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?

[tam]

Peace to you,

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.

Both lists (the one for the JW and the one for the RCC) contain things from the bible. Both lists favor the religion choosing the requirements (using something from the bible to support it's list). Self-advertising, so to speak.

Yet many do not accept the Bible as completely coming from God, thus the tons of religions we have now.

This cannot be correct. Most sects and denominations DO accept the bible as completely coming from God, most even claiming (in error) that the bible is the Word of God, the truth, inerrant, etc. (the truth is that Christ is the Word of God and the Truth, the ONE who is without error). So what you have said cannot be the reason for the "tons of religions as 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.

Now you're just making stuff up.

As for me, I am spiritual but not religious, yet I am just a servant, one who is pointing to Christ. HE is the One who leads His sheep into all truth. Not the bible, not religion, not men. Just Christ.


**


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



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

[2timothy316]

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

[tam]

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

It's not a list, timothy, it's just a statement. These are two different questions.


Peace again.

[2timothy316]

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

It's not a list, timothy, it's just a statement. These are two different questions.


Peace again.

That is your opinion and that again fits your dogma. That doesn't make it a fact.

The Bible, which is my source, doesn't make a difference between the true religion and a Christian. So it is indeed a statement in your list.

"“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will." Matt 7:21
According to the Bible a person can answer your question however they want. That doesn't mean they are a Christian. So again, "what is the true religion (if any)' is a different question from 'who is a Christian'." This is a bullet point from your list. Specifically the "if any" part.

According to the Bible there is only one way and claiming to be a Christian doesn't make a person Christian or part of the true religion. Christian is the true religion according to the Bible. Also according to the Bible just saying one is a Christian doesn't make them a Christian.

A person that claims to be a pilot but can't fly airplanes means he is not actually a pilot.
A person that claims to be a Christian but doesn't do the will of Almighty God as laid out in the Bible, isn't a Christian.

[tam]

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

It's not a list, timothy, it's just a statement. These are two different questions.


Peace again.

That is your opinion and that again fits your dogma. That doesn't make it a fact.

The Bible, which is my source, doesn't make a difference between the true religion and a Christian. So it is indeed a statement in your list.

"“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will." Matt 7:21

I don't even know how to respond to something like this. A religion is an organization. A Christian is a person. That's not an opinion. That is just a fact. Asking who is a Christian is not the same question as asking what is the true religion (if any).

Peace again.

[2timothy316]

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

It's not a list, timothy, it's just a statement. These are two different questions.


Peace again.

That is your opinion and that again fits your dogma. That doesn't make it a fact.

The Bible, which is my source, doesn't make a difference between the true religion and a Christian. So it is indeed a statement in your list.

"“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will." Matt 7:21

I don't even know how to respond to something like this. A religion is an organization. A Christian is a person. That's not an opinion. That is just a fact.

Lets look at facts shall we?
Religion:a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

So according to the dictionary, a religion can be just one person.

Or do you have your own list of definitions for words that favor your beliefs too? Perhaps you have alternative facts?

[2timothy316]

Asking who is a Christian is not the same question as asking what is the true religion (if any).

Peace again.

Not according to the Bible.

[tam]

Peace to you,

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

It's not a list, timothy, it's just a statement. These are two different questions.


Peace again.

That is your opinion and that again fits your dogma. That doesn't make it a fact.

The Bible, which is my source, doesn't make a difference between the true religion and a Christian. So it is indeed a statement in your list.

"“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will." Matt 7:21

I don't even know how to respond to something like this. A religion is an organization. A Christian is a person. That's not an opinion. That is just a fact.

Lets look at facts shall we?
Religion:a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

So according to the dictionary, a religion can be just one person.

What does that have to do with anything I said?

[2timothy316]

Peace to you,

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

It's not a list, timothy, it's just a statement. These are two different questions.


Peace again.

That is your opinion and that again fits your dogma. That doesn't make it a fact.

The Bible, which is my source, doesn't make a difference between the true religion and a Christian. So it is indeed a statement in your list.

"“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will." Matt 7:21

I don't even know how to respond to something like this. A religion is an organization. A Christian is a person. That's not an opinion. That is just a fact.

Lets look at facts shall we?
Religion:a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

So according to the dictionary, a religion can be just one person.

What does that have to do with anything I said?

You said, " A religion is an organization."
That is false.

[tam]

Peace to you,

Peace to you,

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

This is obviously on your list and it favors your dogma. Thanks for the example from your bias list.

It's not a list, timothy, it's just a statement. These are two different questions.


Peace again.

That is your opinion and that again fits your dogma. That doesn't make it a fact.

The Bible, which is my source, doesn't make a difference between the true religion and a Christian. So it is indeed a statement in your list.

"“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will." Matt 7:21

I don't even know how to respond to something like this. A religion is an organization. A Christian is a person. That's not an opinion. That is just a fact.

Lets look at facts shall we?
Religion:a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

So according to the dictionary, a religion can be just one person.

What does that have to do with anything I said?

You said, " A religion is an organization."
That is false.

Okay.... so your objection is that you wish to insist that a person can be a religion of one? Why did you feel the need to come onto this thread just to make that point to me? A religion is still not a person. A religion is a thing (whether you define it as a set of beliefs... and/or a set of practices... and/or as an organization/sect/denomination that a person belongs to). A Christian is a person.

As an aside, is your religion not an organization?


Peace again to you.