How do you determine who is and who isn't a Christian?

[Terri]

I don't think it's up to us to judge if someone else is a Christian....that's Gods problem, not ours. I think we've got quite enough to do in our own lives, without trying to figure out who anyone else is. And from my experience, everyones idea of being a Christian varies.....

 

[sheshisown]

:waving ~

I found this really cool quote from a very long ago saint~ they called him the Prince of preachers, many many lives were brought to salvation through his ministry. He definitely had fruit, and the kind that will never spoil, too! So what does he say a Christian is like?


“The Christian no longer loves sin; it is the object of his sternest horror: he no longer regards it as a mere trifle, plays with it, or talks of it with unconcern . . . Sin is dejected in the Christian’s heart, though it is not ejected. Sin may enter the heart, and fight for dominion, but it cannot sit upon the throne.†(Spurgeon)

Thank You Father, for wise saints! :yes

sheshisown~ :shades

 

[samuel]

Well if you figure around 80% or so of those claiming to be Christian, are not. That should make your job a little easier.

Have you ever heard the story, about the men who came into church with machine guns?. And said everyone who is not ready to die for your faith can leave, the rest can stay and die. After 180 of the 200 people were gone, the gunman said ok, now that we have gotten rid of the hypocrites, we can have Church.

 

[lovely]

I take people at their word. If they confess Christ, then I treat them as a brother or sister. I will say that once I get to know them their words and actions testify of what's in their heart. If they are divisive, distorters of truth, or if they do not have love for the brotherhood, or for the lost, then I consider them false and I am not unequally yoked with them.

 

[abet]

is it really determine or judge??? Well most of us know fully well that the common teaching is that "those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior is a disciple of Jesus, hence, a Christian. But there are those who are telling me that "to be a Christian, you must follow Jesus Christ". Supposing I follow Him but later on sinned, sinned and sinned. Can you say that I am not a "genuine Christian"?

 

[Armor of God]

If their actions line up with scripture.

Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

 

[lionandthelamb]

it's not for me to say who is a Christian and who is not. and it's just human nature to see or meet someone and already have an idea of who they are or what they are about. is it right, no but in a first glance or meeting you're going to think you know a person when you might not. i'm not here to say who is a better Christian than others, like Terri said, that's for God to decide. something that irks me is how people who think they are the "best Christians out there" are the main ones who belittle others and pick and choose who they feel should get the title "Christian" i know i'm a Christian because of my relationship with God and that's who it is between, me and him. if anyone else i were to meet thinks i'm not worthy of that, that's their own judging they have to deal with.

 

[sheshisown]

The name Christian is an honor to bear, as followers of Jesus we MUST wear this name with the highest honor. The manner in which we bear His name is the manner in which others will percieve Him...

(I have heard unbelivers say with deep scorn; "THAT person calls themself a Christian!" <---> Have you heard this? Why do they say it?)

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" Matthew 7:21-23(emp. mine)

The Lord tells us plainly who are and who are not Christians. The people who Jesus speaks of here make a proper verbal confession, calling Jesus Lord. This is vital, but never enough by itself.

The people Jesus speaks of here have impressive spiritual accomplishments. :yes They have prophesied, cast out demons, and have done many wonders... :crazy

These are wonderful things, but they mean nothing without true fellowship.

Jesus does not say, "You didn’t really prophesy or cast out demons or do miracles." This helps us understand that sometimes miracles are granted through pretended believers, reminding us that in the final analysis, miracles prove nothing. :o

Look, they even did these things "in the name of Jesus". Still, they never really had a relationship of love and fellowship with Jesus...

In the end, there is only one basis of salvation. It is not only a verbal confession, it is not any amount of marvelous "spiritual works."

ONLY knowing Jesus and being known by Him. :heart

Eusebius, the famous early church historian, describes a believer named Sanctus from Lyons, France, who was tortured for Jesus. As they tortured him cruelly, they hoped to get him to say something evil or blasphemous. They asked his name, and he would only reply, “I am a Christian.†“What nation do you belong to?†He would answer, “I am a Christian.†“What city do you live in?†“I am a Christian.†His questioners began to get angry: “Are you a slave or a free man?†“I am a Christian†was the only reply. No matter what they asked about him, he would only answer, “I am a Christian.†This made his torturers all the more determined to break him, but they could not, and he died with the words “I am a Christian†on his lips. (Eusebius, Church History)

I desire to bear the name of my Savior with the most serious honor and most sanctified life I may ~ by the power of the Holy Spirit ~ in faithful obediance to the Lord's Most Holy word. Because I know The Holy One.

Do I fail in my desire, yes, sometimes, even most recently... During these times of failure, I find that my relationship with Him, has suffered... Though He mercifully restores me into His fellowship, I have lost something MOST precious, not to be re-gained, no matter how well I follow in the future. No relationship can be strong and intimate, when we cheat on our partner. Sinning against our lives in Christ, is just that~ cheating on Him. :yes

God grant that we all may... grow in the KNOWLEDGE and grace of Jesus Christ.

~sheshisown~ :shades

 

[GojuBrian]

It's quite simple really. I walk up to them and slap them hard on the face. If they hit me back they're not a christian. They are a christian if they turn the other cheek.

 

[lionandthelamb]

:biglol

 

[JoJo]

Well put, Bonnie!

 

[sheshisown]

Thanks Jojo~ I know it isn't popular today to say some of the things I am saying...

However, I am ashamed to admit that holding these same things in "little esteem" gradually led me into grave error in my walk with Christ. Only recently has the Lord restored in me the love of righteousness I once owned by Christ.

May Jesus just bless you precious sis for encouraging my heart to continue in His leading~

Bonnie~ :D

 

[JoJo]

Thank you, Bonnie, and I pray God blesses you in abundance too. :yes

I know it isn't popular today to say some of the things I am saying...

I say things all the time that aren't popular!

 

[justvisiting]

It's quite simple really. I walk up to them and slap them hard on the face. If they hit me back they're not a christian. They are a christian if they turn the other cheek.

Honestly, although that is a somewhat amusing analogy. I think there is a difference between being persecuted...as a Christian...versus someone just abusing me.
I have been attacked before by someone, for the purposes of robbing me. I did happen to fight back...I don't consider myself any less a Christian for it either. My opinion is...if I let them continue to do what they are doing...I am condoning them robbing someone else, not just me.
My father was an RCMP...so I don't believe in letting criminals have reign...for whatever reason....wife beating...car theft...personal assault...damages to property...etc.
If I am wrong, well, I guess I'll just be judged for it, but that's my opinion.
I mean GojuBrian, you are prepared to put a bullet in someone's head for what you believe is a cause for justice. Am I not correct. I probably would be too if it was a just cause in defending others (especially in war), or my family, etc.
I don't think Christians need to be walked on...especially when our faith is not the issue at all with the assailant or enemy.
Those are my opinions. Just imagine what would happen if every Christian police officer decided to let every criminal go, because they believed in forgiveness...FORGET THAT.

 

[jasoncran]

some here honestly think that, really i believe that's what some say here on this forum

 

[JoJo]

In a perfect world, we wouldn't need policemen or guns. Come, Lord Jesus!

 

[justvisiting]

In a perfect world, we wouldn't need policemen or guns. Come, Lord Jesus!

Well, I wouldn't argue with that JoJo. Amen

 

[sheshisown]

DEFENSE? SELF defense? Well... I DO have two great son-in-laws who are young and strong Christians, ready to defend thier family... I'm thinking that includes me to some extent.

Otherwise... me? I defend the faith... that is my part. Bodily defense? Um, yeah.
I have these two super tall angel guys who walk on either side of me all day and night.

Besides~ I do not take risky chances~ not desiring to tempt the Lord my God. And ~ I really DO trust that I will remain on this planet~ alive~ until HE is finished with the "works" He has to do through this cracked vessel...

GOD IS SOVEREIGN. ~oh I wish I could put like a TON of glittering stars after that.

 

[justvisiting]

Two angels. How come I only get one?

 

[Sparkey]

How do you determine who is and who isn't a Christian? What is Biblical?

Can the degree of accomplishment that we look to for "signs" of Christianity determine if we are Christians? Do not even atheists strive to be "moral and upright"? Many strive and to one degree or another succeed. Is that Christianity? To fight against sin? Well, yes --that is certainly part of it.

In a dream...
I saw my cat in my bed. That's quite normal, but when I saw what she was doing, I became very perplexed. My pet was nursing mice. Now, they were cute --and tiny, but they were mice none-the-less. Mine is an 'outdoor' cat and quite fond of catching mice. She is also fond of sharing the "trophies" with me; I hear that's the way cats honor us, by leaving such things as "presents". So, it seemed quite unnatural to see her not only "giving suck" to mice but she was licking and nurturing them also!

A moment went by (it was a dream, I don't know how long exactly) and I saw her again. She was still in my bed but and still letting the mice nurse from her. My "eye" was drawn to a lump under a small throw blanket near her. It had begun to move. The cover was drawn back a little, and again, I was intrigued. What I saw wasn't a mouse. Under the cover, near my pet cat, was a giant rat. She was helping the RAT raise its babies.
<When I woke I remained perplexed about the dream and could remember every detail>

How may we interpret this dream? It was so contrary to my cat's nature (her name is Goosey) to even tolerate mice. Sometimes those of us who are Christians have not only allowed but have actually nurtured sin in our lives. No, not Murder, not Grand Theft Auto - but what about playing that online game with the same title? Is that a small mouse? We, who call ourselves Christian, can become too involved in things and activities whose only appeal is to the lower nature. Worldly things are everywhere and Madison Avenue knows how to advertise. Maybe we're not going out and reading Playboy (or worse), but what about those couple minutes we "sneak" while we are surfing the internet? Do those ads appeal? Is that a 'small mouse'?

Christians are they who have had their natures changed. There is no more room for the baser lusts that we used to serve. Our God hates sin and we learn to hate it also. Especially when we see the harm that these things do. It is my sincere hope that nothing bad happens to anyone here or to any of their loved ones. When it does we begin to see beneath the covers --to the cause. That's when we understand WHY our natures must be changed in reality. Sin is deceptive and sneaky. That strong desire for a new car isn't lust, is it? What about the urge to get ahead at work? Is that because we "need" the new car?

The lust of the Flesh, the lust of the Eye and the Pride of life. Our natures have indeed been changed, but at what cost? Those who have paid the price (are paying the price) and are committed to continue with Jesus with Him as Lord, those who seek to do the will of our Father --> are Christian. None else. They are just fooling themselves, even if "they" are you or even me. There is only one way to be Christian: from the inside out.

We were told to "count the cost" when we began the journey with Him toward our promised reward. Christians who say they love God, but treat their brothers or sisters poorly, do not love Him. As many here have said, it's a matter of heart.

Cordially,
~Sparrowhawke