Who is a Christian?

[joshrp]

Hi,

I was thinking about the subject of who is a Christian? The way I see it, is that if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you are a Christian. At least if you act according to this belief as well. Some people merely “like” Jesus, but they don’t believe He is the Son of God. This is a good start, but it is misleading to think that such people are actually Christians. We shouldn’t confuse them. Actually my definition isn’t very good, because even Satan and his demons know that Jesus is the Son of God. So what is it that makes a Christian different than other people? What exactly is a Christian?

Joshua

 

[Samson01]

Look at the creed.

 

[jpjd]

I take the view that one is a Christian if they accept that Jesus is the Son of God, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary, and is true God and true man. A person may not follow the teachings of Christ very well and may not even attempt to follow them, in which case they are not a “good” Christian, but if they accept this belief as true, then they are a Christian.

 

[Corki]

A Christian is someone who has been Baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

To tie being a Christian with an expressed belief or action is to deny that someone can be a Christan before they are old enough to express belief, if they are mentally disabled or if they are senile.

 

[JRKH]

Hi,

I was thinking about the subject of who is a Christian? The way I see it, is that if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you are a Christian. At least if you act according to this belief as well. Some people merely “like” Jesus, but they don’t believe He is the Son of God. This is a good start, but it is misleading to think that such people are actually Christians. We shouldn’t confuse them. Actually my definition isn’t very good, because even Satan and his demons know that Jesus is the Son of God. So what is it that makes a Christian different than other people? What exactly is a Christian?

Joshua

Belief in Christ is certainly the root of being Christian, but what sets the true Christian apart is …Drum-Roll…

**Love and Love in Action. **

John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Peace
James

 

[Samson01]

A Christian is someone who has been Baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

To tie being a Christian with an expressed belief or action is to deny that someone can be a Christan before they are old enough to express belief, if they are mentally disabled or if they are senile.

Good doctrinal point…not sure that is a word, bit there it is. What about confirmation?

 

[Corki]

Good doctrinal point…not sure that is a word, bit there it is. What about confirmation?

I am not sure I understand your question. Confirmation is the final seal on the initiation that begins with Baptism and Holy Communion. While the three Sacraments impart the most grace with their completion, only Baptism has, as it’s effect, making a non-Christian into a Christian.

Confirmation also is received by infants, in the Eastern Churches and when a child is in danger of death. It does not require any more assertion of faith than Baptism does although when received by adults and teens it is customary to re-assert their faith. Even that re-assertion is done in the form of renewal of Baptismal promises, not new assertions.

There are also many non-Catholics who do not have access to the Sacrament of Confirmation but are still indeed Christians.

 

[Samson01]

I am not sure I understand your question. Confirmation is the final seal on the initiation that begins with Baptism and Holy Communion. While the three Sacraments impart the most grace with their completion, only Baptism has, as it’s effect, making a non-Christian into a Christian.

Confirmation also is received by infants, in the Eastern Churches and when a child is in danger of death. It does not require any more assertion of faith than Baptism does although when received by adults and teens it is customary to re-assert their faith. Even that re-assertion is done in the form of renewal of Baptismal promises, not new assertions.

There are also many non-Catholics who do not have access to the Sacrament of Confirmation but are still indeed Christians.

Thanks, I should have figured that as my oldest was brought in to the Church through the Byzantine rite.

 

[Goldrock]

A Christian is a member of the Mystical Body of Christ (viz., the Catholic Church) incorporated by Baptism.

Pope Leo XIII: “So long as the member was on the body, it lived; separated, it lost its life. Thus the man, so long as he lives on the body of the [Catholic] Church, he is a Christian; separated from her, he becomes a heretic.”

St. Cyprian: “No matter who or what he is, he is not a Christian as soon as he is not in the Church of Christ.”

I avoid calling Protestants “Christians” because it is an imprecise use of the term. I simply call them Protestants, just as they like to call themselves “Christians” and us “Catholics” to try to make it seem as if they are descendants of the community in Antioch in the book of Acts (where the name “Christian” is first used) and we are not.

 

[joshrp]

We were always called Christians. Christianity originally was just called The Way. So I guess a Christian is someone who follows Jesus’ Way, wherever it leads them.

 

[joshrp]

I think a Christian is someone who believes that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. The creed is also a good summary of what a Christian believes but I don’t know if it tells you what a Christian is.

 

[Viola_Incognita]

what a Christian is.

Ultimately, I think this will be up to Christ at the Last Judgement when He separates the sheep from the goats. We will then either be a part of He Who Is or we won’t. Just my guess.