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For PM "Who is a Christian"

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  • #16
    A Christian is really only someone whom God has saved (John 1:12-13; 1John 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
    . . . the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; . . . -- Romans 1:16 KJV

    . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: . . . -- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . -- 1 John 5:1 KJV

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    • #17
      Originally posted by Adrift View Post
      Apparently this is true in your own preferred faith as well
      Yep, I think it's true in almost every religion. Of course, I tend to make the same point when I hear Heathens claim that a person or group of people "aren't real heathens." It's especially ironic because many Heathens tend to despise dogmatism in the faith. There are certainly other neopagans who claim that I cannot be a "real" neopagan because I am a philosophical naturalist.

      Personally, I would argue that anyone who self-identifies as "Norse Heathen," and who ascribes serious personal and philosophical importance to the sagas and traditions of pre-Christian Germanic peoples, should be considered a "real" Heathen-- regardless of whether they utilize their Heathenry for things with which I would agree or not.

      Similarly, when someone tells me that they are a Christian, I usually accept this label as accurate just so long as their religion is focused on the personal and philosophical importance of Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Christian Church. Such a definition, however, would tend to include Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others who I have been informed are not "true" Christians.
      "[Mathematics] is the revealer of every genuine truth, for it knows every hidden secret, and bears the key to every subtlety of letters; whoever, then, has the effrontery to pursue physics while neglecting mathematics should know from the start he will never make his entry through the portals of wisdom."
      --Thomas Bradwardine, De Continuo (c. 1325)

      Comment


      • #18
        Originally posted by Boxing Pythagoras View Post
        Yep, I think it's true in almost every religion. Of course, I tend to make the same point when I hear Heathens claim that a person or group of people "aren't real heathens." It's especially ironic because many Heathens tend to despise dogmatism in the faith. There are certainly other neopagans who claim that I cannot be a "real" neopagan because I am a philosophical naturalist.

        Personally, I would argue that anyone who self-identifies as "Norse Heathen," and who ascribes serious personal and philosophical importance to the sagas and traditions of pre-Christian Germanic peoples, should be considered a "real" Heathen-- regardless of whether they utilize their Heathenry for things with which I would agree or not.

        Similarly, when someone tells me that they are a Christian, I usually accept this label as accurate just so long as their religion is focused on the personal and philosophical importance of Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Christian Church. Such a definition, however, would tend to include Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others who I have been informed are not "true" Christians.
        Labels are only as good as their ability to correctly identify or describe that which is being labeled. You can put a label that reads "banana pudding" on a jar of mayonnaise, but that doesn't make mayonnaise banana pudding. Your qualifier that a religious label should be ascribed to those who self-identify on a "personal or philosophical" level is entirely subjective, but then again, you seem to acknowledge this in the post I initially replied to.

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        • #19
          Originally posted by Adrift View Post
          Labels are only as good as their ability to correctly identify or describe that which is being labeled. You can put a label that reads "banana pudding" on a jar of mayonnaise, but that doesn't make mayonnaise banana pudding. Your qualifier that a religious label should be ascribed to those who self-identify on a "personal or philosophical" level is entirely subjective, but then again, you seem to acknowledge this in the post I initially replied to.
          I agree that it is subjective!

          Let me use your "banana pudding" example. My mom is a gourmet-level chef. She could make a banana pudding that would knock your socks off. At the same time, she would say that the mass-produced stuff that you get from the store which is labeled "banana pudding" is not "real" banana pudding, despite being a pudding made with bananas.

          This seems directly analogous to the case with Christians. I am told that some people are not "real" Christians, despite the fact that they practice a religion wholly centered around Jesus Christ. How am I, as a non-Christian, supposed to differentiate "real" Christians from those who are not?
          "[Mathematics] is the revealer of every genuine truth, for it knows every hidden secret, and bears the key to every subtlety of letters; whoever, then, has the effrontery to pursue physics while neglecting mathematics should know from the start he will never make his entry through the portals of wisdom."
          --Thomas Bradwardine, De Continuo (c. 1325)

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          • #20
            NO True Scotsman....
            The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

            Comment


            • #21
              Originally posted by Boxing Pythagoras View Post
              I usually accept this label as accurate just so long as their religion is focused on the personal and philosophical importance of Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Christian Church.
              The kind of "Christians" you describe are the ones who will stand before Jesus on the day of judgment and say, "Lord, didn't we prophecy and peform miracles in your name?" And Jesus will answer, "I don't know you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

              The Bible is pretty clear on the definition of a Christian: 'If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.' (Romans 10:9). Someone can "focus on the personal and philosophical importance of Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Christian Church" without ever once confessing Jesus as Lord or believing that God raised him from the dead.

              The problem with Mormons, and perhaps Catholics to a lesser extent, is that while they ostensibly hold to Romans 10:9, they also add to the requirements, which according to Revelation 22:19 is as bad as subtracting from them.
              Last edited by Mountain Man; 02-17-2015, 10:06 AM.
              Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
              But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
              Than a fool in the eyes of God


              From "Fools Gold" by Petra

              Comment


              • #22
                WHY do we need to define what a Christian is?

                Perhaps...
                A) To have a sense of whether or not to witness to them - but in the process of witnessing, you can discover, "Yes, I have already accepted Christ as Savior...."
                2) To have a sense whether they can be an office-holder in the local Church - a teacher or counselor, or some other capacity of spiritual leadership...
                C) To know whether or not we are "in fellowship" --- I wouldn't feel comfortable having fellowship with a Catholic group, but I wouldn't necessarily need to identify each member as "Christian" or not....

                So, WHY do we need to label people "Christians" or not?
                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Originally posted by Boxing Pythagoras View Post
                  I agree that it is subjective!

                  Let me use your "banana pudding" example. My mom is a gourmet-level chef. She could make a banana pudding that would knock your socks off. At the same time, she would say that the mass-produced stuff that you get from the store which is labeled "banana pudding" is not "real" banana pudding, despite being a pudding made with bananas.

                  This seems directly analogous to the case with Christians. I am told that some people are not "real" Christians, despite the fact that they practice a religion wholly centered around Jesus Christ. How am I, as a non-Christian, supposed to differentiate "real" Christians from those who are not?
                  Easy. Banana pudding, by definition, is a dessert, and that dessert is composed of very specific ingredients: custard, wafer cookies, bananas, and some sort of whipped topping, maybe whipped cream or meringue. Now you might have a bland banana pudding made with low quality ingredients (maybe the wafer cookies are generic wafer cookies from the dollar store, or maybe the whipped cream is Cool Whip instead of hand whipped), but its still banana pudding. You might even have a banana pudding with extras. It has all the same ingredients as an original banana pudding, but you've added maybe a strawberry for color.

                  So when isn't a banana pudding a banana pudding? When you replace the essentials with other ingredients. Instead of using custard you use an all beef patty. Instead of using wafer cookies you use a freshly toasted bun. Instead of bananas you've used a slice of American cheese, and instead of whipped cream you used ketchup. What you have now is a cheeseburger, not banana pudding. Even if you insist that the cheeseburger is actually banana pudding, it don't make it so.

                  A new frozen yogurt shop opened down the road from me. They have a lemon meringue pie flavored yogurt. Right above the handle is a picture of lemon meringue pie with the words "Lemon Meringue Pie". It even tastes a lot like lemon meringue pie. Sadly, its not lemon meringue pie. Its yogurt.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by Adrift View Post
                    Easy. Banana pudding, by definition, is a dessert, and that dessert is composed of very specific ingredients: custard, wafer cookies, bananas, and some sort of whipped topping, maybe whipped cream or meringue. Now you might have a bland banana pudding made with low quality ingredients (maybe the wafer cookies are generic wafer cookies from the dollar store, or maybe the whipped cream is Cool Whip instead of hand whipped), but its still banana pudding. You might even have a banana pudding with extras. It has all the same ingredients as an original banana pudding, but you've added maybe a strawberry for color.

                    So when isn't a banana pudding a banana pudding? When you replace the essentials with other ingredients. Instead of using custard you use an all beef patty. Instead of using wafer cookies you use a freshly toasted bun. Instead of bananas you've used a slice of American cheese, and instead of whipped cream you used ketchup. What you have now is a cheeseburger, not banana pudding. Even if you insist that the cheeseburger is actually banana pudding, it don't make it so.

                    A new frozen yogurt shop opened down the road from me. They have a lemon meringue pie flavored yogurt. Right above the handle is a picture of lemon meringue pie with the words "Lemon Meringue Pie". It even tastes a lot like lemon meringue pie. Sadly, its not lemon meringue pie. Its yogurt.
                    It could be worse! It could be TOFU!
                    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Originally posted by Adrift View Post
                      Easy. Banana pudding, by definition, is a dessert, and that dessert is composed of very specific ingredients: custard, wafer cookies, bananas, and some sort of whipped topping, maybe whipped cream or meringue. Now you might have a bland banana pudding made with low quality ingredients (maybe the wafer cookies are generic wafer cookies from the dollar store, or maybe the whipped cream is Cool Whip instead of hand whipped), but its still banana pudding. You might even have a banana pudding with extras. It has all the same ingredients as an original banana pudding, but you've added maybe a strawberry for color.

                      So when isn't a banana pudding a banana pudding? When you replace the essentials with other ingredients. Instead of using custard you use an all beef patty. Instead of using wafer cookies you use a freshly toasted bun. Instead of bananas you've used a slice of American cheese, and instead of whipped cream you used ketchup. What you have now is a cheeseburger, not banana pudding. Even if you insist that the cheeseburger is actually banana pudding, it don't make it so.

                      A new frozen yogurt shop opened down the road from me. They have a lemon meringue pie flavored yogurt. Right above the handle is a picture of lemon meringue pie with the words "Lemon Meringue Pie". It even tastes a lot like lemon meringue pie. Sadly, its not lemon meringue pie. Its yogurt.
                      I can certainly agree to all of this, but the question remains: what are the "essentials" necessary for a person to accurately label himself as Christian, and how can I-- as a non-Christian-- evaluate whether your list of essentials is better or worse than someone else's list of essentials?
                      "[Mathematics] is the revealer of every genuine truth, for it knows every hidden secret, and bears the key to every subtlety of letters; whoever, then, has the effrontery to pursue physics while neglecting mathematics should know from the start he will never make his entry through the portals of wisdom."
                      --Thomas Bradwardine, De Continuo (c. 1325)

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Originally posted by Adrift View Post
                        Easy. Banana pudding, by definition, is a dessert, and that dessert is composed of very specific ingredients: custard, wafer cookies, bananas, and some sort of whipped topping, maybe whipped cream or meringue. Now you might have a bland banana pudding made with low quality ingredients (maybe the wafer cookies are generic wafer cookies from the dollar store, or maybe the whipped cream is Cool Whip instead of hand whipped), but its still banana pudding. You might even have a banana pudding with extras. It has all the same ingredients as an original banana pudding, but you've added maybe a strawberry for color.

                        So when isn't a banana pudding a banana pudding? When you replace the essentials with other ingredients. Instead of using custard you use an all beef patty. Instead of using wafer cookies you use a freshly toasted bun. Instead of bananas you've used a slice of American cheese, and instead of whipped cream you used ketchup. What you have now is a cheeseburger, not banana pudding. Even if you insist that the cheeseburger is actually banana pudding, it don't make it so.

                        A new frozen yogurt shop opened down the road from me. They have a lemon meringue pie flavored yogurt. Right above the handle is a picture of lemon meringue pie with the words "Lemon Meringue Pie". It even tastes a lot like lemon meringue pie. Sadly, its not lemon meringue pie. Its yogurt.
                        Now I'm hungry.
                        Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                        But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                        Than a fool in the eyes of God


                        From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Originally posted by Boxing Pythagoras View Post
                          I can certainly agree to all of this, but the question remains: what are the "essentials" necessary for a person to accurately label himself as Christian, and how can I-- as a non-Christian-- evaluate whether your list of essentials is better or worse than someone else's list of essentials?
                          Have you even bothered to read my posts? I answered this question in post #21.
                          Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                          But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                          Than a fool in the eyes of God


                          From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Originally posted by Boxing Pythagoras View Post
                            I can certainly agree to all of this, but the question remains: what are the "essentials" necessary for a person to accurately label himself as Christian, and how can I-- as a non-Christian-- evaluate whether your list of essentials is better or worse than someone else's list of essentials?
                            That is the question, isn't it.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Originally posted by Boxing Pythagoras View Post
                              I can certainly agree to all of this, but the question remains: what are the "essentials" necessary for a person to accurately label himself as Christian, and how can I-- as a non-Christian-- evaluate whether your list of essentials is better or worse than someone else's list of essentials?
                              The Bible doesn't call us to be judges, but fruit inspectors.
                              The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Originally posted by Adrift View Post
                                That is the question, isn't it.
                                I thought it was "to be, or not to be"?
                                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                                Comment

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