Who is a Christian?? !!

[oldbadger]

Before Covid I used to cycle around my local area and would visit chapels and churches which held tea'n'chat meetings. On one occasion I passed a Christian hall and saw a poster which read something like 'soup and chat', and I walked inside just as the event was commencing. A long table was set and many mid-aged and elderly folks sat around; I was guided to a place.

A very stern lady across the table fixed me in her gaze and an interrogation began:-
Who are you?
Hello I'm oldbadger.
Why have you come here?
I wanted to meet you, and the soup is interesting.
How did you know about this meeting?
I saw a big poster outside.
Do you walk in to any place because of posters?
Yes..... I often do.
Where else have you just walked in to?
Oh, lots of places. The Methodist church holds tea/biscuit meets on Saturday mornings.
She grunted what sounded like disapproval. I mentioned a few other meetings and then the room erupted.
I said....
Oh, and the Christian Spiritualists in T--------- offering healing and tea on Mondays at 1.30pm.

This stern lady exploded.
They are not Christians! They worship the Devil! All these evil people who pretend to be Christians...... Jesus warned us about you all! And that disgusting Halloween...... ............ well this carried on for minutes until she could be calmed down.

This has happened many times....... I once mentioned that we have JW Christian friends and we are pleased to let them park on our driveway when visiting homes in the area, and several Christians immediately pointed out that JWs are different, or not proper Christians......

There are many many differing churches and creeds, and so I wonder....... who is a proper Christian?

[oldbadger]

I understand the meaning is, if person remain in word of Jesus, he remains in his teachings, meaning he keeps them and don't replace them with someone else's teachings. It does not necessary mean the person manages to live perfectly by them, but even if he fails, he thinks they are good and wants to keep the teaching and to live by them.

And therefore, getting riches is not necessary wrong, if the riches become more important than truth and love, I think that is the problem. That is how I have understood it. If you disagree and are a disciple of Jesus, I think you should remain loyal to Jesus rather than to me.

Thank you for your post 1213

And so, a person can, say, gather riches, so long as they keep the word of Jesus and do not choose any other than Jesus, and so long as they teach what Jesus says. ?? OK

I'm not a disciple of Jesus myself so my opinion is not for this thread, 1213, I'm interested in yours.

[oldbadger]

Since a Christian is someone following the teachings of Christ, if you want to find the religion that does that, one would have to familiarize themselves with the teachings of Christ as set out i the bible.

1. An organised religion with an identifable church that meet regularly.
2. Accept the entire bible canon and hold faithfully to its teachings and principles.
3. Be politically neutral and never under any circumstances participate in wars.
4. All member publically preach the gospel of the kingdom.
5. Give prominently place (say and use) the personal name of God as (pronounced in the local language).
6. Be known for high morals that reflect bible standards.

FURTHER READING: How can I find the true religion?
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/q ... -religion/

JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

To read more please go to other posts related to...

RELIGION, CHRISTIANITY and ...CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS

Thank you for your post JehovahsWitness.
Lots of people where I live would (most likely) tick the box for 'Christian' in questionnaires, but after looking at that list of undertakings I can only think of two people whom I know that could tick all those.
Most just go to weddings, funerals and baptisms at churches or taken by priests.

[JehovahsWitness]

Lots of people where I live would (most likely) tick the box for 'Christian' in questionnaires, but after looking at that list of undertakings I can only think of two people whom I know that could tick all those.
Most just go to weddings, funerals and baptisms at churches or taken by priests.

I dont think it is for anyone but God to judge individuals (even within Gods organisation, each individual Christian will ultimately be judged by God). The only endeavor within reason is to FIND THE ONE TRUE RELIGION on earth at this pesent time and join it. All other lines of enquirey are in my opinion an intellectual exercise in self gratification or online virtue signalling (an excuse to say: "Well, I won't become a Christian because there are 18,000 denominations so it I couldnt possibly decide which one to join!" )

It is absolutely false to say that True Christians ie. the one united group of Christians that are in reality serving God acceptable as an organisation, cannot be identified as a unique group because all Christian groups are essentially the same.

And by the way...if you know two people that could tick all those boxes but just go to weddings, funerals and baptisms at churches they are not part of an organised religion so they cannot tick all the boxes - see point #1. I repeat , the religion itself must "tick all the boxes" i.e. meet all the scriptural criteria, so the individuals must examine scripture, find the true relion and then JOIN it. Your two friends clearly have done neither.




Do Jehovah's witnesses accept the concept of "true religion"?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 30#p861330

To read more please go to other posts related to...

CHRISTIANITY and ...CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS and ... JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

[oldbadger]

And by the way...if you know two people that could tick all those boxes but just go to weddings, funerals and baptisms at churches they are not part of an organised religion so they cannot tick all the boxes - see point #1. I repeat , the religion itself must "tick all the boxes" i.e. meet all the scriptural criteria, so the individuals must examine scripture, find the true relion and then JOIN it. Your two friends clearly have done neither.

I might not have been clear. I wrote that I know lots of people who attend church weddings funerals and baptisms but that I only know two people who could tick all your boxes . So clearly I was telling you that they can do all.

[1213]

...
And so, a person can, say, gather riches, so long as they keep the word of Jesus and do not choose any other than Jesus, and so long as they teach what Jesus says. ?? ...

I think it is more like, it is not bad, if one gets riches, they just should not be the purpose of life nor rule the person. And if person gets riches, it would be good to use them for good, instead of becoming obsessed with it.

Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt. 6:19-21

[JehovahsWitness]

And by the way...if you know two people that could tick all those boxes but just go to weddings, funerals and baptisms at churches they are not part of an organised religion so they cannot tick all the boxes - see point #1. I repeat , the religion itself must "tick all the boxes" i.e. meet all the scriptural criteria, so the individuals must examine scripture, find the true relion and then JOIN it. Your two friends clearly have done neither.

I might not have been clear. I wrote that I know lots of people who attend church weddings funerals and baptisms but that I only know two people who could tick all your boxes . So clearly I was telling you that they can do all.

Oh, okay., I misunderstood, sorry. Well, if they can tick all the boxes ....I should know them! ☺

[oldbadger]

...
And so, a person can, say, gather riches, so long as they keep the word of Jesus and do not choose any other than Jesus, and so long as they teach what Jesus says. ?? ...

I think it is more like, it is not bad, if one gets riches, they just should not be the purpose of life nor rule the person. And if person gets riches, it would be good to use them for good, instead of becoming obsessed with it.

Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt. 6:19-21

Thank you again.
Obviously I am asking Christians about Christians here, but I have seen such wealth in some church houses, etc

Unreasonable wealth amongst unreasonable poverty.

[oldbadger]

Oh, okay., I misunderstood, sorry. Well, if they can tick all the boxes ....I should know them! ☺

Yes, maybe........ I don't think that there can be many folks to the road or street that could fit with your list.
As I have said, I only know two.

[tam]

Peace to you,

The problem with making a "list" is that the religion calling itself "the true religion" is the one that chose the requirements on that list. Obviously that list is going to favor itself. The RCC has a list of requirements as well... a list that favors itself.

Regardless, 'what is the true religion (if any)' is a different question from 'who is a Christian'.



Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[2timothy316]

Peace to you,

The problem with making a "list" is that the religion calling itself "the true religion" is the one that chose the requirements on that list. Obviously that list is going to favor itself. The RCC has a list of requirements as well... a list that favors itself.

Regardless, 'what is the true religion (if any)' is a different question from 'who is a Christian'.



Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

This is why the Bible must be the source of the list. Yet many do not accept the Bible as completely coming from God, thus the tons of religions we have now. Even religions that contain one person, themselves. Saying, "they are spiritual but not religious" they seek their own personal list and it favors themselves.