called Christians

That’s not a proper chain of events. The term “Christianoi” was actually more of jest or mock. It wasn’t bestowed on them as an act of completing a year of training.
These were outsiders pointing fingers and distinguishing the group.
The terms “Christian” was a nickname given to these disciples.

I’m from Oklahoma originally. We now all call ourselves “Okies.” However, we didn’t give ourselves that name. It started out as derogatory slang during the Great Depression era. Now we’ve adopted it and wear it with pride.

This is very similar with the term “Christian.”

Good link: biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Acts/Gentile-Mission-Antioch

 

[Michael_Francis]

i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/corona_stellarum/Smilies/Off-Topic–Alert.gif
Please remain on topic which is “What exactly makes one Christian?”

Be advised that this is by no means to be used as a platform for attempts to proselytize Catholics away from their faith and
any attempts to do so will result in i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/corona_stellarum/Smilies/thBan.gif

Eric_Hilbert:

Just a reminder:
If your purpose in posting on any

forum is to proselytize, your account will be closed.

Consider this applied throughout CAF as we do not exist to provide a platform for non-Catholics to evangelize our members away from their Catholic faith.
Very sincerely,

 

[OROTHLAIN]

Please remain on topic which is “What exactly makes one Christian?”

Be advised that this is by no means to be used as a platform for attempts to proselytize Catholics away from their faith and
any attempts to do so will result in
[As per this rule.](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/Consolidated Stickies For the Apologetics Forum. READ THIS FIRST!)

Is this an automatic post?
I think we’re clarifying the term Christian to be sure we’re addressing the right thing.
Also, does it sound like I’m making an attempt to “proselytize”?

I enjoy forums where banter can live and breathe…this seems gestapo-esque.

 

[LordsPoint]

Is believing in Christ sufficient for salvation? God forbid. That is not what makes a Christian any more than my believing in Russia makes me a Russian citizen!

Scripture contains several examples of people becoming Christian. Three are the Ethiopian in Acts 8, Cornelius in Acts 10 and the Jailor in Act 16. In each case they hear the Word of God, believe, accept Christ as Lord and are baptized for the remission of their sins. They are new Christians but that is not all there is to it. They must remain faithful the rest of their lives.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luke 6:46

A Christian is one who does the things Jesus taught. What are some of those things? Christians need to be different from most people in the world. They deny worldly lusts and live righteously. They are in the world but not of the world. Titus 2:11-12

Meanwhile we see people wearing crosses around their necks, calling themselves Christian while they get drunk and watch pornography. By no stretch of the imagination can they be Christian!

 

[QuickCat]

I was on another forum before this and it got changed a bit and before I moved on I knew what I was doing by posting ‘what is a Christian’. I sat back and let the row happen. They couldn’t agree which was actually my bigger point that there is no, one answer to what is a Christian apart from that a Christian believes in Jesus Christ. So that would be transferred to your question too in that what exactly makes one Christian? Would you be happy with the simple answer of someone who believes in Jesus Christ?

Hi RedRose: The word “Christian” is used only 3 times in the New Testament and probably was first used as a term of derision. Basically it would indicate that one is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I think it goes without saying that one must be saved in order to be a true Christian.
Grace and Peace,
QC

 

[Isaiah45_9]

That’s not a proper chain of events. The term “Christianoi” was actually more of jest or mock. It wasn’t bestowed on them as an act of completing a year of training.
These were outsiders pointing fingers and distinguishing the group.
The terms “Christian” was a nickname given to these disciples.

Please explain how Acts 11:26 is not a proper chain of events.

From the Navarre Bible Commentary:

1. We do not exactly know who first began to describe the disciples as
   “Christians”. In any event the fact that they were given a name
   shows that everyone recognized them as an identifiable group. The name
   also suggests that the term “Christos”–Messiah, Anointed–is no longer
   regarded simply as a messianic title but also as a proper name.

Some Fathers of the Church see this name as further indication that
people do not become disciples of the Lord through human causes.
“Although the holy Apostles were our teachers and have given us the
Gospel of the Savior, it is not from them that we have taken our name:
we are “Christians” through Christ and it is for Him that we are called
in this way” (St. Athanasius, “Oratio I Contra Arianos”, 2).

1. From this point onwards Luke’s account centers on the Church of
   Antioch. This was a flourishing community, with members drawn from all
   sectors of society. In some respects its organization structure was
   like that of the Jerusalem Church; in others, not. It clearly had
   ordained ministers who were responsible for its government, who
   preached and administered the Sacraments; along these we find prophets
   (cf. 11:28) and teachers, specially trained members of the community.

In the early Church “teachers” were disciples well versed in Sacred
Scripture who were given charge of catechesis. They instructed the
catechumens and other Christians in the basic teaching of the Gospel as
passed on by the Apostles, and some of them had a capacity for
acquiring and communicating to others an extensive and profound
knowledge of the faith.

Teachers do not necessarily have to be priests or preachers. Preaching
was usually reserved to ordained ministers; teachers had an important
position in the Church: they were responsible for on-going doctrinal
and moral education and were expected faithfully to hand on the same
teaching as they themselves had received. A virtuous life and due
learning would have protected them against any temptation to invent new
teachings or go in for mere speculation not based on the Gospel (cf. 1
Timothy 4:7; 6:20; Titus 2:1).

(Emphasis mine)

And from Father Haydock:

Ver. 26. At Antioch the disciples were first named Christians, when St. Paul and St. Barnabas were preaching there. Before that, they were called the disciples of Jesus, and sometimes Nazarenes, (see Acts xxiv. 5.) or perhaps Galileans. **This honourable name of Christians, distinguished them from Gentiles and Jews, and from all heretical sects, who generally had some name from the authors of such sects, as Simonites, Cerinthians, Nicolaits, &c. Of which see St. Epiphanius. **The faithful had also after some time the name of Catholics, being taught in the apostles’ creed to believe in the Catholic Church. And St. Augustine, in several places, takes notice, that no heretics could ever get themselves called by this name; nor can they to this present. See St. Augustine, de util. credendi. chap. viii.; de vera relig. chap. vii.; cont. epis. fundam. chap. iv. Whosoever is of the true faith of Christ, may justly say, Christian is my name, Catholic my surname: a greater honour, and a greater advantage, than to be of any royal family. (Witham) — **The faithful disciples, believers, &c. as before they were called, now received the name of Christians. It is not certain whether they took the name themselves, or it was given them out of disrespect, by the pagans. Galileans was a term of reproach likewise given to the Christians. St. Peter, in his first epistle, uses the appellation of Christians; but it does not appear that St. Paul ever did in any of his writings. **(Calmet, Tirinus, &c.) — **The name of Christian should be common to all the faithful, and all other new names of sectaries abhorred. “If you hear,” says St. Jerome, any where such as are said to be of Christ, “not to have their name from Christ, but from some other, as Marcionites, Valentinians, (as now also Lutherans, Calvinists, &c. &c. &c. &c.) know that they belong not to the Church of Christ, but to the synagogue of Antichrist.” **St. Pacianus, in his letter to Sympronian, says, when heresies had arisen, and endeavoured by diverse names to tear the dove of the Lord and Queen in pieces, the faithful required their surname: hence they who before were called Christians, are now surnamed also Catholics. Christian is my name and Catholic my surname. By this term Catholic, the apostles, in their creed, have distinguished the one true visible Church from all and every other congregation, sect, or party. This mark is so self-evident, that St. Augustine hesitates not to say: “In the lap of the Church the very name Catholic keepeth me.” (Cont. ep. fund. chap. iv.) — Again, in his book on the utility of believing, he says: “if after these troubles of mind you still are tossed and vexed, and wish for peace, follow the way of Catholic discipline, which from Christ himself, by the apostles, hath proceeded even unto us, and shall proceed form hence to the latest posterity.” (1 Timothy iii. 15.)

(emphasis mine).

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Good link: biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Acts/Gentile-Mission-Antioch

IVP believes in the authority of the Bible, NOT the Catholic Church. Their scholar interpretation therefore will be mostly geared to not give the Catholic Church its proper place of authority and give all authority to the Bible only. In other words, Sola Scriptura. It is best for Catholics to remain in sound doctrine.

 

[Miriam1947]

i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/corona_stellarum/Smilies/Off-Topic–Alert.gif
Please remain on topic which is “What exactly makes one Christian?”

Be advised that this is by no means to be used as a platform for attempts to proselytize Catholics away from their faith and
any attempts to do so will result in i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/corona_stellarum/Smilies/thBan.gif

Just a reminder:
If your purpose in posting on any

forum is to proselytize, your account will be closed.

Consider this applied throughout CAF as we do not exist to provide a platform for non-Catholics to evangelize our members away from their Catholic faith.
Very sincerely,

Michael, this is what happened when I clicked on “As per this rule”

Not Found

The requested URL /Consolidated Stickies For the Apologetics Forum. READ THIS FIRST! was not found on this server.

oops.

Thanks for all you do.

Sorry about that. I guess I “out teched” myself.
Anyway, I have replaced the link with a quote of the pertinent rule.
God’s peace,
MF

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Meanwhile we see people wearing crosses around their necks, calling themselves Christian while they get drunk and watch pornography. By no stretch of the imagination can they be Christian!

Judge much?

Being a Christian is a process and a struggle to free ourselves from things that are of this world (each one of us has its own demons to battle) and to remain in Christ. Belief is part of it, what follows is a serious and conscious effort to change our ways (true meaning of repenting). We will stumble across the way but we strive to reach the goal in Christ Jesus.

Somehow it seems like you think a Christian is this perfect human person who does not sin and who only makes the correct decisions.