You’re not a Christian unless you’re my kind of Christian.
/S
Basically:
You must believe that Christ is the Only son of God who came to earth in the flesh and died on the cross for all our sins and was resurrected after 3 days to sit at the right hand of God.
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit exist independently and as one in the Trinity.
The Bible is the infallible Word of God.
One can only be saved though grace alone and not works.
>> Are Unitarians Christian? Are the fundamentalist snake handlers from Tennessee Christian? Are the Adventists Christian?
I would say all of those are denominations of Christianity, with the possible exception of Unitarians. As I understand it, Unitarians do not believe that Christ is the only path to Salvation (thus they accept that Buddhists, Muslims, etc. may have found another path) ... thus that would be a major doctrinal distinction which separates them from Christianity.
My understanding is, the distinctions between Christian denominations are generally distinctions in the method of worship or minor doctrine, but not distinctions in fundamental doctrine. Thus Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans are all denominations of Christianity with differences in worship and minor doctrinal differences (my wife is Methodist, I am Baptist ... and, other than sprinkling or dunking during Baptism, I couldn’t tell you the difference). Mormonism, Unitarianism, Judaism, and Mormonism have differences in fundamental doctrine which separate them from traditional Christianity (for instance, Christ was not the Son of God (Judaism) or Christ is not the only path to Salvation (Unitarianism).
H
Theological liberalism is destroying some of the mainstream protestant denominations. Southern Baptist churches can vary quite a bit in what they think you have to do to be a Christian.
Yes, but even more important than some generic definition of Christianity is how the living Christ defines each one of us relationally.
(1) "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist..." (1 John 4:2-3)
(2) "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10)
(3) "This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to to live in him must walk as Jesus did...This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 2:6; 3:16)
(4) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:21-23)`
(5) "The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them...'Sir! Sir!' they said, 'Open the door for us!' But he replied, I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'" (Matthew 25:3,12)
(6) "Now this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)
So to sum up the above:
Someone in Christ is one whom the God-man, resurrected Christ KNOWS intimately and whom, in turn, KNOWS the true Spirit (the Father) AND the historic Christ (not just any fellow or conjured-up image tagged "Jesus" will do...And if you belong to ANY church where your Christ is not foremost a current relational Christ...maybe He's a yesteryear Christ...maybe He's ONLY the diapered Jesus of Bethlehem...maybe a testimony about a "prophet" overshadows Christ...then find the relational Christ in another fellowship).
Secondly, we must be ENERGIZED by the oil of our lamp, the Holy Spirit. Without Him in our midst, Christ doesn't recognize us, for we can't be holy minus the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 25:1-12)
Thirdly, a Holy-Spirit indwelt (& filled) life will result in an empowered life where we can actually do right, love, and live the sacrificial life as Jesus lived.
I grew up in a Fundamentalist Evangelical Grace Brethren home and church.
I attended a fundamentalist Evangelical Bible College and graduated with a B.A. in Bible and a Minor in Biblical Greek.
And you know what? I am sick and tired of all the snobbery in Fundamentalist Evangelical Christian circles.
When Jesus died on the cross, there were two men on either side of him.
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“According to Luke in chapter 23 it seems sure, at least at the beginning, one of His co-accused was riling against Him. Luke 23: 39-41 says, “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’
But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’”
Jesus was suffering in a way that we cannot begin to grasp or even partially understand, so too was this criminal. He was never to come down from that cross alive, and yet he saw, or sensed something in Jesus that moved him in such a way that it became the road to his salvation. If ever there was a soul hovering on the brink of Hell it was this criminal, a virtual nobody hanging beside Him, the Son of God.
In a heartbeat, he voiced what his intuition had detected; that Jesus was indeed the Son of God! Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’” (Luke: 23:42).
What Jesus did next was a wonderful example of understanding, acceptance, love, and compassion all wrapped up in one conclusive act.
It is the epitome of the life of Jesus, strength thru adversity. Without hesitation Jesus responded to his plea for mercy: “Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke:23:43).
(from http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/two-thieves-crucified-faq.htm )
Who was this man who was granted eternal life?
Did he know Who Jesus was?
Did he understand the kingdom concept?
Was he even baptized?
I really think in the end we will be surprised by who will share our heavenly home.
God is the One Who judges, not us.
“Would someone please give me a “rock solid” definition of Christianity”
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/christian
Chris·tian
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings: a Christian faith.
2. of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ: Spain is a Christian country.
3. of or pertaining to Christians: many Christian deaths in the Crusades.
4. exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike: She displayed true Christian charity.
5. decent; respectable: They gave him a good Christian burial.
6. human; not brutal; humane: Such behavior isn’t Christian.
–noun
7. a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity.
8. a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ: He died like a true Christian.
9. a member of any of certain Protestant churches, as the Disciples of Christ and the Plymouth Brethren.
10. the hero of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
11. a male given name.
Please note that there is no requirement to accept orthodox doctrines to be a Christian. No requirement to interpret the Bible as orthodox Christians do. All the is required belief in Christ and an intent to follow him.
The following official proclamation from the church is all that an honest person needs to know that Mormons are Christians.
The Living Christ
The Testimony of the Apostles
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ensign, Apr 2000, page 2
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.
He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.
We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.
He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Eph. 1:10).
Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).
Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).
We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).
We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isa. 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.
We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.
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So, the short answer is : Mormons are Christians, just not orthodox Christians.
I think it is wrong when people get into a debate over who and who is not Christian. In my opnion, the ones who like to be offensive and tell others they aren’t Christian these people are usually the last ones who would be Christian because they have the wrong focus. They obviously don’t think much about a personal relationship with Christ, because it is more important to feel self-rightous then to be pursuing something like that!
The ones from Tennessee are. The jury is still out on the ones from Kentucky.