18 Aug 05
Originally posted by dj2beckerYes. If a Christian is one who is saved by Christ. Because we know that absolutely no works are required to be saved, and if having to believe such about the Bible was required for salvation, that would be a 'work'.
Can a person that does not believe that the entire Bible (includes all 66 books) is the inspired and infallible word of God call him/herself a Christian?
Besides that, once a person becomes a Christian, then their mind is opened by the Holy Spirit, to see the beauty and perfection of His Word! Just like anything else we experience fully only after we have entered into it; marriage, the famous red hot pawn chess site, the country club, the masons etc.
Believing that the whole Bible is God's inerrent Word, however, does make it much easier (should I say possible?) to grow as a Christian. If I spent all my time second-guessing God's Word, deciding whether verse so and so was valid and applied to my life, I would not be very well 'abiding in Christ.' I would be like the branch cut off from the vine.
18 Aug 05
Originally posted by Bosse de NageIt's a valid position, but I disagree.
Somebody who followed Christ's teachings without belonging to an established church could surely be considered a Christian.
Denominations are made for a reason and the word Christian is already taken (in my opinion) to describe a very significant established set of beliefs.
This feeling of belonging without really belonging sometimes sounds to me like insecurity in one's beliefs. Why does that person need the label Christian?
18 Aug 05
Originally posted by PalynkaThat person might need no label whatsoever, but what other word could we choose to describe a follower of Christ than Christian?
It's a valid position, but I disagree.
Denominations are made for a reason and the word Christian is already taken (in my opinion) to describe a very significant established set of beliefs.
This feeling of belonging without really belonging sometimes sounds to me like insecurity in one's beliefs. Why does that person need the label Christian?
18 Aug 05
1 edit
Originally posted by Bosse de NageYou are saying it's a personal view, not attached to any institutional religion, correct? Use his name. 🙂
That person might need no label whatsoever, but what other word could we choose to describe a follower of Christ than Christian?
Why do we need a word to describe a belief that is personal to one individual alone?
18 Aug 05
Originally posted by PalynkaI like that. Very neat.
You are saying it's a personal view, not attached to any institutional religion, correct? Use his name. 🙂
Why do we need a word to describe a belief that is personal to one individual alone?
Look at this though:
Are Quakers Christians?
Not all of them. Quakerism has deep Christian roots, and most Quakers consider themselves Christian, but many do not. Quakers have always held that Christ as spirit is universally available, and has been at work since the beginning of creation. This "universalist" perspective is especially strong in the unprogrammed branch of Quakerism. Unprogrammed meetings are often characterized by great theological diversity, while still experiencing profound spiritual community.
http://www.quakerfinder.org/faq.htm
18 Aug 05
Originally posted by dj2beckerI curious about how you evaluate Christians on this site. Who are some people on the site that you would say are Christians and who are some that you do not think are Christians?
Maybe you could ask if you have to be a Christian in order to call yourself a Christian.
18 Aug 05
Originally posted by PalynkaTechnically, "He has spoken through the Prophets" would refer to the Old Testament.
A simplification, but one I'm willing to accept. Note that this means that the Bible would be the word of God, since the Creed holds this as true. ("He has spoken through the Prophets" )
I am tempted to use the much simpler Apostle's Creed than the Nicene Creed but for the fact that the latter has a much more definitive statement against Arianism (I do not consider those who say that "Jesus was just a good man" to be Christian).
18 Aug 05
Originally posted by dj2becker??? I don't understand the question? The person would not be an atheist by this admission. A person can call themselves anything they want and behave or believe the opposite.
So, can an "atheist" call him/herself an atheist if he/she actually believes deep down in his/her heart that a God does exist?