Who Gets to Define 'Christian'?

[Hellisreal]

I am a Roman Catholic of the Latin Rite united to Rome.

Of course you are.

But, if you prefer this way of saying it you do leave much room for confusion to others., if you know what I mean.

Lest we forget that many think the claim we make to be universal - can now (by your post )-be challenged.

“Roman Catholic” of the Latin Rite is - sorry- laughable.
There is no Roman Catholic. No Irish Catholic, etc.

In Jesus there is no ethnicity. Read St. Paul and discover this.

I am not Roman, but maybe you are.

Even so- I stick by my way of explaining my condition.

 

[Grateful4mercy]

Actually, my thought probably is largely a product of secular rationalism. I have never really thought about it before, though I don’t think that this is a bad thing as you apparently do.

I guess I don’t just automatically assume that my faith (or anyone else’s) is 100% correct. It is a matter of faith which is by definition outside the realm of objective verification. If I sit here and claim that you are wrong because you don’t believe as I do, it really is a fundamentally arrogant position because I can’t prove in any meaningful way that I am right.

I can automatically fall back on church “authority”, tradition or a particular interpretation of scripture. All these things can and have been questioned. It is comforting to assume that the church is correct but unfortunately that is merely an assumption. We really don’t know, we may believe, but we really don’t know in a factual sense and I won’t sit here and tell you that someone is not Christian simply because they don’t hold my belief in the divinity of Christ. For me, “Christian” is a way of life, not a club.

I refuse to become a warrior for anything. A lover of and for Christ yes, a warrior for Christ never.

I will pray for you, my friend, that your faith will increase before it is tested.

 

[Peregrino]

I will pray for you, my friend, that your faith will increase before it is tested.

Thanks, I will do the same for you, though I don’t think that my faith is the issue here. Only my willingness to claim that I (or someone else) am 100% right. Only God is omniscient and ultimately I put my trust in our loving God.

God bless.

 

[MelanieAnne]

This isn’t a question of whether Christianity is right and any other faith is wrong. Or whether Christianity is 100% right. This is about what Christianity is and is not.

It’s like whether or not red is the same as green. Both are colors, but they are not the same color. That something is red has no bearing on whether or not something else is green. It is not a value judgment. But it is preposterous to say red is green or green is red.

 

[Ahimsa]

Let the dictionary define Christian:

Main Entry:1Chris·tian [mw1.merriam-webster.com/images/audio.gif](javascriptopWin(’/cgi-bin/audio.pl?christ07.wav=Christian’))Pronunciation: \ˈkris-chən, ˈkrish-\ Function:noun Etymology:Latin christianus, adjective & noun, from Greek christianos, from ChristosDate:1526 1 a**:** one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ

%between%

Now, we can get into: what are the teachings of Jesus Christ? I’m sure we’ll be able to resolve this question, to the total satisfaction of all concerned.

 

[Peregrino]

This isn’t a question of whether Christianity is right and any other faith is wrong. Or whether Christianity is 100% right. This is about what Christianity is and is not.

It’s like whether or not red is the same as green. Both are colors, but they are not the same color. That something is red has no bearing on whether or not something else is green. It is not a value judgment. But it is preposterous to say red is green or green is red.

This is a nice argument but for some reason I think that God is color blind . Judaism, Christianity and Islam are part of the same tree. We worship the same God. The whole question of “who gets to define what is Christian” boils down to authority and a definition. Ultimately it IS about being “right” (as long as the question assumes an authority issue). We know what the Catholics are going to say about the authority issue. The Protestants, JW’s etc will say something different. So might the Muslims and Hindu’s.

I am opting for a larger, etymological definition of “Christian” which finds a middle ground outside of the authority issue. That middle ground depends on being “Christ-like”, i.e. Christian. Given this broad definition, there is no reason why a Muslim could not also be considered a Christian.

I am sorry if this offends your partisan perspective. I personally have no investment in “owning” the title “Christian”. I only hope and pray that my behavior, more than my words, demonstrates that I am a good Christian.

 

[Peregrino]

Now, we can get into: what are the teachings of Jesus Christ? I’m sure we’ll be able to resolve this question, to the total satisfaction of all concerned.

Lol! After that, we should delve into quantum physics…

 

[Grateful4mercy]

This is a nice argument but for some reason I think that God is color blind . Judaism, Christianity and Islam are part of the same tree. We worship the same God. The whole question of “who gets to define what is Christian” boils down to authority and a definition. Ultimately it IS about being “right” (as long as the question assumes an authority issue). We know what the Catholics are going to say about the authority issue. The Protestants, JW’s etc will say something different. So might the Muslims and Hindu’s.

I am opting for a larger, etymological definition of “Christian” which finds a middle ground outside of the authority issue. That middle ground depends on being “Christ-like”, i.e. Christian. Given this broad definition, there is no reason why a Muslim could not also be considered a Christian.

I am sorry if this offends your partisan perspective. I personally have no investment in “owning” the title “Christian”. I only hope and pray that my behavior, more than my words, demonstrates that I am a good Christian.

I wish you would emulate the Jesus of John 6, willing to lose all his disciples rather than bend the truth to their liking.

Jesus never went around trying to satisfy everybody’s idea of a messiah. You are building your faith on shifting sand, please re-think your position.

 

[paarsurrey]

This is a nice argument but for some reason I think that God is color blind . Judaism, Christianity and Islam are part of the same tree. We worship the same God. The whole question of “who gets to define what is Christian” boils down to authority and a definition. Ultimately it IS about being “right” (as long as the question assumes an authority issue). We know what the Catholics are going to say about the authority issue. The Protestants, JW’s etc will say something different. So might the Muslims and Hindu’s.
I am opting for a larger, etymological definition of “Christian” which finds a middle ground outside of the authority issue. That middle ground depends on being “Christ-like”, i.e. Christian. Given this broad definition, there is no reason why a Muslim could not also be considered a Christian.
I am sorry if this offends your partisan perspective. I personally have no investment in “owning” the title “Christian”. I only hope and pray that my behavior, more than my words, demonstrates that I am a good Christian.

Hi
I agree with you. Yours is a very rational and reasonable approach, that is how bridging gaps would be possible between faiths/denominations and religions. Anybdy who says he loves Jesus and would like be called a Christians, should be entitled to it. If one is a better Christian than others, he should so exhibit in his character and teachings and should convince others with reason.This is equitable and justice to everybody.
ThanksThanks

 

[Peregrino]

I wish you would emulate the Jesus of John 6, willing to lose all his disciples rather than bend the truth to their liking.

Jesus never went around trying to satisfy everybody’s idea of a messiah. You are building your faith on shifting sand, please re-think your position.

Actually, I believe that my foundation is fairly solid given Mark 3:35:

“For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Does a brother/sister/mother of Jesus qualify one as a Christian? It appears that a Muslim or Hindu or anyone doing/submitting to the will of God is on fairly intimate terms with Jesus.

The hymn doesn’t go “they shall know we are Christians by our creed” (belief) but rather by “our love” (behavior).

 

[tomarin]

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are part of the same tree. We worship the same God. The whole question of “who gets to define what is Christian” boils down to authority and a definition…
I am opting for a larger, etymological definition of “Christian” which finds a middle ground outside of the authority issue. That middle ground depends on being “Christ-like”, i.e. Christian. Given this broad definition, there is no reason why a Muslim could not also be considered a Christian.

christianity without christ may sound appealing to some (because it can presumably serve as a universal umbrella faith uniting all faiths) but that ceases to be true christianity, as far as i’m concerned.

didn’t he say “no one can come to the father except through me?”

 

[Grateful4mercy]

Actually, I believe that my foundation is fairly solid given Mark 3:35:

“For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Does a brother/sister/mother of Jesus qualify one as a Christian? It appears that a Muslim or Hindu or anyone doing/submitting to the will of God is on fairly intimate terms with Jesus.

The hymn doesn’t go “they shall know we are Christians by our creed” (belief) but rather by “our love” (behavior).

Much learning has made you mad. You wish to let other religions decide what your faith is? You allow them to deny the divinity of Jesus but want to call them christian? You think that is being charitable?

I think you have lost sight of the topic of this conversation. We are defining the faith here, not saying who is or isn’t ‘christ-like’. We all have the ability to be a reflection of the lord, that’s not the point.

 

[Peregrino]

Much learning has made you mad. You wish to let other religions decide what your faith is? You allow them to deny the divinity of Jesus but want to call them christian? You think that is being charitable?

I think you have lost sight of the topic of this conversation. We are defining the faith here, not saying who is or isn’t ‘christ-like’. We all have the ability to be a reflection of the lord, that’s not the point.

I haven’t lost sight at all. I am proposing that “Christian” be equated with “Christ-likeness”, not any particular creed, doctrine or denomination. Other religions do not decide what I believe, nor do I decide their beliefs for them. My faith is not a word, it is a relationship with God and my neighbor, a relationship that I like to describe as Christian. It is pretty simple really.

 

[Hellisreal]

And all those sign posts in front of “Roman Catholic” Churches that I have failed to take pictures of in my area. My, how misguided these churches are. We even have a high School named “Roman Catholic High School” in the city. I guess they are very misguided.

Why does it surprise you that there would be misguided ones?
It takes nothing away from the Church whatsoever.

 

[Hellisreal]

Why does it surprise you that there would be misguided ones?
It takes nothing away from the Church whatsoever.

edit to add

If they are of the Latin Rite, I can easily see how this “example” without citations you give could be and would be possible, don’t you?