What is a Christian?

JustHalf

This is a strange thing to ask, but I'm certain there's a fair amount of misunderstanding and we might as well use this board to trash this out.

There are certainly at least three different definitions.

Christian by tradition
I found a fantastic quote in the Atlantic definining this. This group of people would be part of "Christendom".

Christendom is a civilization that incorporates elements that are non-Christian or even anti-Christian. Hitler and the Nazis, it may be recalled, are products of Christendom, but hardly of Christianity.

Christian by birth
Baptised.

Christian by choice
Choosing to be a Christian.

I would claim that only those in the last category can actual be considered "Christians".

Saruman

I would claim that only those in the last category can actual be considered "Christians".

True.. unless of course they were born by tradition, baptised at birth and as soon as they were old enough to understand.. they "choose" to stay a Christian and not be something else or possibly nothing.

The Bible itself as much as says so in John 3. You can be born a Christian, but unless you "choose" to believe, unless you believe in Jesus, accept him as your saviour then you can never see the kingdom of God.

JustHalf

But surely they are in the final category if they choose to remain Christians?

Manach

I'd go for a loose technical description.
A belief in the Bible, with weight on the NT in the figure of Jesus.

Then Christianity subdivided into various Churches
Catholic - Bible and Western Church tradition (takes a small bow)
Orthodox - Bible and Eastern Church tradition
Protestant - Bible

To paraphrase St. Augustine, "types of church,the visible, those who are seen worshipping, and the invisible, those who are true Christians and only God knows who they are"

Saruman

Something has always confused me in the various denominations though.. whats the difference? I mean apart from the politics and the way the church is actually run.. the actual belief system.. whats different? What do catholics believe that protestants do not and vice versa? I know catholics place as much emphasis on saints like Mary than they do on Jesus but thats about all i know.

Evil Phil

AKAIK, Chatholics believe that Mary was a virgin and Protestants don't. Although that may rank as a minor difference in belief.

Saruman

No thats certainly not true Protestants have no beliefs that are fundamentally different like that. No they believe She was a virgin too, they cant think otherwise.. both of them use the same book and it clearly says she was a Virgin. No the differences are small and minor.. just curious as to what they are? Possibly something to do with baptism or something.

CHRIS GREER

One of the (more minor) differences is that Catholics believe that the Pope is the "vicar of Christ", whereas (extreme- I am not one-!) Protestants believe that he is the Antichrist!

As far as I'm concerned personally, I was "born again" on April 3rd 1981, and that is what makes me a Christian-faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross at Calvary!

Woden

Can i choose not to be a christian just coz i was baptised as one? as i don't consider myself one?

roar_ie

As far as i know there is one major difference between protestants and catholics.

Protestants believe in justification by faith alone. Simply meaning that you can only be saved if you have faith.

The catholic religion afaik believes in a combination of faith and the doing of good works. That only through doing both good deeds and having faith you can be saved, that having faith is simply not enough.

However some could argue that having faith should imply that you act in such a way that befits the nature of your believes. In other words you shouldn't go on a killing spree, and that in essence you should be good and before acts of kindness etc.

What i am trying to get at is that the protestant religion would like you to do good works and live a good christian life however it is not apart of their doctrine and you are not oblidged to do so to be saved.

I hope this makes some sense

JustHalf

That's fairly accurate. The view espoused by scripture is that one needs only faith to be saved, but that true faith will result in doing good works.

Saruman

Doing good works mean nothing unless they are done out of a want or need to help others and be selfless! There are millions of people who do good works but they benefit by it, maybe indirectly but they still benefit by it.. i dont mean spiritually.

Movie stars for instance, celebrities, business men... all get a certain public image from doing good things...

Its like Ronan walking around Ireland for Charity.... its all publicity.. It would be simpler for him to simply give a load of money to charity than to collect it and and gain publicity by walking around the country with top of the range clothing, a load of people following him with drinks and whatever and probably body guards and lots of other stuff.. You see the point.

I can accept doing good deeds as anything meaningful. The only true meaning would be if you not only do not benefit from doing said deed.. but that you actually loose something from it.

jesus_freak

Protestants to believe that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born. You're probably mixing that up with other things about Mary. Catholics believe that she was born without sin, which protestants disagree with. They also believe that she remained a virgin all her life, and was assumed into heaven, and never died. Protestants generally believe that she did consumate her marriage with Joseph, and I personally believe that they had children after Jesus' birth. There is no reason to believe from scripture that she was assumed into heaven.

One very fundamental difference though, is that protestants believe you should never pray to anyone or anything except God. Mary cannot intercede for you. Only God can answer prayers.

JF