Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?

[Daniel Veler]

I guess I just think of a Christian as someone who has received the Holy Spirit.

If that is true and I believe it to that means the parable of the wheat and tares or the mustard seed is evidence that the lost are with in the assemblies.

 

[amadeus]

One that manifests Christ.

Does every person who takes or is given the label of Christian truly manifest Christ? Perhaps they should, considering the literal meaning of the word Christian ["a follower of Christ" according to Strong's], but do they all really even strive to see Christ so as to know what and who to follow?

So then as is indicated or implied or questioned by @Cassandra in the OP, the use of the word can be and often is quite confusing... How involved is God in that?

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints" I Cor 14:33

 

[amadeus]

We are born-again of the Spirit from above.
Forgiven and redeemed by His Blood.
We believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead.
We are His Body and He is our Head.

Very good words, my friend. They came from your heart and knowing you, the "we" should include you, yourself.

But... then who are all of those included in the pronoun, "we" of your post? Everyone who is a member of this forum? Everyone who attends any church which labels itself as "Christian"?

Help us dear Lord!

 

[amadeus]

I notice the definitions are progressing from simple to more complex as the thread gets longer.

The usages of people probably do that as well..., a very simple definition or a very complex one. Different definitions do make for communications problems! Is there a shortage of that on this forum? LOL!

 

[amadeus]

@Lambano Good to keep close to Scripture....

But even better to keep close to God?

 

[amadeus]

I guess I just think of a Christian as someone who has received the Holy Spirit.

That might be a good definition, but will people always agree on even what it means to have received the Holy Spirit and on how one may recognize someone who has?

 

[Truman]

Very good words, my friend. They came from your heart and knowing you, the "we" should include you, yourself.

But... then who are all of those included in the pronoun, "we" of your post? Everyone who is a member of this forum? Everyone who attends any church which labels itself as "Christian"?

Help us dear Lord!

 

[Lambano]

The usages of people probably do that as well..., a very simple definition or a very complex one. Different definitions do make for communications problems! Is there a shortage of that on this forum? LOL!

I was going to keep mine simple: A Christian is one who has joined themselves to Christ in faith.

 

[bbyrd009]

"People obsessed with and convinced of their immanent immortality"

 

[amadeus]

"People obsessed with and convinced of their immanent immortality"

I laughed when I read your words, but there is too much truth in them to really be funny.

Do people understand the difference between growth and stagnation?

Do they know what gangrene is?

Do they understand why the Dead Sea is dead?

Do they have a clue as what I am saying?

Am I all wet?

 

[stunnedbygrace]

That might be a good definition, but will people always agree on even what it means to have received the Holy Spirit and on how one may recognize someone who has?

Let God worry about those other men. You follow Him. Let them be concerned about judging that if they want to. If you smell myrrh on another mans robes and if you hear

If that is true and I believe it to that means the parable of the wheat and tares or the mustard seed is evidence that the lost are with in the assemblies.

yes. And sometimes, even worse than the lost are in the assemblies.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Your post got me really thinking, especially your first paragraph. Been sitting here with it for a few minutes.
Since you seem like a sister who might not get all defensive and shrieky in talking but who really likes to just discuss, I have some questions. I really don’t want to offend anyone and there are some people I just wouldn’t even ask these questions of, but here goes.

I try to be conversive rather than reactive....it can get a bit too emotionally charged otherwise....then we find out who the real imitators of Jesus are....

First, what would that action/works look like in, say…a quadriplegic Christian?

Since God evaluates us on the condition of our hearts, rather than on our physical or mental abilities/disabilities, Jehovah accepts our best, just as he accepted the sacrifices of his ancient people, according to their circumstances. But every sacrifice had to be sound...the best a person could present. So whatever a person can offer to God, if its all he can manage, Jehovah appreciates it. (Mark 12:41-44)

Second, could…cooking and serving dinner for a gathering be an example of that action maybe? Along the lines of Martha maybe?

When Jesus counseled Martha, he did not say that what she was doing was wrong, but that she was wrongly motivated, fussing about physical things (Jewish hospitality was important to them) but here was the Son of God, a guest in their home and Martha was fussing about the physical food....Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet taking in the spiritual food......so the circumstances again dictated the appropriateness of the action.

Thirdly, do you think there is such a thing, as some old saint used to say, as “actives” versus “contemplatives” and if you think there may be, do you think they understand each other or do you think they don’t, as Martha complained about Mary?

Martha's complaint was justified according to Jewish custom, but Jesus said Mary "chose the good portion" by not concentrating on the physical things.....Jesus said that a simple meal would have sufficed...Mary understood that...and we can only hope that Martha got the point of his counsel.

We are each to concentrate on our own obligations and not judge our fellow believers as if we were somehow superior because we "did" things that they didn't.

When Jesus says to those "many" "I never knew you".....how sobering is that?! "NEVER" means "not ever".

 

[stunnedbygrace]

I think you have answered pretty well!

 

[Aunty Jane]

There are so many different and varied stories of people trying to explain what happened or how it happened or what it feels like, or similar to, that your question can’t be answered in the real terms you want. And maybe that is why we were given a way to know (but even with that, there are the terrible twos and there are stages of lashing out in death throes, so distinction has to be…discerned otherwise sometimes by a good adviser), and that way we were given to know is love. Not as the world loves though, so there’s even confusion there.

This why I asked.....because if everyone who claims to have the holy spirit has had a different experience, what does that mean?

When the disciples were gathered at Pentecost and received the holy spirit, it was the same experience for all of them. Each had a visible sign and also a spiritual anointing, giving them special insight into many things.
Being anointed with God's spirit wasn't the same for everyone after that though....there was no visible sign so that others could discern that it had taken place. Paul spoke often of his anointing and the longing that it gave him to be with his Lord....one he had never met in the flesh. But this always interested me because I never had such a longing and I used to think in my youth that there was something inherently wrong with me because I didn't want to go to heaven. I wanted to stay right here on earth because I felt that this was my home......the anointed have a longing to go to heaven.....it was only when I started studying the Bible in depth that I understood why I felt that way.

Most of us actually have a desire to live in paradise....something implanted in our hearts that attaches us to the place of our birth. But those anointed for heavenly life have to have their natural desire to live in paradise on earth overridden, so that leaving all their earthly attachments behind does not trouble them. They may have close friends and relatives who do not have "the heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1) so, I came to understand that not all Christians are heaven bound. Those who are are anointed by God's spirit and have that very strong desire to go there where they will be "kings and priests" (Revelation 20:6)

Kings need subjects and priests need sinners for whom to intercede.....there are no sinners in heaven.

 

[quietthinker]

This why I asked.....because if everyone who claims to have the holy spirit has had a different experience, what does that mean?

When the disciples were gathered at Pentecost and received the holy spirit, it was the same experience for all of them. Each had a visible sign and also a spiritual anointing, giving them special insight into many things.
Being anointed with God's spirit wasn't the same for everyone after that though....there was no visible sign so that others could discern that it had taken place. Paul spoke often of his anointing and the longing that it gave him to be with his Lord....one he had never met in the flesh. But this always interested me because I never had such a longing and I used to think in my youth that there was something inherently wrong with me because I didn't want to go to heaven. I wanted to stay right here on earth because I felt that this was my home......the anointed have a longing to go to heaven.....it was only when I started studying the Bible in depth that I understood why I felt that way.

Most of us actually have a desire to live in paradise....something implanted in our hearts that attaches us to the place of our birth. But those anointed for heavenly life have to have their natural desire to live in paradise on earth overridden, so that leaving all their earthly attachments behind does not trouble them. They may have close friends and relatives who do not have "the heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1) so, I came to understand that not all Christians are heaven bound. Those who are are anointed by God's spirit and have that very strong desire to go there where they will be "kings and priests" (Revelation 20:6)

Kings need subjects and priests need sinners for whom to intercede.....there are no sinners in heaven.

out of interest, 'priest' is synonymous with teacher

 

[stunnedbygrace]

This why I asked.....because if everyone who claims to have the holy spirit has had a different experience, what does that mean?

Im not sure what it means but I don’t know that I would say a dramatic Baptism means anything different than an undramatic or gradual awareness one. I rather think the opposite sometimes. I think maybe weaker ones might need something dramatic to get and keep their attention. They might not notice a gradual one. Or one who receives a gradual one might be greatly distressed by a dramatic one. Some babies are fine with noise and some are very fearful and startled by noise.

I can’t connect with you on the preference to not leave earth if I was given a choice, which I’m not. If He gave me a choice, I’d be gone in 2 seconds. My body hurts and decays more every day. I have to see awful things that break my heart - hatreds and abuses and unspeakable things that vex me to have to see or hear. It’s all very insufficient and broken and imperfect. The sorrows outweigh whatever light comfort I could ever wring from this world. It’s not my home and He stole my heart from it immediately. I would prefer not to remain in insufficiency any longer than He desires. I look forward to a new body that will never decay or suffer. I look forward to a place where there are no more tears or sorrow.

I don’t know why your heart is still fixed and comfortable on earth. Only He knows what He’s doing with every man or woman. And I’m not in unthankfulness or complaining. I just see the world differently now. I see it’s ugly and crooked seams.

 

[Lifelong_sinner]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

what is a christian. Good question. I think a christian is a person whom God the Father has called, that Jesus died for, and has been marked by the Holy Spirit. For some, that can be a confusing answer.
I think a better question would be, am i a christian. That can be a confusing question for most, even christians. I do believe its easier to know that you arent a christian than it is to know if you really are. This forum wont reveal that to you. Too much bad/wrong theology for that.

 

[APAK]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

Defining a Christian. Why be only a Christian when you can be in and become one with Christ, in purpose and life? Being Christ!

One who has been planted with the miraculous seed or spirit of truth, of Christ, by the Spirit of the Father, deep inside their own spirit, grows into and becomes one with him, of the same spirit of truth of Christ over time. They grow on the vine of Christ as his first-fruits of his own Body. They are 'married' to him in one union and purpose. They live as one, being the same in the Son, and thus in the presence of the Father. He is then in all (the Body) and all in Him.

Being a Christian is to follow Christ and his works and obeying his commands. To be associated or of, or related to Christ. This however is adequate and does not define being born anew or converted. It is more intimate and binding. It is not an independent union or even a mutual understanding union or agreement.

One must become as Christ, become of the same mind and of the same spirit, as his Body over the course of time.

In Christ and being Christ, always! Amen

 

[Aunty Jane]

Im not sure what it means but I don’t know that I would say a dramatic Baptism means anything different than an undramatic or gradual awareness one. I rather think the opposite sometimes. I think maybe weaker ones might need something dramatic to get and keep their attention. They might not notice a gradual one. Or one who receives a gradual one might be greatly distressed by a dramatic one. Some babies are fine with noise and some are very fearful and startled by noise.

Can you find me somewhere in the Bible where an anointing with holy spirit was gradual?...or something that made the recipient fearful? Every one that I have read about was aware straight away that God had invited them to heaven....and they were overjoyed at the prospect....delighted with the insight that came with that anointing.

Can you also find me a scripture where it says that all Christians go to heaven.....what is the point of that? Why did God put us here on earth with all that we would need to enjoy everlasting life on this specially prepared planet, if it was just a training ground for heaven? I could never understand the logic of that.....angels were created before us and they didn't have to spend time training to live where God created them to live. God created us to live on earth...just not under the present conditions.
Jesus said that "the meek will inherit the earth"...not heaven.

Do you understand what God created for Adam and his wife at the beginning? Do you know what they lost when they disobeyed him?
Christ came to give his life so that we could get back what was stolen from us.....unending life in an earthly paradise with no sickness, ageing or death to interfere with our enjoyment of life. Sin is what produces those things.....without sin there is the "real" life, not this phony counterfeit that Adam created for us by falling for the devil's temptation.

Revelation 21:3-4 is yet to see fulfillment....

I can’t connect with you on the preference to not leave earth if I was given a choice, which I’m not. If He gave me a choice, I’d be gone in 2 seconds. My body hurts and decays more every day. I have to see awful things that break my heart - hatreds and abuses and unspeakable things that vex me to have to see or hear. It’s all very insufficient and broken and imperfect. The sorrows outweigh whatever light comfort I could ever wring from this world. It’s not my home and He stole my heart from it immediately. I would prefer not to remain in insufficiency any longer than He desires. I look forward to a new body that will never decay or suffer. I look forward to a place where there are no more tears or sorrow.

This is not the world that God created....this is the world that satan created.....and God is about to deal with all those who want to exploit others and make life here a misery. That is what the "lake of fire" is for....the "goats"...the ones Jesus deems to be unworthy to remain alive because of the misery they have caused to others....and the denial of his existence.

I don’t know why your heart is still fixed and comfortable on earth. Only He knows what He’s doing with every man or woman. And I’m not in unthankfulness or complaining. I just see the world differently now. I see it’s ugly and crooked seams.

We can all see how crooked it all is...but why did God allow it?

Jesus' encounter with the devil answers that question I believe....
"So he [the devil] brought him [Jesus] up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time. 6 Then the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 If you, therefore, do an act of worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8 In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” (Luke 4:5-8)

Jesus did not refute his statement but understood exactly why God had "delivered all the Kingdoms of the inhabited earth" over to the devil.....this is the 'wannabe god' who said that the true God lied, and that the humans were entitled to know what was good and what was evil for themselves....he also said that the death penalty did not apply, so that they could eat with impunity and "be like God".....

We know who lied....but for the sake of mankind coming after them, as well as the angels (who all had free will) it was necessary to establish who was the better ruler.....the one with laws or the one who would let you do whatever you like....there was only one way for God to prove that satan was a pathetic choice....and that was to allow him to rule the world, (1 John 5:19) knowing full well what a mess he would make of it. But God did not abandon Adam's children, plunged into this situation through no fault on their part. He provided them with guidance all through history....and kept a record of events that would serve as precedents for all time to come.

God now has a full record of all the devil's failures, so never again will a "satan" (resister) or a devil (slanderer) ever rear their ugly heads in opposition to God again.....we already know how it ends.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

A disciple of Christ, as stated in Acts.

We are all imperfect, and some folks have wild ideas and regularly sin. And some whom claim Him really have thier hearts far from Him.