What is a True Christian?

A true Christian's faith cannot be a private matter? A born-again Christian who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior but believes the Bible is not infallible is not a true Christian? So a true Christian becomes a false Christian when he breaks a commandment? What happened to forgiveness of sins? Jesus died for our sins. If our sins cannot be forgiven then Jesus's death on the cross was in vain.It seems to me that a true Christian is someone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior and who commits himself to following the ways of the Lord. How well they follow the ways of the Lord is another matter, and I think what you're really talking about is criteria for determining the goodness of a Christian, not the authenticity. This "true Christian" stuff is just a convenient escape hatch Christians use to disavow or disassociate themselves from misbehaving or embarrassing, but true, Christians.--Percy

I would change to
Will believe that the bible is a moral guide.I don't think you can legitimately exclude people that view many aspects of the bible as allegorical from being christian.and I have to ask why "especially the Ten Commandments" -- why single that out? I find it wanting in many aspects of moral behavior for today's needs: it doesn't discuss child molestation and it promulgates a sexist mysoginistic view of women as property (... and coming after other property too).I would think that a Christian would find the words of Jesus to be the most important in the bible, period, but that is my (non-christian) view.enjoy.added by edit:I think one of the problems is that you need two levels of definition, one that applies to all the various sects and cults of christianity, and then a modified version to apply to more specific beliefs.thus fundamentalist christian is more descriptive than christian (regardless of any negative overtones due to the past behavior of known fundamentalists?)likewise baptist versus catholic. This message has been edited by RAZD, 01-03-2005 10:09 AM

---

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

quote:

---

I am NOT saying that Tal is not a Christian, however. That is between God and Tal.

---

Well, right.That's what I have been saying all along.The members of the Christian White Supremacist group known as the Ku Klux Klan proclaimed to be Christians.How can you say they were not, if the matter is between them and God?

Actually, you are quote mining. If you wish, pick any one of the quotes to begin with and I will gladly step through each of them and show you that they are taken out of context. I will be glad to show many more examples that Hitler believed he was doing GOD's (the Christian GOD's) work. Start a thread on it and we can go through it again.It's easy to be a Christian if we exclude anyone who behaves poorly. That is simply dishonest. There are example after example of really bad Christians throughout history.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

There's nothing in these quotes that show Hitler was a Christian. You could claim he was a theist from these quotes.

Don't worry, there are lot's and lot's of quotes.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

You might want to take a look at my message #218.

Sorry, all you have there is the cover my eyes, see nothing opinion of an apologetic.What I have provided are the quotes from Hitler himself.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

My message also has quotes from Hitler himself.

And yes, I cannot publically judge them except to say that the idea of human supremacy flies in the face of scripture. Jesus took upon Himself No reputation, was humble, and was kind to all...He never killed His opponents.(as they would die anyway without His Spirit)

Hi,
Before I start my response I would like to appologize if I repeat anything already. I quickly skimmed through the various pages on this topic.
I've come across a lot of different types of "christians" and I have been tested quite often on trying to decipher what a "true" christian is. To me a "true" christian should be one that believes Jesus Christ is their savior and the messiah prophesied about in the OT. This can be evident through his/her display of love to others. A person can love without christ's salvation (I have known many atheist who have shown more love for others than most "christians") but I don't believe that a person who is saved can show hatred for others.
Alot of other things are subject to debate. But if a person believes in Jesus Christ and they have received the Holy Spirit than I cannot see why the Holy Spirit would allow them to believe in some parts of the Bible and not others.
You know if you are a true christian or not since you and God know your heart. If you tell me you are a true Christian, then I will take it at face value. Now if I see you yelling at alot of people (christian or not) than my perception of you will change. But this doesn't meant that you are not a christian.I'm kinda getting tired and my thoughts are blurry (just finished working a 12 hour shift) so I am going to go for now.

How does someone love God who never learned or knew who God was?

---

"All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."--C.S.Lewis
* * * * * * * * * *
“The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”--General Omar Bradley
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog." -GK Chesterson

By loving others and oneself.

---

Immigration has been a problem Since 1607!

I think the hole philosophy of turn the other cheek like Jesus did is a wonderful thought in theory.But when it acually comes to doing what you preach it is hard to follow through with.I know me as a person struggles with this on a daily basis

Welcome to EvC, HisNails. Yes, I agree with you. Survival Of The Fittest certainly never involved voluntary submission to others, now did it?I will say, however, that we are quite capable of doing the best that we can on a daily basis.We may fall short, but I believe that Gods Grace covers us as long as we did our part honestly and forthrightly.