I'm not looking for agreement.   I'm just trying to gain some understanding about how people understand what it means to be Christian, and what the word means to them.

Hi seeler,

Christian literally means similar to Christ.

If I remind others of Christ then I am, in that moment similar to Christ.  Likewise, if others remind me of Christ then they are, in that moment similar to Christ.

I respect that Christian can also be a goal in that while I might not presently remind anyone of Christ, I certainly hope to change that situation.

Grace and peace to you.

John

To my mind, it has always meant someone who seeks to follow the teachings and story of Jesus Christ in some way and/or make a faith in Christ somehow central to their spiritual path. Note that I said "seeks to" not "does". Some are better at it than others and none are perfect at it (else they would be Christ).

IOW, it is fairly loose for me and can encompass everything from Calvinists to universalists (Christian universalists, not UU) to hardcore "you must be saved by Jesus" fundamentalists to those who see Jesus primarily as a gifted, Divinely inspired prophet. In the end, if someone says they are a Christian, I do not generally question it unless they seem to be really off base in how they live that designation.

I do not apply that label to myself anymore because, while I do accept the teachings and story of Jesus Christ as a spiritual source, he is only one among many and not central to my present beliefs or practice.

Mendalla

Who is a Christian?

Anyone who says they are. Generally, though, it means that they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and have been baptised into one of the many Christian denominations.

Personally, I am nominally Christian. But, like Mendalla, I accept moral teachings and philosophies other than the traditional Christian ones. Because I don't agree with most conventional Christian doctrines, I'd describe myself as a follower of Jesus rather than a conventional, doctrinal Christian.

So, John, would that mean, in your definition, any person who in that moment is similar to christ (Atheists, Jehovas, Wiccans etc.) are Christian?

Hi crazyheart,

In that moment the definition fits.

Grace and peace to you.

John

And If I stab somebody with a scalpel - I am a surgeon.

from your picture Saul_now_Paul ...... I would suggest a sword and some blue face paint 

Rita

Only people who attend Approved Churches are Christian. The rest of us are going straight to hell.

Just think of how giddy all the winners of the Heavenly Lottery will be knowing they have been right all along. 

I've asked on WC before, the kinds of churches those who regard the UC as "not Christian" what demonination they are and what churches they attend. 

Apparently, there's alot invested in seeing us go to hell, because there's never an answer. Just not committed to spreading the Kingdom, I guess. 

Those were the days! But alas, I have picked up about 10 pounds  from Christmas cookies. Enough of fat and happy....

FREEDOMMMMMMM

Saul / Paul - the question isn't how you define a surgeon, but how you define a Christian.  Please tell us your definition of a Christian. 

Hi Saul_now_Paul,

So long as surgery is nothing more than stabbing, sure.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Lucky for you, there's a surgery for that.

So I went down a few months ago and special ordered a Mustang 5.0. My sales guy said it would take a while. Every day I stared at my invoice and imagined driving it. All the options – rag top, leather, gps, everything.

After about a month, I started calling him every day, Is my car in??? Can I take the loaner out again for another spin? Not quite as nice as mine is going to be, but still fun.

Anyway, yesterday he called and said my car was in. I was there before he hung up the phone. I ran into the showroom where he was dangling the keys. I snatched them out of his hand and scanned for my new wheels. Where is it???

Right there, he says. I said, “That is not a Mustang, that is a Ford Escort, and somebody has crossed out Escort with a black felt pen and written Mustang underneath.”

Luckily I had my well worn invoice with the VIN and list of options. I wasn't going to fall for the old "Bait and Switch."

That’s what you have to admire about Gretta Vosper. At least she will admit she’s selling Escorts.

Hi

Curious topic for a political discussion?

I can agree with the direction of the discussion... a Christian follows Christ. The problem that has emerged in recent years is what do we mean by Christ? Is this the historical, temporal Christ? The Christ documented in scripture? Is this God 'tabernacled in flesh? Do we mean the Christ that is infinite and eternal? Do we mean the Christ that is in us?

Are talking about a 'past' tense Christ or the presently existing Christ?

If we are talking about a presently existing Christ, are we actually presently interacting with the presently existing Christ?

Having queried all that, I would define a Christian as someone through whom Christ is manifest, here and now. My definition would limited to my experience of Christ, within myself and to an extent as expressed from within others. This wold be a foundational definition on which we can add whatever discernment is given by God to Christians through the reality that is Christ, which reality presently exists in Christians. This reality is bolstered by the stories and documents written by Christians who no long live.

Is finding Christ peculiar to those using biblical words and ideas? ...well when I find someone following Christ, I do not ask if they have read scripture. The Gospel is being voiced by Christ through them in recognizable terms. People who restrict themselves to scripture, may well be like people who restrict them to physical miracles and sign of physical power.  Christ is so much more than either of those things. I think cautious Christians can have their cake and eat it too. They can have Christ and they can scripture...but with caution I think.

Politics...?

Thanks to those who responded with their definition of Christian. 

Aldo, I believe your answer is in your second paragraph where you say "I wuld define a Christian as someone through whom Chrstis manifest, here and now."   I also enjoed your explanation.

Paul / Saul - I'm still waiting.  Can you share what your definition of Christian is? 

its a good question...

... I am still trying to answer this question....

Yes indeed it is a very good question and worth careful consideration.... especially from a personal perspective...

I also appreciate what Aldo said.....

Makes more useful sense to me than mustangs and escorts ..... I drive an accent.

Maybe inflection is an important consideration as well 

Thanks

Rita