What makes a person a Christian?

1. 60

   Dicaeopolisposted 13 years ago

   What makes a person a Christian?
   
   With all the talk about Mitt Romney's religion, I'm just wondering what you folks think.

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2. 60

   He Who Triumphsposted 13 years ago

   There's not a very cut-and-dry way to answer that without going into a lot of details.. But, the word "Christian" means "like Christ." In other words, the Christian should live with the same mindset that Jesus Christ did: Love God, Love others. There's a long list of context for that, but a great deal of that is in the Bible. How you BECOME a Christian, what actually should define you, is that you ask God to forgive your sins, confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord; He died for your sins and rose from the dead three days later, offering us eternal relationship with Him if we accept this gift. Christianity isn't supposed to be a religion; it's supposed to be a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who is "THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life," not "A" way. Christians should be defined, as stated by Christ, the love we have for one another, and loving God. Modern Christians really suck at this, but there are a good few who really try and are true Christians. Hope this makes sense and helps.

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3. 61

   Agnes Pennposted 13 years ago

   The same parameters as what makes a person an American:  you need to know the country and pledge loyalty to it or move out.  A Christian has to know Who Christ is and faithfully follow His precepts or not be a Christian.  "By their fruits you will know them."
   If Mitt Romney has uninterestedly served the poor and looked out for those less fortunate to give glory to God instead of to himself he ranks high among Christians.  If he participates simultaneously in a religion that does not honor God he is a hypocrite.  So, the second question really is... what is Mormonism?  If it follows the precepts of Christianity... presto!

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4. 73

   chasemillisposted 13 years ago

   Knowing and believing in Christ (and God), that He died for our sins to bridge the gap between us sinful humans and our Perfect God, and proving it by living for Him every second you can

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5. 60

   liftandsoarposted 13 years ago

   Your question deserves an answer at varous levels. The Scriptures teach that those who humbly confess their sin and lostness and embrace the free offer of salvation by trusting only Jesus Christ to redeem them from their sin are Christians.  But that answer assumes a certain degree of mental astuteness.  The Scriptures also teach that it is God who grants sinners the faith by which they embrace the Savior, thus my six year old granddaughter may truly trust and love Jesus without fully understanding all the theology behind her faith.  God accepts that just as any parent would accept the simple of love his child.  The Bible futher teaches that only the Lord knows our hearts, so it is a bit presumptuous for any of us to determine whether another is a Christian.
   
   Now here's where it gets interesting and shows the manificence of the true God.  God allows, even motivates, non-Christian to do his will and to perform good deeds without necessarily granting them the faith to become Christians.  Jesus taught this when he pointed out that it rains on both the just and the unjust.  In other words, God blesses both the believer and the unbeliever with earthly benefits.  So even an athiest may do good work, discover valid principles, show a certain degree of compassion for others.  His deeds may benefit humanity, but don't get him into right standing with God.  The Scriptures teach that whatever is not motivated by true faith is sin.  (Romans 14:23)  And yet, the unbeliever's good deeds may benefit humanity.  This is why you don't need to check a doctor's faith credentials before allowing him to operate on you or check a brokers's Christianity before investing.
   
   Whether Romney is a Christian or not is not for me on anyone to judge.  However, it may well be that he holds convictions and defends positions that are consistent with the Christian faith.  If he is truly pro-life that would be a case in point. So in my opinion the question of Romney and of all the candidates should be, "How does his record and his commitments reflect the Judeo-Christian world and life convictions?"  That we can assess, but not his heart.

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6. 47

   Chosenwomanposted 13 years ago

   The word Christian means Christ Like which means a person want to follow Jesus Christ, and stop following there own life, they want Jesus to take control.

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7. 61

   robynaposted 13 years ago

   Accept Christ as your Savior. (Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16, and more)
   
   I hate how this issue divides people, as it's supposed to bring people closer together. No matter what you believe it should be said with kindness and not hate.

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8. 63

   whoisbidposted 13 years ago

   Most people calling themselves christian are simply those who have believed a false and twisted message (supposed to be biblical) about some belief in Jesus and have been tricked into believing a theology that has nothing to do with what the bible teaches. These people believe that Jesus took away their sins on a cross over 2000 years ago and if they have saving faith then they will go to heaven. This is total nonsense and a complete distortion of what Jesus taught, especially if you know what Jesus taught/teaches in the sermon on the mount. These wicked people don't really listen to anything important that the bible teaches, they merely select a few verses to build an evil religion which gives them a license to be wicked to others in the name of God. 
   Some people say that they fear God and respect the bible calling it the word of God. If that is you and you want to make what I am writing get deleted then it is your choice. I am leaving you with something out of the book of revelation. Remember you will be deleting this verse from revelation and if you believe that the bible is the word of God, then you are deleting the word of God from here. If the bible is the word of God, then what is being said below is from the Book of revelation. Go ahead and get the following verse deleted if you want to moderate the word of God and you believe God is speaking to you, prompting you or telling you to delete my messages that contain scripture.
   "And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book" (Revelation 22:19)

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