May I call myself a Christian?
By pillusch
@pillusch (1147)
Mexico
May 8, 2007 9:20am CST
I'm really in love with Jesus Christ. I think He was the most outstanding person and the greatest teacher who walked on this earth. He defined human nature, and what to do about it, with a precision that's simply astonishing. And yes, he was most certainly in touch with God to a degree that it is not surprising that, in Christian religions, He is being confused with Him or made one with Him. I don't believe in his resurrection, though. Isn't it enough that He paid the ultimate price, walking voluntarily to his execution so that, when evil put him on the cross, they put him so high that 2000 years later we still talk about him and his teachings?
5 people like this
12 responses
@mattithyahu (389)
• United States
8 May 07
Why would you want to call yourself a Christian if you don't follow the tenants of Christianity?
I don't understand why so many people call themselves if they don't actually follow the faith. I find it bizarre.
6 people like this
@mattithyahu (389)
• United States
9 May 07
How do you figure that? How would it make sense for someone who doesn't follow the tenants of Christianity to be called a Christian? If I didn't believe that Muhammad was Allah's prophet, would I call myself a Muslim? Doubtful.
I grew up in and am a member of the Presbyterian church but have also been involved with the Assemblies of God and the Anglican churches.
5 people like this
@DeenaD (2684)
• United States
9 May 07
Somewhere in his letters Saint Paul said that if Jesus was not resurrected, then our faith is in vain, and we are the most pitiful of men. The miracles of healing, culminating in the resurrection, are the most important part of what he did here. They point the way to what life in the kingdom of God will be for all of us.
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
9 May 07
You can regard yourself as a Christian, though your beliefs are more akin to the Gnostic Christians, rather than the Christian sects whose roots lie in Roman Catholicism.
You may wish to read the Gnostic gospels (written by the 9 disciples not to have their texts included in the Bible, and Mary Magadalene). I find that St Peter is one of the great ironies of Christianity - he is generally regarded as 'the rock' upon which Jesus built his church, and often cited as the first Pope. Yet, his gospel is excluded from the Bible, because he claimed that Jesus did not suffer any pain during his crucifiction, contrary to Catholic doctrine!
Enjoy your reading, but most of all, live your life in a way that you feel you are doing right, not what others tell you is right. Follow your heart.
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
10 May 07
Sorry, I just spotted an important typo - Narcian should read Marcian (Roman christian, who having donated considerable sums to the early church, gained access to their texts, and devised the idea that the OT God and the God of Jesus were not the same person, the earlier one being very nasty in his manner towards humans - fire, brimstone etc - & Jesus's one being benign and merciful)
@mattithyahu (389)
• United States
10 May 07
The Gospel of Luke was not written 500 years after Jesus...
While there were plenty of gnostics around at the time of Jesus and Paul, the actual gnostic gospels didn't show up until later.
@mattithyahu (389)
• United States
9 May 07
But also the gnostic gospels don't have nearly the attestation that canonical gospels do. To say that "peter said this..." is somewhat dangerous because he might not have actually said that. Most of the gnostics show up much later and are very clear as to who wrote them.
@wahmoftwo (1296)
• United States
9 May 07
If you are a Christian why would you not obey God's word and keep the Sabbath day holy by attending Church? It is one of the ten commandments. Just a thought :)
2 people like this
@mattithyahu (389)
• United States
9 May 07
I would have to disagree with that. Simply calling yourself a Christian doesn't really mean you are. Not every Christian has to agree on everything, but if you don't believe in the primary tenants of faith, you aren't a Christian, even if you want to call yourself one.
Why call yourself something you are not?
4 people like this
@ashjoe76 (1422)
• India
17 May 07
I am impressed by views on Jesus. That is quite significant, and let it remain your personal interpretation. Belief/Faith varies from person to person. I don't know whether you can be called a Christian. If I were in your position, I would simply not care. As long as we have our personal convictions, why bother to be clubbed with some community/religion which has hard and fast rules that define and assign roles to an individual and her/his belief so as to belong to it. We have the freedom to believe in any God, or Nature, or the Ultimate Truth, or remain and agnost or an athiest. It's we we who define us, not others. That's what I feel about this. Regards:)
@koko_dhoni (83)
• Indonesia
11 May 07
Where your faith come? From yourself? I don't think so because your faith is God greace. But, if you will reject it, it depent on you. The best value from typical grace is that rejection is the risk of his Grace. How many generosity do you do till now? Do everyone always give acceptance? I don't think so. So, I think that your question isn't your rejection. It's the part of your faith growth. I believe that you will get new inside on your reflection. But, i sugest you to pray so that you realize God always love you and help you with His love. I have a story, satire story. But i make it in Indonesian language. Are you interested? If you are interested, I will sent to you and ofcourse in Indonesian language. Sent your e-mail address to me. koko_dhoni@yahoo.co.id. Thanks
@elshaddai123 (3981)
• Kottayam, India
10 May 07
Dear you can call yourself chiristian only if you believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.For this you have to admit that you are a sinner, and ask Jesus Christ to cleanse you from all of your sins, and confess Jesus Christ is your God & Lord.After this it is your absolute claim as "Christian"
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
28 May 07
Is it better to believe in the resurection and not act like a christian but be called one or is it better not to believe but act everyday as a good christian and follow the actions of christ??? thats a hard thing to judge, I guess its a good thing its not up to me to judge. Or anyone else here on this earth for that matter, you can call yourself whatever you want you dont have to answer to anyone but God and Jesus but thats my opinion.
@NBABlogger (249)
• Philippines
9 May 07
Just a simple condition dude. You can only call yourself a Christian if and only if you wholeheartedly accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Did you already accepted Him? If not, add me as a friend and I will show you how.
@Graymsqtech (496)
• United States
29 May 07
I think the whole belief structure of Christianity is based upon the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifiction. It would therefore not be possible to be a christian if you dont believe in that resurrection. Also if you dont believe in that resurrection then you can't believe in the new covenant with God which allows all who believe to be saved. I think that each of us has to come to our own understanding of God. I also think that when we come to fully believe in God we have to determine what God means to us. Some find God one of wrath and condemnation and others find grace and compassion. I think that christians believe that God is the God that is full of grace and compassion and that God provided Jesus as the sacrifice to end sacrifice and to allow all access to God through that sacrifice.
Good Luck and God Bless You!!
