RE: What is the difference between a "Christian" and a "Born-Again Christian?"
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 3:14:13 PM
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Grey_1
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Good discussion! My humble .02 is that I need to treat everyone as if I'm a Christian, follower and lover of Christ, regardless of what they call themselves. If I'm in error anywhere, I have the Holy Spirit to convict me along with good counsel here. I believe the same would apply to anyone who is sincere, but whose beliefs are not what God wishes.
Just my humble offering - peace all
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 4:09:34 PM
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10SNE1?
Posts: 223
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quote:
ORIGINAL: evry1needsgod
While ministering in Ireland, a country dominated by Catholicism, I witnessed a spiritual epidemic. The citizens were as righteous as you one could possibly imagine. They did everything they were supposed to do, and did not do everything that we weren't supposed to do. Some of their lives puts an average American's life to shame! In nearly every aspect of their lives shone "Christ-likeness" through their "good deeds".
The Catholics in Ireland need to know the necessity of being a BORN-AGAIN Christian, not simple a Christian who reflects Christ-like good deeds
Ok, so they claim to be Christians, their lives reflect "Christ-likeness" but they aren't "saying" the correct things, in your opinion?
My I suggest that you re-read what JESUS has to say about what it means to be His follower?
To the OP: In my experience people use the term for one of the following:
1) it is just the "Christianese" their particular local church uses. Much like people in my town don't go to the grocery store...we need to get to Kroger.
2) they grew up going to church but had a dramatic conversation event as an adult ( I don't believe these are necessary but I do know that they happen and are powerful) or
3) and, unfortunately all too common, they are using the term as a backhanded way of bashing another group of believers. Much like many use the term "Bible Believing Church".
< Message edited by 10SNE1? -- 10/21/2009 4:15:58 PM >
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 4:20:12 PM
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evry1needsgod
Posts: 2123
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Elena1030
quote:
ORIGINAL: evry1needsgod
quote:
What's the source for this info?
Google. 
Ahem, I think you know this, silly willy  -- Google isn't a source. It's a search engine. What was the actual Website, book, article, blog, whatever?
Well there are plenty of blogs and websites that seem to agree with this info. It is certainly the popular opinion, even though it can be wrong. No one knows for certain where this label came from, even though most believe it was attributed to them by the world at the time.
Some, however, believe it was coined by Saul and Barnabas found in the Codex Bezae.
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 4:31:39 PM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2578
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quote:
ORIGINAL: evry1needsgod
quote:
ORIGINAL: Elena1030
quote:
ORIGINAL: evry1needsgod
quote:
What's the source for this info?
Google.
Ahem, I think you know this, silly willy -- Google isn't a source. It's a search engine. What was the actual Website, book, article, blog, whatever?
Well there are plenty of blogs and websites that seem to agree with this info. It is certainly the popular opinion, even though it can be wrong.
Really? 'Cause I hadn't heard of that conjecture till I read it in your comment.
Seem is the key word here.
And someone's blog and various random Websites are not necessarily authoritative, of course. If you were one of my writers sending in the statement in your manuscript w/out a reliable source for verification, the comment would likely have been deleted. (And I might have sent you a virtual noogie for not sending in your verification notes!!)
Anyway... the power of the interwebzes for spreading interesting tidbits, verifiable or otherwise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other than that...
After reading your explanation upthread, I totally understand why you tack on born-again as a qualifier, and that's awesome that you go ahead and follow up on people's inquiries as to what you mean by the phrase. Onya, mate! 
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 4:34:14 PM
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evry1needsgod
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quote:
Ok, so they claim to be Christians, their lives reflect "Christ-likeness" but they aren't "saying" the correct things, in your opinion?
Upon asking why they are going to Heaven, their reply is "I'm a Christian". Upon further inquiry, they explain that they are going to Heaven because they are a good person.
Guess what...they aren't born again. By their own profession, I can only assume that they are not saved. Millions of Irish Catholics will be surprised when they meet God face to face and find out that they never placed their trust in Christ...they trusted in their works instead, and as a result, they will forever be separated from God.
Yes, they did not say the right things because they do not believe the right things. What you need to understand is that there are millions upon millions of self-proclaimed Christians who live extremely righteous lives, but are not saved. Will you deny this?
quote:
My I suggest that you re-read what JESUS has to say about what it means to be His follower?
I know what it means to follow Christ, 10sne1. I must be born again!
quote:
3) and, unfortunately all too common, they are using the term as a backhanded way of bashing another group of believers.
What about those Christians called Mormons? I guess we're all supposed to cuddle up in a nice warm and fuzzy blanket together with everyone who calls themselves Christians, right? The whole ecumenical "let's not offend anyone" theology?
quote:
Much like many use the term "Bible Believing Church".
My mother attended a good fundamental Baptist church near Rochester NY when she was a kid that had a program, much like AWANA, for the children. Naturally, she brought her Bible....the pastor walked up to her, ripped the Bible out of her hands, and screamed "young lady, we don't use that here!!!"
So like I said, I often tell people that I'm a "Born-again, blood-bought, Bible-believin' Baptist"....Why? Because millions of people don't understand that they need to be born again. Why? Because Christians all across America don't believe in the Bible!
< Message edited by evry1needsgod -- 10/21/2009 4:40:25 PM >
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"Believers are saved from their sin, not merely in their sinning!"--drmark
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 4:38:38 PM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2578
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From: Music City, USA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: evry1needsgod
What about those Christians called Mormons? I guess we're all supposed to cuddle up in a nice warm and fuzzy blanket together with everyone who calls themselves Christians, right? The whole ecumenical "let's not offend anyone" theology?
Yeah, that drives me BONKERS. Too many people think that Mormons are Christians. (And I'm not talking about the Mormons themselves, who have been taught to believe that they are Christians... of a different flavor.) 
quote:
quote:
Much like many use the term "Bible Believing Church."
My mother attended a good fundamental Baptist church near Rochester NY when she was a kid that had a program, much like AWANA, for the children. Naturally, she brought her Bible....the pastor walked up to her, ripped the Bible out of her hands, and screamed "young lady, we don't use that here!!!"
Well, THAT was bizarre!! She seriously wasn't supposed to bring her very own Bible to church... esp. to a Bible memory program? WEIRD! Was it that she brought a different version from what was used? If that wasn't the deal, then I cannot imagine what the pastor's problem was... other than a huge problem in his communion with the Lord (being that... he probably didn't have much, if any).
quote:
So like I said, I often tell people that I'm a "Born-again, blood-bought, Bible-believin' Baptist"....Why? Because millions of people don't understand that they need to be born again. Why? Because Christians all across America don't believe in the Bible!
Yep, that's another sad thing... that so many self-proclaimed Christians and Christian groups have distanced themselves from the Bible, we have to tack on Bible-believing or Bible-teaching onto church. Sad, but not really surprising. Doesn't the Word warn us about this sort of falling away?
< Message edited by Elena1030 -- 10/21/2009 4:44:47 PM >
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 4:51:45 PM
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evry1needsgod
Posts: 2123
Joined: 2/4/2008
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Elena,
quote:
Really? 'Cause I hadn't heard of that conjecture till I read it in your comment.
Seem is the key word here.
And someone's blog and various random Websites are not necessarily authoritative, of course. If you were one of my writers sending in the statement in your manuscript w/out a reliable source for verification, the comment would likely have been deleted. (And I might have sent you a virtual noogie for not sending in your verification notes!!)
Anyway... the power of the interwebzes for spreading interesting tidbits, verifiable or otherwise.
I'll admit that I should not have been so hasty in stating my opinion as a matter of fact. I guess it's what I've been told for so long, and it's what seems to be the accepted opinion. But I'll admit that It was my mistake for stating is in such a factual manner, for there is no absolute evidence that state unequivocally "Christian is a label coined and attribute by unbelievers."
I apologize...you can press the delete button. 
quote:
After reading your explanation upthread, I totally understand why you tack on born-again as a qualifier, and that's awesome that you go ahead and follow up on people's inquiries as to what you mean by the phrase. Onya, mate!
Well, like I said, I don't attribute much value to labels. I don't feel that the word "Christian" is intrinsically sacred enough to be left alone. There are a lot of adjectives that I'll add to the word Christian...it all depends on the audience that I'm speaking to. If I speak to a Muslim, I'll tell them that I'm a Trinitarian Christian. Why? Because Muslims struggle with the concept of Christ being more than just a prophet, more than just a preacher, more than just a man. They struggle with the concept of a Savior equal with God.
I label myself to help the audience know where I'm at, and why I'm there. Nowadays, the term "Christian" simply doesn't mean what it used to mean. Mormons and Hitlers claim to be Christian also, but I most certainly want nothing to do with either group except sharing the Gospel with them.
_____________________________
"Believers are saved from their sin, not merely in their sinning!"--drmark
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/21/2009 5:08:14 PM
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evry1needsgod
Posts: 2123
Joined: 2/4/2008
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quote:
Yeah, that drives me BONKERS. Too many people think that Mormons are Christians. (And I'm not talking about the Mormons themselves, who have been taught to believe that they are Christians... of a different flavor.)
Might I add Jehovah Wiitnessess to this group of so-called Chirstians also...ya, I think "of a different flavor" is quite the understatement.
quote:
Well, THAT was bizarre!! She seriously wasn't supposed to bring her very own Bible to church... esp. to a Bible memory program? WEIRD! Was it that she brought a different version from what was used? If that wasn't the deal, then I cannot imagine what the pastor's problem was... other than a huge problem in his communion with the Lord (being that... he probably didn't have much, if any).
You're as surprised as I was when my mother told me years ago! Believe it or not, I speak the truth, unfortunately.
Turns out the guy was involved in some "hyper-charismatic" borderline cultish junk that no one knew about for quite some time. He had convinced his church to reject the Bible. Wow...
So yup, I'm a Bible believing Christian too! 
quote:
Yep, that's another sad thing... that so many self-proclaimed Christians and Christian groups have distanced themselves from the Bible, we have to tack on Bible-believing or Bible-teaching onto church. Sad, but not really surprising. Doesn't the Word warn us about this sort of falling away?
Shoot, you got to it before I did! Indeed the Word warns us of this, and is precisely why I go to great lengths to explain the truth. If that means I no longer simply call myself a "Christian", so be it. I do not wish to be lumped together with Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses who are also "Christians".
_____________________________
"Believers are saved from their sin, not merely in their sinning!"--drmark
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RE: What is the difference between a "Christian&qu... - 10/22/2009 8:29:56 AM
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mjkaferle5
Posts: 2
Joined: 10/22/2009
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I consider myself a Christian.
I was born-again through my baptism.
I am justified by God's grace through my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
My good deeds are done to show my love for God.
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