What is a Christian? This is a question that is not easily answered. A Google query brings up some 20 million hits on the topic. They cover a wide range of anwers.
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines the term Christian as "one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ." Historically, the term "Christian" was originally a derogatory term directed at believers in Jesus Christ by Jews who regarded them as a heretical sect of Judaism. It was used in the same derogatory manner as the term "Mormon" was hurled as an epithet at Christians who believed in the Book of Mormon in the 19th century. Over time, the usage changed as it lost its perjorative edge.
The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance's Definition
The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance (www.religioustolerance.org) cites several definitions of the term "Christian."
"--To conservative Protestants, a Christian is often defined according to their salvation status. Their definition is "true" to them, because it agrees with some of their foundational beliefs: that the Bible is inerrant, that salvation is by grace, and that one must be "born-again" to be saved and avoid eternal punishment in Hell.
"--To Roman Catholics, a Christian is often defined according to their baptism status. Their definition is "true" to them, because it agrees with their fundamental beliefs, including their understanding of the Bible, the declarations of many Church Councils, the statements of many popes, and their church's tradition.
"--To many in the very early Christian movement, a Christian was defined as a person who was baptized and proclaimed "Jesus is Lord." Their definition was "true" to them because it agreed with their understanding of their religious belief at a time when the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) had not yet been written and assembled.
"Each group has their own definition of "Christian" which agrees with their own beliefs about the nature of Jesus, God, church tradition, written text, evolved theology, the cultures in which they are implanted, etc. There appears to be no way to compromise on a single definition that is acceptable to all. One apparently cannot call on a higher power to resolve the problem, because there seems to be no way to assess the will of God on such matters. If there were such a method, then different definitions would have been harmonized centuries ago. People would simply have prayed to God and asked Him to define what a Christian is. Then, a consensus would exist today on the true meaning of the word "Christian."
There is no consensus on what the "correct" definition of "Christian" is. There is only a near consensus within individual faith groups.
"We realize that we are defining Christians in terms of being Christian. As one person e-mailed us, that is like defining a parrot as "something that has the characteristics of a parrot." But since there is no consensus on the definition of "Christian," there is no other choice. On the other hand, there is a general agreement about what a parrot -- or mountain, or car, or computer -- are."
The Pope's Definition
Pope Benedict XVI gave this definition of what a Christian is:
"Witnesses of the Risen Jesus": this definition of the Christian comes directly from the Gospel passage of Luke proclaimed today, but also from the Acts of the Apostles (cf. 1: 8, 22). Witnesses of the Risen Jesus. That "of" must be well understood! It means that the witness is "of" the Risen Jesus, that is, belonging to him, and exactly as such can render a valid witness to him, can speak about him, make him known, lead to him, transmit his presence." (Fourth National Ecclesial Convention, Bentegodi Stadium, Italy, Thursday, 19 October 2006)
CARM's Definition
The (anti-Mormon and anti-Catholic) Christian Apologetics Research Ministry or CARM says:
"Theologically speaking, a Christian is someone who has received the Lord Jesus as Savior (John 1:12), trusts Him alone for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 4:12), has put not trust in His [sic] own efforts (Isaiah 64:6) to please God, and repented from his/her sins (Mark 1:15). Experientially speaking, the life of a Christian does not consist only of theological knowledge....we have a living and open relationship with the Lord Jesus. We experience Him through His indwelling Spirit."
By this definition, Mormons totally qualify for the definition "Christian." However, CARM added the following to their definition with the intent of excluding Mormons. The next paragraph was added to the previous passage after I published a series of articles on S.P.A.M.
"I would like to note, that the Jesus of Mormonism (the brother of the devil), the Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses (an angel made into a man), the Jesus of the New Age (a man in tune with the divine consciousness), etc., cannot save you from your sins. Faith is only as good as who you put it in. Only the Jesus of the Bible can do that. Jesus is God in flesh, the creator. God is a trinity and Jesus is the second person of the trinity."
Focus on the Family's James Dobson on Whether Fred Thompson is Christian
Most discussions on the topic of what is a Christian are spent defining who or what is NOT a Christian. For example, USA Today ran an article about Focus on the Family's James Dobson's comment stating that he didn't think that presidential candidate and senator Fred Thompson was a Christian despite the fact that Thompson believed in Jesus and had a Christian baptism.
"...But it is telling that, even after learning that Thompson was baptized in the Church of Christ and that he considers himself a Christian, Dobson declined to disavow his earlier characterization of the would-be presidential contender. Rather, Focus on the Family's press release said, "We were pleased to learn from his spokesperson that Sen. Thompson professes to be a believer."
"That's not exactly a clear-throated affirmation of Thompson's Christianity. Indeed, the use of words such as "professes" and "believer" appear designed to cast doubt on his Christian designation.
"There's a lot more than semantics at play here. In fact, the question of what makes a Christian has set the evangelical movement apart from other Christian traditions from its inception in the 18th century. Early evangelical theologians such as John Wesley and George Whitefield introduced notions of "true religion" to distinguish their followers from "traditional" or "routine" religion.
"Evangelicals have always had a pretty narrow understanding of who is a Christian in the proper sense of the term," says University of Notre Dame historian Mark Noll. "Catholics and most Lutherans and Episcopalians would say that anyone who has been baptized is a Christian, but most evangelicals would not agree. They see baptism as an initiation ceremony that may or may not indicate the presence of true faith."
"That explains why it's commonplace today to hear evangelicals use the word "Christian" to refer exclusively to fellow evangelicals, as opposed to Catholics or members of mainline Protestant churches. Indeed, when asked whether Focus on the Family considered 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, a Catholic, to be Christian, Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger said he'd rather not answer.
Anderson Cooper's Numbers on Christianity
CNN's Anderson Cooper said this in a commentary leading into a segment on Christianity and politics in America:
COOPER (voice-over): "The vast majority of the United States, more than 85 percent is Christian and two-thirds of us, a number that's climbing, consider America a Christian nation. But from there, the lines start to blur.
"According to a Baylor University study, about 34 percent of us -- fully 100 million Americans are Evangelical. That's an umbrella term covering dozens of denominations, as well as hundreds of independent churches.
"Evangelicals embrace a more literal view of the Bible. They feel a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and aren't shy about spreading the gospel.
"Twenty-two percent of us belong to mainline Protestant denominations like Episcopal and Presbyterian. These denominations take a more flexible approach to the bible. They don't see it necessarily as the literal Word of God.
In politics, they tend to lean to the left."There's also a specifically African-American strain of America Protestantism. It makes up 5 percent of the country. It's tied to the black experience and can be found in denominations like African Methodist, Episcopal or AME. Theologically, they're conservative like Evangelicals. Politically, however, they are not.
(On camera): "The largest single Christian denomination is Catholicism. Catholics comprise about 21 percent of the American religious landscape. They're highly concentrated in certain parts of the country, virtually invisible in others. Thirty-five percent of the Eastern U.S. is Catholic, but just 12 percent of the south. As for Evangelicals, geographically it is the reverse. They are big in the south. More than half of all people there are Evangelicals. But in the East, they are a small fraction, just about 13 percent.
"That lop-sidedness, however, may be changing. Evangelical numbers are growing across the nation. In total, more than half of us, about 56 percent attend church at least once a month; 43 percent attend nearly every week."
Are Catholics Christians?
There is no consensus even among Christians on what it means to be Christian. Are Catholics Christians? Apparently not. The CARM web site says:
"Are Roman Catholics Christians? They are if they have trusted in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of their sins. However, if they believe that the are saved by God's grace and their works, then they are not saved -- even if they believe their works are done by God's grace -- since they then deny the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice.
"Being a Christian does not mean being a member of the Roman Catholic Church. It means being a member of the body of Christ which is accomplished by faith and trust in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sins. It means that you do not add your works to His work. Sincerity doesn't forgive sins. Membership in a church doesn't forgive sins. Doing works of penance doesn't forgive sins. Praying to Mary doesn't forgive sins. Forgiveness is received in the faithful trust and acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. You must trust Jesus, God in flesh, for the forgiveness of sins, not a man made ritual and certainly not the catholic saints. Even though Roman Catholic Church affirms the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and His physical resurrection, it greatly errs in its doctrine of salvation by adding works to salvation.
"The official Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation is that the grace of God is infused into a baby at baptism -- making him/her justified before God.1 This justification can be lost through sin and must be regained by repeated participation in the many sacraments found in the Roman Catholic Church."
Chick Publications, an Evangelical publisher of numerous anti-Mormon and anti-Catholic tracts also has this online "pamphlet" that targets Catholics, stating that they are idolaters, satanic, and masonic. They also go as far as to identify the Roman Church as the "Mother of Abominations" in Revelation 17:5 and the Pope as the anti-Christ.
See the tract here: http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0071/0071_01.asp
Are Protestant Evangelicals Christians?
So apparently, Protestant Evangelicals believe that one billion Catholics (the largest Christian denomination) are "Christians" only inasmuch as they agree with Protestant Evangelical doctrines and interpretations of scripture. Let's look at the converse. Do Catholics believe that Protestants, including Evangelicals, are "saved" by virtue of their innovations on Christian doctrine? Speaking of the Protestant denominations that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church since the Protestant Reformation, the Vatican II Council declared in 1964:
"It follows that the separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church."
"Nevertheless, our separated brethren, whether considered as individuals or as Communities and Churches, are not blessed with that unity which Jesus Christ wished to bestow on all those who through Him were born again into one body, and with Him quickened to newness of life-that unity which the Holy Scriptures and the ancient Tradition of the Church proclaim. For it is only through Christ's Catholic Church, which is "the all-embracing means of salvation," that they can benefit fully from the means of salvation."
This is essentially ecumenical doublespeak. On one hand, the Vatican seeks to be perceived as tolerant and open to fellowship with other Christian sects, but the sticking point is baptism. Without a proper Catholic baptism, they don't believe other Christians will enjoy the benefit of being "born again into one body, and with Him quickened to a newness of life" proclaimed by the scriptures and ancient tradition. "Only through Christ's Catholic Church" can a Christian "fully benefit from the means of salvation."
In 2007, the Vatican issued a document reaffirming that “Christ ‘established here on earth’ only one church." Other churches “cannot be called ‘churches’ in the proper sense” because they do not have apostolic succession — the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ’s original apostles. (See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19692094)
So, when you ask Catholics if the Protestant denominations are Christians, the answer is, "Yes, so long as they have a proper Catholic baptism." Since most Protestant denominations regard baptism as entirely optional and the fact that their churches deny the need for apostolic succession of authority, most Protestants don't meet the Catholic criteria to be called Christians.
The Fallacy of "Biblical Christianity"
I'd like you to consider the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance's reply to the frequent assertion that, "A Christian is one who believes in Biblical Christianity."
"There is a problem with your definition, because "Biblical Christianity" has itself many meanings. The Jewish Christians -- the only Christians prior to the arrival of Paul in the late 30's -- under the leadership of James the brother of Jesus, rejected the virgin birth, regarded Jesus as a prophet, and rejected his deity. Most liberal Christians today also reject the virgin birth, and doubt that most of the miracles described in the New Testament actually happened. Mainline and liberal theologians generally interpret the Gospels as including many sayings and activities of Jesus that never happened; they were added by the anonymous authors in order to promote their faith group's evolving theology. Even the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons believe that they "know" what Biblical Christianity is all about, although they differ greatly from each other and from other wings of Christianity.
So "biblical Christianity" is a meaningless term. One can only talk about Mormon biblical Christianity, Jehovah's Witness biblical Christianity, Roman Catholic biblical Christianity, progressive biblical Christianity, mainline biblical Christianity, evangelical biblical Christianity, fundamentalist biblical Christianity, and others.
The Church existed before the Bible. The Bible is the product of the Church, not the other way around. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands unique amidst this confusion. We claim to be the restoration of the primitive Church established by Jesus and his apostles. Sectarian denominations reject us as "Christians" because we don't ascend from the ancient Nicene Council and the man-made creeds that were fashioned in the 3rd and 4th centuries. However, the true Christianity that Christ founded was fully formed before 325 A.D. It has been restored in its original state once again. "Biblical Christianity" would only be able to trace its roots to the first compilations to the Bible which was in the fourth century, some thirty years after the Nicene Council.
What is a Christian? Follow the Signs"
In the final analysis, Christians will be defined by the presence of the signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Bible lists some of the attributes of those who have the Spirit of Christ: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. These feelings are present when the Holy Ghost is present. The gifts of the Spirit that will follow true believers in Jesus Christ include the power to cast out devils, speaking in foreign tongues to facilitate the preaching of the gospel, protection against harmful serpents and poisons, and the ability to lay hands to heal the sick.
Thus, if I were to tell you how to identify a Christian, I would tell you to watch for the signs and gifts of the Spirit. If they are not present, then you may be sure that the Holy Spirit is not with that individual. If he or she doesn't believe that these gifts exist today, then you can safely assume that they don't possess those gifts. If a person denies the spirit of revelation and prophecy, which is the basis for a testimony of Jesus Christ, you may be assured that this person does not possess the testimony of Jesus.
Are Mormons the only people who possess these gifts today? No. The Spirit of God abides in varying measures upon all who profess a belief in Christ, depending on their faith in him and their worthiness to receive those gifts. The Spirit of God doesn't abide in "unholy temples." Disobedience to God's commandments and willful sin can drive away that Spirit. Believers who are taught by their denominations that revelation, spiritual gifts, prophecy, healing, etc. don't exist today are naturally less inclined to manifest those gifts. Those denominations that reject the need for divine authority are less inclined to seek after those gifts. Those sects that employ professional clergymen anticipate that God will bestow such gifts upon the hireling priests and don't anticipate that these gifts are available to the laymen and laywomen in their flocks.
Jesus said the way you would know his disciples is "by their fruits." Watch for the presence of these gifts and examine the dogma of the churches and see which ones experience them and which ones deny their existence. The presence of these gifts is the only sure way to define what is "Christian" and what is not.
Comments
I suppose if you had posted a blog article saying 'Follower of Christ' it wouldn't have seemed as intellectual.
But it would have sufficed.
An enjoyable read! Very good. Very concise. Yes, Mormons are Christians. Just don't say it to the other denominations. I have never met a group of people more Christlike than the Mormons.
I really hope that you accept Jesus one day. Ephesians 2:8&9 would be a good read for you. Remember the Bible was inspired by God not sir Joseph Smith.
Our churches are very different, but I agree with you completely when you said the way one would know Jesus' disciples is "by their fruits." I appreciate how concisely you explained it. My daughter recently became friends with a Mormon family and asked me if they were Christians, my answer was 'some people may say that Mormons aren't, but you have to look at how the individual behaves and how one represents their belief in Christ.' I wish I had had your article to more carefully explain my answer. Thank you.
Simply put, a Christian is either deluded or a deluder.
What a waste of life.
Shelly, i don't recall blowing your own trumpet as a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Nice article Greg. My only regret is that you had to give any attention to CARM, the cesspool of hate that it is.
My definition of "Christian" has long been "one who places Jesus, the historical individual from Israel born roughly 0 AD, at the center of their theology." I find that this definition is broad enough to include anyone who considers themselves a Christian. Perhaps a simpler definition is "one who considers themselves to be Christian." I'd be OK with that.
Jesus' teachings have been interpretted in so many ways that it can easily become nothing more than conjecture. But what Jesus did that made him the formost Christian does not need interpretation. Can you imagine Jesus on the battlefield? Can you imagine Jesus seeking political office? Can you imagine Jesus condoning immoral conduct that his Father condemned? His example in concert with his teachings were to be instructive in helping identify who really would be a Christian disciple of his. Yet most so called Christian groups, as an institutuon, embrace or accept the very things Jesus repudiated. That's one of the reasons so many people have forsaken "Christianity" People know hypocrisy when they see it. Study Jesus life cloesly and you'll find out what a genuine Christian is. You'll find it transcends barrier's of race, nationality, social and financial status and all other deviscive elements that have made this world what it is now.
The only definition that matters in the individual's. If that person claims the salvation offered through Jesus Christ-then they are a Christian. Churches often confuse the issue for their own benefit. Making "others" out of people who disagree with their dogmas and explanations helps keep their members in place and and giving money to that church.
No doubt, Christ is displeased with the disunity of his followers. He commanded us to be one as He and his Father are one. We have a long way to go as a community of believers to get this done.
JeffJazzy wrote:
"Can you imagine Jesus on the battlefield? Can you imagine Jesus seeking political office?"
Eschatological visions of a political and battling Jesus Christ are found in various places throughout the NT. It is a large part of the Christian message (the Second Coming).
I enjoyed your article. I suppose one thing that will never change is that there will always be critics. It really doesn't matter what someone else thinks of me or the way I believe.
I would disagree with one thing Jeff said. He said, "The only definition that matters in the individual's." I would say that the only definition that matters is the Lord's. Not every one who claims Him as Lord will be acceptetd by Him, only those who DO His will. (Matt 7:21-23)
What is a Christian? One who believes Jesus was the Son of God and that He left us the gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist and His Holy Spirit to guide His followers till His return but who then lives in a Christ like manner.
The big difference between Jehovah's Witnesses and Christians is that the Watchtower Society's central core creed proclaims Jesus second coming in October 1914.
They sometimes try to obscure this failed prophecy,and say that he came 'invisibly'.Yes,all other Christians are awaiting Jesus return,the JW say he *already* came back in 1914 and is only working through their Watchtower society.
Danny Haszard
The claim that "Christian" was a derogatory term penned by Jews is false. The Talmud records many references to Christians with these words: "Notzrim" (Nazarenes), "Min" (Other group). While these terms refer to "out-groups" among Jews (just as "Jew" derives from "Judean" - a geographical reference similar to Nazarene), there is no derogatory meaning involved. Even the famous Hebrew and Yiddish word "Goyiim" means "nation", used in the Bible and prayers referring to other than the Jewish nation. However, even the Torah refers to "Goy Kodesh" as a self-reference by Israel as a "Holy Nation". So the word "Goy", while used as an epithet during conflicts with non-Jews, still has no meaning other than being the "other". Christians have used the term "Jew" in exactly the same way for centuries. A famous Christian scholor, Travers Hereford documents all of this in "Christianity in Talmud and Midrash".
Re: John
The authors of the Bible emphasized certain doctrines over others depending on their audience. You have cited Ephesians 2:8-9, but how is that scripture more authoritative than James 2:14-26? Here is an excerpt:
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Those who don't believe in the Bible would say that this is an internal contradiction, which I can understand. However, if you believe in the Bible and understand the message of prophets and apostles you will understand that it illustrates different points of emphasis. Faith AND works are important. Our works are evidence of our faith.
This is an excellent article. It certainly illustrates the impracticality and self-serving subjectivity of drawing arbitrary lines around Christianity with the specific intent of excluding others.
There is only one true Christianity and I would dare say that no single person understands it perfectly. To fully understand what it means to be a Christian, one must be as Christ and nobody has arrived at that point. The definition provided by this author, therefore, seems to be a perfectly reasonable method of defining a Christian. Rather than being Christian or non-Christian there is probably a broad continuum of less-Christian to more-Christian depending on how much one has emulated the example of Christ.
I have to seriously disagree with you, where you say that Jehovah's Witnesses Jesus (whatever that means) is not the Jesus of the bible. Oh... but, HE IS. Witnesses live strictly by the bible. This is why no, other religion has been able to accurately dispell any of what the Witnesses say (because they DO have the truth). Secondly, for organized religion to continue to perpetrate the MYTH that Jesus is God (when, TRUTHFULLY, Jesus is ONLY the SON OF GOD)... they ought to seriously be ASHAMED of themselves! Not only do you malign Jesus Christ, the SON of God, when you say that... you are maligning God, himself, and I surely do feel sorry for anyone doing that. Another MYTH is that, Jesus and God are part of a "trinity." It CLEARLY states in the bible that God is the father (the head) and Christ is the SON (meaning, he is below his father... as with real fathers and sons). You are correct on one point. As the bible states, in Galatians, we will be known by the fruitages of our spirit,
(cont.) and, we ARE=) FYI... I grew up Catholic, but have been to many, other churches (Protestant- and off-shoot of Catholicism; Baptist; Methodist; AME; Pentacostal). The indepth studying and research I did, as a Witness, has brought me so much enlightenment and honesty, that I can truly say I've found the TRUTH. Thank you for reading=)
John... I absolutely agree with you. Faith AND WORKS are equally important. Unfortunately, the majority of people we talk to (from other religions) don't think so. They believe that, "All we have to have is faith. If we believe, that's enough!" I can't tell you how many times I hear that, each day. That is just an excuse that absolves the person of any direct responsibility, but as you appropriately realize, this is far from the truth.
Danny... I'm really interested to know where your information comes from. Not only have I never even heard a Witness say such a thing (about "invisibility"), but it sounds like something someone said and you chose to believe?! Unfortunately, many people do just that. They take what someone else says as the "gospel truth..." especially when it comes to something against someone like the Witnesses. Unfortunately, Witnesses have been some of the most persecuted (and, unrightly so!) people in the world. Just, do research on Witnesses and the Holocaust or how Witnesses in certain parts of THIS country, as well as many other countries, are being mistreated, attacked and misrepresented. That is why you will see lawsuits, with Witnesses suing the state, the local school district and so forth. Witnesses are NOT these terrible, evil people everyone believes they are. All of the Witnesses I know (that would be HUNDREDS!) say, "Hello!" to their neighbors, watch out for neighborhood children, would
(cont.) give the shirt of their backs for anyone (Witness or not!) who asked for it. I don't know too many, other people who would do that. About 1914... it is complicated to understand, unless you know what you're reading. That year was not the only year (if you do your research) that was "predicted" as the "coming." There were others. The organization has now said... based on the signs of the times (wars and negative conditions), they did accurately predict, if you will, the years; however... things do not, as many of us know, happen they way imperfect humans "predict." Sometimes, circumstances change, people change, weather changes, and so forth. Jehovah's Witnesses are as imperfect as you, or as anyone else. NO WHERE will you find a Witness who says they are perfect, because... we know better. How many other religions will change their doctrine or opinions based on the fact they're wrong? None that I know of! I could spell out thousands of lies and inconsistencies with other
(cont.) religious doctrines, interpretations of the bible, opinions and so forth, but where are all the people who criticize those religions? I'm guessing, they're partaking of those religions! I just say, the next time a Witness approaches you or comes to your door... there's NO NEED to be nasty, yell, slam your door or otherwise be UN-Godlike! Try being NICE for a change. You might just be surprised;)
Regarding Jesus being on the battlefield or in political office... NO WHERE in the bible will you find such a thing. Sure, there are people in the bible who take "political office" and who go to battle, but you will notice (if you closely pay attention), the ONLY PEOPLE who had God's holy spirit ("active force") during a time of violence (i.e. war) or in matters of politics are the people who did HIS WILL, NEVER their own. If you notice, none of the common people (who worshiped idols, who fornicated or did other things against God's laws and holy spirit) who partook in these activities came out successful... ONLY the people who did HIS WILL. This is a very important lesson for everyone today. If we are to be "backed" by God and his holy spirit, in our lives, we must not disobey Him OR his laws. Another FYI... this is why Jehovah's Witnesses to not participate in anything political (military, voting, war demonstrations, saying the pledge of allegiance- at school-, singing the Star-
Spangled Banner, etc.)... because, God does not support these things. For further proof, read the bible. By the way, I was in the military (before becoming a Witness), I voted, I worked the polls, etc. The difference is... once I found out these things were wrong, I never did them again... and, I WON'T.
So um...are pagans covered if they posses these signs? I'm asking, not to be a pest, but to make you think. Think of when Jesus entered Rome, and saw the temple of the unknown God. Might change how you view, "Non-Christians". Also, on a final note, it is my personal belief not to profess a belief in Christ. I have a good reason. To be Christian, means in essence, to be Christ like... would you want to say that you are Christ like? Can you with out sound arrogant? Just a thought.
Ambrose Bierce's definition of a Christian works for me...
CHRISTIAN, n.
One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their organization is the only true Christian organization.
They believe that the truths of scripture were lost through a great apostasy centuries ago until God used Charles Russell to restore the gospel.
JW shares some doctrinal beliefs with Christianity, but most of their beliefs either completely contradict, or at least pervert Biblical truths.
Theologically,Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult of Christianity. The oppressive organization does not represent historical, Biblical Christianity in any way.
Sociologically, it is a destructive cult whose false teachings frequently result in spiritual and psychological abuse,as well as needless deaths.
*****
They do say Jesus had his second coming in 1914 and now they have to say it was INVISIBLE (becase he was a prophetic no-show) spun off the printing press by the tens of millions of copies of their Watchtower magazines
'Audreana' are you spamming JW troll steve klemetti?
Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs:
A) They are at your door to recruit you for enslavement to their watchtower corporation,they will say that "we are just here to share a message from the Bible" this is deception right off.
B) Their 'message' is a false Gospel that Jesus had his second coming in 1914.The problem with this is it's not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim "..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple."
C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban has killed hundreds if not thousands
D) once they recruit you they will "love bomb" you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off.
----
Danny Haszard Jehovah's Witness X 33 years
You have a well researched article. I do not doubt that there are many Christians in and out of the historic Christian denominations (including Orthodox, which split in 1054 or separated from the Latin Roman Catholic west.). Both promptly declared the other heretics, although Godly and ungodly were in both camps. No one can come to me, Jesus said, unless my Father draw him, and no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. One must be supernaturally drawn to Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit and accept that supernatural drawing in order to be a follower of Jesus, or Christian. Then we can either be consistant and dedicated or not, as we choose.
http://www.sacredgrovesonline.org/videos/unveiling_grace.htm
Here's what a few current Mormons have to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdPT5oVtG9E
http://youtu.be/ouDpcoXmMhE
In other words, Joseph related his experience at least 9 times to 9 audiences? Not to be unexpected. There are 3 accounts of Paul's conversion and who knows how many more he related that were not recorded due to the times, etc. What's the problem?
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