What It Means To Be Christian

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**What does it mean to be considered Christian?

**Do you feel professing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior makes you a Christian? Do you have to mean the words or can you simply utter them?

After professing this faith can you go about the rest of your life without concern of living what Jesus taught? Or should it be a life altering thing?

What embodies being called a Christian?
Does this involve a way-of-life or saying a single phrase?

If it is a way-of-life, then what does this life involve?

I want to see responses, then I will offer a test to see how much this faith means to you.

Remember:
Jesus Christ did not die for us…
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US!
 
Remember:
Jesus Christ did not die for us…
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US!

huh?
:ehh:
 
I figured that would confuse someone.

The point was supposed to be on emphasis.

How is this:
It is not simply that Jesus Christ died for us.
IT IS THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US!
 
tGette said:
I figured that would confuse someone.

The point was supposed to be on emphasis.

How is this:
It is not simply that Jesus Christ died for us.
IT IS THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US!
Click to expand...
Why not, Jesus Christ is alive for us?
 
By definition, to be a true Christian we must believe in the text of the Nicene Creed. Other wayward beliefs and heresies make assessing whether one does or doesn’t hold Christian beliefs a bit harder.

That having been said, if one truly believes in the tenets of Christianity, then one would strive to live the gospel. This does not mean preaching it, bible in hand, to everyone you come across on the street. Jesus said very clearly, “teach all those who will listen.” Sometimes people are simply not ready to listen.

Lastly, there have been since the time of the early church those who chose to reflect on the gospels and Christianity on ascetic terms. Meaning, for one reason or another, they realize they do not have the skills, patience or calling to preach the gospels vocally, so they turn inwards and live the gospels through prayer and meditation.

As far as your “test”, I reallly don’t think it is necessary as life is a daily test for any Christian.
 
Thank you FaithofAbraham!
I like that one!

**Jesus Christ is ALIVE for us!
**
I love the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed. I love all the prayers that help us profess our faith. I firmly believe that everyday we should profess our faith through these and other prayers and remind ourselves what we believe. These are great but they do not give us an idea of how to live out our faith.
Though this is not the test I was talking about, everyday should be a “test” of whether we are living our Christian faith to the fullest!
Let us talk about Faith AND Works!
What are the Works necessary for being a Christian?
What kind of lifestyle should one be leading?

Examples:
Chastity - Should one wait until marriage to have sex?
Lust - Should one do what they can to avoid lusting or are our instincts too much to accomplish this? Is modesty really important or should guys be able to control themselves regardless of how a girl dresses?
Language - Should a Christian swear? Is it alright to gossip about someone? Is a little white lie really that harmful?
Do we really have to turn the other cheek?

I think Saint Francis had a prayer and quote that is fitting:

** Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

Preach the Gospel always, if necessary use words!
**
 
tGette said:
What does it mean to be considered Christian?
Click to expand...
Speaking Generally, belief in the Nicene Creed.
Do you feel professing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior makes you a Christian? Do you have to mean the words or can you simply utter them?
Click to expand...
If you just utter them and don’t believe it, you are not a Christian, just a liar. I doubt God looks too kindly on people who lie to Him.
After professing this faith can you go about the rest of your life without concern of living what Jesus taught? Or should it be a life altering thing?
Click to expand...
Life Altering. If a true Christian goes around sinning, they will be very grieved and miserable until they repent.
If it is a way-of-life, then what does this life involve?
Click to expand...
It involves complete submission to God. Giving up everything you hold dear and holding on to God in that place.
 
I agree Syele!
Full surrender and submission are key elements.
From this will stem trying to live close to perfectly as Christ did. Though we are sinners we should strive for perfection. Christ told us to carry our own cross and follow him. Meaning that living for him would not always be smooth sailing.

My point behind this post was because too often I see people who call themselves Christians though their “Christian life” does not go beyond that; except maybe going to church.

Being Christian should be a drastic way-of-life. Even going to church is not enough. If we are not putting God first in every decision and thought then we are falling short. In a sense, we can never do enough, so we should always be striving to do more.

As a Christian we are also held more liable for our actions because we are aware of what is right and what is wrong.

I get concerned for Christians who are so focused on salvation. It seems all people are worried about is whether they are going to heaven or hell. Some Christians think they are free to do whatever they want because “Jesus died for them” or because they professed their faith years ago. Instead, we should worry that our sins are offending and hurting God and do what it takes to avoid bad behavior. Bible Christians stuck on Faith alone must not be reading the entire Bible because I am pretty sure the Letter of James touches on this issue. FAITH AND WORKS!

Our faith should cause us to do good works. Our faith should be shown by our works. Our works should be because of our faith. If we truly believe that God came as a man to die for us and rise from the dead to defeat death, then we should be doing everything in our lives FOR GOD!

This is an excellent place to start for anyone to see what it means to live a Christian life.
The Pure Love Club at this link:
pureloveclub.com/
Chastity is one of the most important facets of being Christian.
 
SACRIFICE!

This is the one word that embodies the Christian lifestyle! We should sacrifice all our desires and notions of what is best for our lives and prayerful discern what God’s Will is for our lives.

NOW FOR MY TEST!

The ultimate SACRIFICE!
Are we willing to DIE for our Christian faith?

—> Any hypothetical situation will do <—
If someone had a gun to your head and told you to take a cross or a crucifix and break it over your knee or they would shoot you what would you do?
How much love do you really have for our Savior?
 
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