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Post by Cambist on May 12, 2008 11:19:59 GMT -5
I had an indepth conversation with an OO'er this past week about belief in religious doctrine.
As we talked, I informed them that I believe in neither the Inerrancy or the Infallibility of the Bible. I also informed them that many of the Biblical stories, I take with a grain of salt.
What criteria does one need to meet in order to be considered a Christian?
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Post by No Screen Name on May 12, 2008 11:29:19 GMT -5
Wait...you talkin' to OOers IN DEPTH off the board? I'm jealous.  |
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Post by jay0heavenly on May 12, 2008 11:39:39 GMT -5
@ Cam...First off, do u take profile pics every day on your way to work...lol ?
Nevermind that...
*Clears throat*
What makes one a Christian? People have been arguing that for centuries. The interesting thing is that the majority gets to determine and label what is and is not acceptable and who is and is not a Christian.
For example, the Gnostics considered themselves "Christian", but they are known to others as heretics; hence, the term is a rather fluid one.
With that being said, I would simplistically state that a "Christian" is a literal follower of Christ. Now, we have Americanized Christianity to be that all you have to do is merely say you believe in Christ and kazaam your a Christian, but I believe that couldn't be further from the truth.
One who lives any old lifestyle is not a Christian, because his/her lifestyle is not reflective of being a follower of Christ. What they say is utterly useless, if they do not in fact FOLLOW Christ. So much so that Acts 11:26 says "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
Meaning that the followers of Jesus were called "Christians", which coincidentally was a pejorative at the time. It was not a label worn loosely by people that felt warm and cuddly by claiming to be something; rather, it was a designation of a bunch of weirdos in the first century who were following the teachings of a Jesus, their risen savior.
The institutionalization of Chrsitianity has changed it from "The Way" (which it was called when the early Jesus movement began) to the dominant religion accepted by all. To be called a Christian in antiquity meant that you were literally facing execution, but today, its more accepted than anything else.
Accordingly, "Christians" were recognized by their actions...just a little something to chew on. Most people wouldn't claim to be disciples, but would claim to be Christians, but the two are for all intents and purposes the exact thing.
<===Goes to start a spinoff thread
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Post by Cambist on May 12, 2008 12:13:44 GMT -5
Wait...you talkin' to OOers IN DEPTH off the board? I'm jealous. **BEEP** Leave me a name and number and i'll get back to you as soon as possible. Or as the country folks say, "right directly." LOL! **BEEP** |
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Post by No Screen Name on May 12, 2008 12:54:09 GMT -5
;D
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Post by Cambist on May 12, 2008 13:59:34 GMT -5
I guess what i'm asking is what is that one (or two or three) things that every Christian must do or believe if they are to say that they are Christian?
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Post by water on May 13, 2008 9:50:42 GMT -5
Romans 10:9
"If you confess with your mouth that Yahshua is Yahweh (Lord)and believe in your heart that Yahweh raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
This is one of the most important verses in the entire Bible -- It tells us the requirements to be saved!
"This sounds like 'magic words'. Do you mean to say that if I just say the words and believe Yahshua came back from the dead I'll go to Heaven? Even if I live a horrible life?"
NO! It means you must follow Yahshuas' teachings and believe Yahweh raised Yahshua from the dead. Like all other fields, the Bible has some special "technical jargon" -- words that are used in a special way.
In the Bible, to confess means to agree with the will and word of Yahweh , to agree that Yahweh is correct in what He says.
"If you confess with your mouth ..." means "If you openly say (and believe) that Yahweh is correct when He says ..."
Yahweh (Lord) means that He is the leader and you are a follower.
"... Yahshua is Yahweh(Lord) ..." means you are openly stating that you intend to try to live the way Yahshua said we should live.
Luke 6:46 Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
2962. kurios (koo'-ree-os)
2963 >>
God, Lord, master, Sir
From kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title) -- God, Lord, master, Sir.
by Rick Reinckens edited by water
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Post by Highly Favored on May 13, 2008 14:08:02 GMT -5
Amen.
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Post by THE emPRISS on May 13, 2008 21:07:53 GMT -5
I guess what i'm asking is what is that one (or two or three) things that every Christian must do or believe if they are to say that they are Christian? What water said.... believe in your heart, confess with your mouth. accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. He died for our sins and rose again. Anything outside of that are mandates for how to live life but you can live "perfectly" and follow every tenet in the Bible and still not be saved. |
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Post by denounced on May 18, 2008 8:23:22 GMT -5
You must believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, The Blood Atonement, and it must be believed in your HEART. What's that? I will be back to explain, but when read in context, it's more than just the mental ascent, which means that "REVELATION" from someone has just occurred.
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