What Is a Christian?

[Doug Ward]

I have noticed that many cannot answer this question, or our answers are unsatisfactory. Here was my attempt this week to answer. What is missing? What is not stated well?


The Big Question




Once again an age-old question has confronted me this week. It has confronted me in an abstract, intellectual sense, but even more importantly, this question has arisen in a deeply personal context. What does it mean to be a Christian? Before we quickly turn away, let us be reminded that how we answer this question will reveal much about who we are. I also have come to the realization that many Christians cannot answer this question at all. So let it be asked again, what does it mean to be a Christian?




Well, it means to be forgiven, one might add. One might even go further and say one has to have their sins forgiven. I will admit and state loudly that it is a wonderful thing to ask forgiveness, but does that constitute Christianity? Other religions also require their adherents to ask forgiveness. So if a Buddhist, or an atheist seeks forgiveness for wrongs, are we ready to proclaim them a Christian? If we are not careful, this line of pursuit can easily turn into a model that sees Christianity as an avoidance of wrongs, or an avoidance of hell or other punishment. This quickly becomes simply a moral pursuit. If I avoid all the bad things I can, and somehow be absolved for bad things done before then I am alright. Most of us are familiar with this example of Christianity.




There is another model of Christianity that most of us have heard. It is the model that encourages one to “accept Christ.” This sounds okay on the surface, but what does “accept Christ” mean? Does one accept His existence historically, or does this mean something else? When that phrase is heard it seems to involve a decision, although one not quite defined. It seems to mean somehow I am okay now, and Jesus and I are now friends. I affirm Him, and He affirms me. However the phrase remains nebulous and one never quite hears exactly what is required of the one who has “accepted Christ.” Forgive me for saying this, but it all seems so therapeutic and Oprah-y to me.




So the original question still remains, and it tugs at my heart, and with my mind. What does it mean to be a Christian? I think the answer to this question is remarkably simple, yet incredibly profound. What is remarkable to me is how little resemblance there is to our answer to this question as compared to how it is described in the Gospels. Let me offer a simple description of what it means to be a Christian.




First, Jesus' early followers stopped what they were doing in order to follow Christ – in other words, they left their nets. Simply put, their allegiance changed from their task or self-identity to one that follows Christ. So a Christian is one whose ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not a group, nation, or political party – not even Caesar. Second, these people followed Christ. This was not just a prayer, or emotional decision, but a firm commitment to go where Christ went, and do what Christ asked. The trouble is, Christ asked for some strange things, like loving ones enemies, seeking His kingdom first, and forgiving others.




Perhaps the best answer is the answer that Christ gave when He was directly asked. First, love God, and then your neighbor as yourself. Simple, yet deeply profound. I may have to leave something behind, follow where Jesus leads, and love others along the way. There it is in all of its simplicity. When one follows Christ, we usually find that our selfishness, pride, and sin block the way – thus the need to find redemption and reconciliation. Then our allegiance changes from the things we used to find important, to the One who came to redeem the world. The things that used to be important may no longer be, and we may find ourselves seeing the world in a different light. And all along the way we love others, we act redemptively, and seek reconciliation.




This is what it means to be a Christian – are you on board? We need you.

[Billie Goodson]

Couple of quick thoughts at my first read:

It would seem to be more of a statement of "What I think it means to be a Christian". A picky point, but I think an important one. This is your viewpoint, unless you contend this is something God commanded you take to the people. I am not trying to say you are wrong, I actually like it in many ways, but it does seem to be a personal opinion however steeped in scripture it may be. And this drives toward my second point. Being a Christian seems that it should involve that our love for our fellow man should leave us open to correction. Even the atheist may point out some planks in my eye, my love for them and Christ seems to require that I be open to that possibility. Maybe you cover that with your selfish comment. Many of us seem to just exchange what we are selfish about, not necessarily being "willing to leave that behind." One thing I think about the disciples, they were pretty consistent told they weren't right. Often, we don't seem willing to accept that possibility.

One other thought I had is that while the disciples may have in cases "left their nets", they also don't seem to have just carelessly done so. The other examples where Christ returns to find them fishing make me wonder just how much they gave up. There seems to be a lesson lurking in not forgetting who/what we are, but in bringing that to God. I don't think I am developing that thought well, but it seems to be a thought lurking in my head. Maybe after I cut the grass, it will solidify.

[Todd Erickson]

What it means to be a Christian often depends very much on what you believe the Gospel is.

[Doug Ward]

What it means to be a Christian often depends very much on what you believe the Gospel is.

I agree. So what is the gospel for 2011? In our context.

[Benjamin Burch]

This is a question I've thought extremely hard about for almost a year now. I've come to an answer that helps me a lot... but I probably won't share it here. I doubt most would like it at all.

[Ryan Scott]

A Christian is someone whose life visibly revolves around the belief that the crucified Son of God was raised from the dead.

[Ryan Scott]

A Christian is someone whose life visibly revolves around the belief that the crucified Son of God was raised from the dead.

I'll add that this is probably not a distinction one can claim, but a mark of derision bestowed by others. I'll also say it probably knocks out most people who attend worship regularly (myself included).

I try awful hard to form my life around this radical idea, but I come up short often - and I thank God everyday for being a God of mercy and grace.

[Gene Tatsch]

To paraphrase Ryan:
"A Christian is someone whose life visibly revolves around actively following the crucified Son of God was raised from the dead.
Which I think agrees with Doug.
This allows for stumbling, for "planks", for imperfections, for lifelong growth & learning - it addresses a specific focus.

[Dale Cozby]

I am reading this question to mean possibly two things.
What does it mean to be saved? eternally.
And what does it mean to be Christian?

The Saved: Is a person who IN the best of the wisdom knowledge and faith they have been given by the Holy Spirit, trust the Creator for their eternal salvation and live by the highest standard of morality they know and trust in the "unknown" God for the act of mercy and grace He alone can provide beyond their best effort. God knows His own.

A Christian is one who has been blessed with grace through a faith in the known God and Savior, Jesus Christ, having knowledge of His life and resurrection and His commands seek to live in obedience to them seeking to be like Christ in all things and walk in God's grace and mercy for all the rest.

Kind of simplistic but it is short. Perhaps others could refine these definitions better.

[Ryan Pugh]

There is another model of Christianity that most of us have heard. It is the model that encourages one to “accept Christ.”

This is definitely the most common description of what it means to be Christian that I have heard. Personally, I find it lacking. It is too individualistic and places too much emphasis on what we do/believe/say/etc. Although our "decision" is important, Christ's "decision" to "accept us" is more important, in my mind.






The trouble is, Christ asked for some strange things, like loving ones enemies, seeking His kingdom first, and forgiving others.

This gets to the core of what I believe it means to be a Christ follower. Someone who lives the Way of Christ: loving all (with the defining characteristic of a Christian being the love of enemies), giving forgiveness and mercy to all, building for the kingdom of God, serving the least of these, and much more.

[Ryan Pugh]

This is a question I've thought extremely hard about for almost a year now. I've come to an answer that helps me a lot... but I probably won't share it here. I doubt most would like it at all.

I wish you would.

[Benjamin Burch]

I am reading this question to mean possibly two things.
What does it mean to be saved? eternally.
And what does it mean to be Christian?


I really like this as a starting point. I would want to add a 3rd category, though:

Who are the "saved" (experiencing it here and now)?
Who are "saved" eternally only (not actually experiencing it here and now)?
Who are "Christians" (The Body of Christ)?

That is where I begin this conversation.


I wish you would.

A few people have asked me to elaborate privately. I'll pass it along.

[Todd Erickson]

I think that the problem I have observed is that it's very possible to believe in a crucified and risen Christ, while remaining fairly passive in the world. You can be extremely moral, even ethical, but have absolutely no impact on the world at all. (i.e., The Divine Conspiracy).

Believing in the resurrected Christ as a fact on it's own is actually fairly meaningless, and unfortunately many Christians have not grasped this fact. Instead, it's used as proof that because Christ is resurrected, we will go to heaven (even though heaven isn't mentioned as a place that Christians go when they die in the bible). Folk Theology.

The resurrection of Christ was actually the proof that EVERYTHING ELSE that he'd said was true, and that his ministry had active consequences that went far beyond death.

Christ came to the world so that A. they would know God, and B. in knowing God, they would be restored to how God created them to be, and C. they would work with God to restore the rest of creation to how it was meant to be. Progressive, active, responsible, compassionate, consequential.

The Gospel indicates that those who truly abide in Christ will become new people, able to love unconditionally and be fulfilled by doing so, experiencing and producing a long visioned, mature, compassionate, insightful love that looks to the good and benefit of not only individuals but communities and society as a whole, as well as experiencing good things as a blessing that are then in turn invested to become better, and gratefully experienced as so (to paraphrase Oord's recent theology on love).

We would often say, as Christians, to borrow from the above post, that Christians are very moral. But the end result of this appears to be that Christians go through society rebuking people who they see as living in sin, as if every Christian then became John the Baptist. Yet we would also apprehend that many of those who claim to be Christian (in this Christian nation) who believe in God, and perhaps in the risen Christ, actually embody no actual Christlike/sacrificial behavior with their lives, though they may be very moral. So the aspects of belief in the crucifixion and definition by morality fail us.

At length, Christ does not say "He who believes in me will be more moral, and have eternal life". The life itself is the point, it begins now, and it affects everybody as a natural result. So the Gospel must emerge from and enter into that.

[Doug Ward]

I think that the problem I have observed is that it's very possible to believe in a crucified and risen Christ, while remaining fairly passive in the world. You can be extremely moral, even ethical, but have absolutely no impact on the world at all. (i.e., The Divine Conspiracy).

Believing in the resurrected Christ as a fact on it's own is actually fairly meaningless, and unfortunately many Christians have not grasped this fact. Instead, it's used as proof that because Christ is resurrected, we will go to heaven (even though heaven isn't mentioned as a place that Christians go when they die in the bible). Folk Theology.

The resurrection of Christ was actually the proof that EVERYTHING ELSE that he'd said was true, and that his ministry had active consequences that went far beyond death.

Christ came to the world so that A. they would know God, and B. in knowing God, they would be restored to how God created them to be, and C. they would work with God to restore the rest of creation to how it was meant to be. Progressive, active, responsible, compassionate, consequential.

The Gospel indicates that those who truly abide in Christ will become new people, able to love unconditionally and be fulfilled by doing so, experiencing and producing a long visioned, mature, compassionate, insightful love that looks to the good and benefit of not only individuals but communities and society as a whole, as well as experiencing good things as a blessing that are then in turn invested to become better, and gratefully experienced as so (to paraphrase Oord's recent theology on love).

We would often say, as Christians, to borrow from the above post, that Christians are very moral. But the end result of this appears to be that Christians go through society rebuking people who they see as living in sin, as if every Christian then became John the Baptist. Yet we would also apprehend that many of those who claim to be Christian (in this Christian nation) who believe in God, and perhaps in the risen Christ, actually embody no actual Christlike/sacrificial behavior with their lives, though they may be very moral. So the aspects of belief in the crucifixion and definition by morality fail us.

At length, Christ does not say "He who believes in me will be more moral, and have eternal life". The life itself is the point, it begins now, and it affects everybody as a natural result. So the Gospel must emerge from and enter into that.

Todd, thank you. I believe I am better for having read this.

[Rene Tetro]

For me the answer is quite simple: a Christian is one who has experienced regeneration, adoption, and justification. Now, how that takes place, and how it is played out in one's life, is a matter of one's theological perspective (Arminian, Reformed, etc). But, I believe, those three remain pretty much constant throughout evangelical history.

Now, if we are talking about a "cultural Christian", that opens up a whole new set of problems.

[Billy Cox]

I think that the problem I have observed is that it's very possible to believe in a crucified and risen Christ, while remaining fairly passive in the world. You can be extremely moral, even ethical, but have absolutely no impact on the world at all. (i.e., The Divine Conspiracy).

I strongly suspect that a person with a regenerate heart will have an impact on the world, regardless of their activity level.

[Todd Erickson]

I strongly suspect that a person with a regenerate heart will have an impact on the world, regardless of their activity level.

I would believe so too.

When I say "active", I don't mean that this person observes every church service, etc. To me, there's this mental picture of what most Christians strive for, in which they aren't doing anything bad. I.e., they are not committing any sin. But it's very withdrawn, it's all about not doing the wrong things, not listening to the wrong music, not thinking the wrong thoughts, etc.

To be regenerative is to be active. You are engaging with beautiful things, you are engaging with good things, you are bringing healing and regeneration to the world because you're bringing them to yourself. Rather than finding a nice neutral position where you aren't doing anything wrong, your obsession is with being positive, being good, doing wonderful things...even if you're not on a church committee. Does that make sense?

[Ryan Pugh]

I would believe so too.

When I say "active", I don't mean that this person observes every church service, etc. To me, there's this mental picture of what most Christians strive for, in which they aren't doing anything bad. I.e., they are not committing any sin. But it's very withdrawn, it's all about not doing the wrong things, not listening to the wrong music, not thinking the wrong thoughts, etc.

To be regenerative is to be active. You are engaging with beautiful things, you are engaging with good things, you are bringing healing and regeneration to the world because you're bringing them to yourself. Rather than finding a nice neutral position where you aren't doing anything wrong, your obsession is with being positive, being good, doing wonderful things...even if you're not on a church committee. Does that make sense?

Thanks for this. It reminds me a little of a quote from Diane Leclerc: "Holiness can never be defined as the absence of something (sin). Holiness must be defined as the presence of something (love)."

[Billy Cox]

I would believe so too.

When I say "active", I don't mean that this person observes every church service, etc. To me, there's this mental picture of what most Christians strive for, in which they aren't doing anything bad. I.e., they are not committing any sin. But it's very withdrawn, it's all about not doing the wrong things, not listening to the wrong music, not thinking the wrong thoughts, etc.

To be regenerative is to be active. You are engaging with beautiful things, you are engaging with good things, you are bringing healing and regeneration to the world because you're bringing them to yourself. Rather than finding a nice neutral position where you aren't doing anything wrong, your obsession is with being positive, being good, doing wonderful things...even if you're not on a church committee. Does that make sense?

Yes, that makes sense. I wonder if the church in general is working against its own soteriology. Justification is a passive metaphor. God does all of the 'work' in declaring us 'not guilty' - kind of like traffic court when the police officer doesn't show up and the judge dismisses the case. If the only imperative that logically accompanies justification is to thankfully 'go and sin no more', is it any surprise that the church battles passivity?

Adoption has similar issues, but almost nobody preaches that metaphor, so who cares?

Regeneration and passivity are incompatible. I should also say that the local church's definition of 'active' is not always in step with being active in the Kingdom. Sometimes they are mutually exclusive. :)

[Bob Carabbio]

TO me it's rather simple, but related to the 18" problem (the distance from the "Head" to the "Heart"). The Devils "Believe" - probably more strongly and accurately than WE do. And they know the Bible more intimately and accurately than we do - But they're not "Christians".

James is often quoted as a "Salvation by works" proof text. but what we miss is the Biblical definiton of "Faith". And that's rather basic, since salvation IS by "Faith" - and THAT not of yourself. Not of "Works" lest any should boast. James is simply a "Litmus test" by which we can determine whether we have "Faith", or are just "Religious".

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb 11:1

It's a "SUBSTANCE" - and a substance is something "tangible" and it's an EVIDENCE - evidence is something that provides "Proof".

We are SAVED by our FAITH In the Sacrifice of Jesus, and our FAITH is that our SINS ARE GONE, We are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and are being "Conformed" by Him to the image of Christ - as we live on the temporal plane. We ARE NOT "Without sin" - but we have an advocate - when we confess and repent, and we are PERFECT in God's sight with the very perfection of Jesus - since we're "In Him" as Christians.

Melancthon stated that it IS "Faith alone" that saves - but the "FAITH" that saves is never "alone". i.e. Saving faith, by it's intrinsic nature will produce "Works of righteousness". And if what we CALL "Faith" produces nothing - then it was never "Faith" to begin with.

I would not DARE to suggest that my filthy "Works of righteousness" would in ANY WAY ADD to the perfect provision for our salvation by Jesus on the Cross where his soul became the "SIN OFFERING" that cleanses us (not just "Covering our sins" in the Old Testament way, but ERADICATING Them permanently).

SO A "Christian" is one that RESTS by Faith (not "belief" or "intellectual ascent") in the salvation PROVIDED FOR HIM, and understands that Jesus, is his LORD, and he has a responsibility to "take his Lord's yoke upon him, and LEARN about his Lord, and be obedient TO him.

[Todd Erickson]

I think that what's interesting about asking a question like this is that you can get a bunch of doctrinal answers, but in most cases, the people that doctrine produces aren't evidently different from anybody around them. They're just more folks.

[Randy Wise]

I have noticed that many cannot answer this question, or our answers are unsatisfactory. Here was my attempt this week to answer. What is missing? What is not stated well?



The Big Question





Once again an age-old question has confronted me this week. It has confronted me in an abstract, intellectual sense, but even more importantly, this question has arisen in a deeply personal context. What does it mean to be a Christian?



Big question or broad question with many contexts.

I can answer it means because Jesus Lives and never dies I will never die. (Eternal Life) Thats what God has done, not me.

Where O death is your victory?

R.

[Webster Fields Jr]

I'll try to state my perspective as simply fundamentally as possible. It may sound very vague, but to be a Christian to me is to be crucified on the Cross with Christ. Our Flesh, Sinful Nature, or Self must be (either through process or instantaneously) killed on that Cross (the very same one as Jesus). This is certainly through Faith and True Faith and Belief IN THE HEART will generate Works of Righteousness... Since Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith and It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on the MERCY of God... then we do not have any role in our own salvation (or being Christian) than to simply accept what God has provided and get the heck out of His way.

Where we have "issues" in this life... and a large part of the "process" of Sanctification and Taking up our Cross and following Him is that we still have in our hearts various forms of disbelief and IDOLATRY. When we hear that Sis. So and So's husband just died and needs someone to pray WITH her or needs help paying for the Funeral, etc... some how we forget that this is part of our Calling... and that we can BELIEVE that the Spirit of God resides in us and we CAN offer our Sis. the help she needs... whether spiritual or tangible. Because in both cases... GOD is our provider.

Whether we realise it our not... when we rely on our own strength, our own understanding, our own ability to provide financial security for ourselves and our families we commit acts of IDOLATRY... we become, money becomes, other people become (or continue to be) Idols in our HEARTS... the faith that most of us act on in life is faith and belief in the Idols of our hearts.... and that is not "Christian" at all.

Christ "pour his life out even unto Death"... and we must follow THAT example.. none other really. We are called to Pour our Lives (and that Life comes from God) into one another, not by Preaching AT them, but by LIVING the Gospel IN their lives... that only comes from God... but by making that step to even be in the environment and circumstances (RELATIONSHIPS) is sometimes when and where God removes those Idols and areas of disbelief from our HEARTS....

I said I'd keep it simple... lol... but oh well. I can't fix anyone (can't even fix myself)... so in this case as well as every other... we must rely on God to REALLY demonstrate what it means to be a Christian in our own personal lives.. as intimately as only God can do.
Hopefully these words will describe (well enough) something that can only be KNOWN by personal experience... I don't know.

[Todd Erickson]

Whether we realise it our not... when we rely on our own strength, our own understanding, our own ability to provide financial security for ourselves and our families we commit acts of IDOLATRY... we become, money becomes, other people become (or continue to be) Idols in our HEARTS... the faith that most of us act on in life is faith and belief in the Idols of our hearts.... and that is not "Christian" at all.



So...if we have jobs, if we pay attention to our families, if we feed and clothe ourselves, we are committing idolatry?

[Webster Fields Jr]

So...if we have jobs, if we pay attention to our families, if we feed and clothe ourselves, we are committing idolatry?

I don't mean if we pay attention to them... if we DEPEND on them, if we TRUST in them, if they are in anyway our SOURCE of anything (on the heart level) then we have issues with Idolatry. It's not that we don't value them... it's how much we do that matters.

These things have their proper place in our lives and our hearts... but Jesus said “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." That doesn't mean to despise them.. or totally disown them... but it does indicate (I believe) that in our hearts we must trust/depend/rely on Him first and foremost. He must be our Source, not ourselves, our people, or our world... for all things.

Does that seem to be truth?

[Todd Erickson]

How much of "this life" can we practice then and still be followers of Christ?

[Webster Fields Jr]

How much of "this life" can we practice then and still be followers of Christ?

It's funny that I seem to be able to find MUCH better explanations of what God has been showing me for a year now online, rather than attempt to write them out myself. Understand, I haven't had any serious computer time for like a year... Check out this link

http://bible.org/seriespage/process-spirituality-being-versus-doing

God is PRESENT TENSE, He's about right now (in relation to us) and we need to be the same. So the majority of good (genuine good) involves allowing God to change who were are BEING and not what we are DOING.... at least, the change in DOING comes from God's change of our BEING... Him changing our heart. Read the article I linked and you'll see a better explaination of what I believe than I can put into words...

But regardless of my words or the article's authors words... the TRUTH of what is in the words can only be explained (in detail and intimate reality) to you by God Himself.

[Todd Erickson]

That document you linked to was, in my opinion, fairly buzz-word and jargon heavy. There's a lot of intent there, but not necessarily a great deal of explication. Very subjective. But thank you for attempting.

[Webster Fields Jr]

That document you linked to was, in my opinion, fairly buzz-word and jargon heavy. There's a lot of intent there, but not necessarily a great deal of explication. Very subjective. But thank you for attempting.

It's better than I can explain it... all I really had going into learning these principles was a saying that came up in a conversation with a friend. He said... Stop worrying about doing, just BE... and like the doing come from the being. I didn't understand it at the time... but something in my heart said that it was truth. Then through about a year of varied life experiences, God has elaborated on that statement Himself...

Ultimately, this existence... this life.... creation itself is not about YOU... not about ME.... it's all about the Glory (manifested presence of God)... all about Jesus (the Glory of God).

Read these verses... I'll Bold the parts that illustrate what I mean most. Ezek. 36:22-37 (NIV).


22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!
33 “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.’ 37 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, 38 as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

So it comes down to total reliance on God for everything... even to move us into proper relationship with Him, others, and ourselves... to provide for our sustainance... etc.

Once we can BE humble in our hearts... Christ lives His life through us... the Body of Christ...

[Todd Erickson]

My observation is that my society makes it very easy for it's inhabitants to "be" by themselves, but the bible demands that we "be" as a community, and our society/culture is all about breaking down community. Pursuing community can actually be hostile toward my culture.

[Webster Fields Jr]

My observation is that my society makes it very easy for it's inhabitants to "be" by themselves, but the bible demands that we "be" as a community, and our society/culture is all about breaking down community. Pursuing community can actually be hostile toward my culture.

Jesus was counter-cultural.... why shouldn't we be?

[Todd Erickson]

Jesus was counter-cultural.... why shouldn't we be?

When we use the language of the culture to sell counter-culturalism, we generally travel in circles.

[Larry Parsons]

I think there are some people who have the wrong idea what a Christian is all about. For some people a Christian is someone who is kind and giving to other.(there nothing wrong with being kind and giving but that doesn't make you a Christian) I know there are some people will say as Christian we should treat all people equally and we should not judge other for being different,but instead embraces and learn from them. Ok, as Christians we are called to loved one another and to be kind to one another. However that is only one part of being a Christian we are called to obey and obedience is a natural result of a personal relationship with Jesus christ. Using some people definition of being a Christian means that you can practice any kind of sin you want as long as you are loving and kind to others. I believe there are two side of the coin.
Thanks
Larry

[Hans Deventer]

I think there are some people who have the wrong idea what a Christian is all about. For some people a Christian is someone who is kind and giving to other.(there nothing wrong with being kind and giving but that doesn't make you a Christian) I know there are some people will say as Christian we should treat all people equally and we should not judge other for being different,but instead embraces and learn from them. Ok, as Christians we are called to loved one another and to be kind to one another. However that is only one part of being a Christian we are called to obey and obedience is a natural result of a personal relationship with Jesus christ. Using some people definition of being a Christian means that you can practice any kind of sin you want as long as you are loving and kind to others. I believe there are two side of the coin.
Thanks
Larry



1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Corinthians 13 - 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Romans 13 - 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.


Bottom line, without love, faith is absolutely nothing at all. Has no value.

With love, the law is fulfilled.

To get back to the original question: A Christian is one who loves as Jesus loves.

[Larry Parsons]

Hans, I agree, we are to care and love one another but as a Christian our old man (what we was before we became a Christian)is dying or dead and as a Christian we have become a new man in christ and we no longer living a sinful life style because the man we once where is either dying or dead.
Thanks
Larry

[Rick Hall]

A profitable question anytime...some thoughts:

1. Not everyone who became a believer/follower/Christian left their "nets"(see Acts for example) literally. Slaves stayed where they were, soldiers stayed in the army, business people stayed in business - but they were changed.

2. In various posts that are answering this question - some people focused on the theology that tries to explain "HOW" a person moves from non-Christian to Christian...since everyone seems to agree that the 'HOW" does not involve deeds/works those answers seemed to focus on what people "believe" which combined with the love/grace/mercy/calling of God moves a person from 'darkness to light'. So the "HOW" is a piece of the answer,,,,

3. Many posts seemed to focus on "RESULTS". It seemed to me that the "RESULTS" answers all recognize a "change" in behaviour, values, priorities, etc...different groups/individuals seem to emphasize various aspects depending on their theology - social justice, kingdom building, forgiveness, changes in sexual behaviour, etc....all are still results.

4. Some posts reveal disappointment with 'Christians' who don't show RESULTS even if they offer a HOW. This is not a surprising situation since we are offered the "wheat and the tares" information - and even the potential of people doing things in Christ's name whom He has never known or false teachers who are so deceptive that even genuine believers can be confused.

5. It seems to me, IMHO, having "accepted" Christ at age 9 at a crisis point I can still remember vividly at nearly 59, and having experienced great spiritual moments(in my opinion) and great failures along with growing in knowledge and love with a long way to go that asking this question is always healthy - it's a function of "EXAMINE YOURSELVES"....so always worth the time and effort.

[Ryan Pugh]

A form of this question came up again yesterday in my conversation with another youth pastor. Here's my shortest and simplest way of describing what it means to be Christian... and what it doesn't mean, in my opinion.

To be a Christian is not so much about inviting God into our story (life) but placing our story (life) into God's Story.