We got together with a group of people last night and someone asked this question:
What does it mean to be a Christian?
What’s your answer?
Click on the comments section for mine, followed by another one that was suggested.
July 12, 2010
7 Comments »
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Christianity 201 
“Coming under the loving Lordship of Jesus Christ, and being joined to a company of imperfect people who are trying to live a new life in a new way.”
Comment by paulthinkingoutloud — July 12, 2010 @ 8:38 pm |
“I am in Christ, and Christ is in me.”
Comment by paulthinkingoutloud — July 12, 2010 @ 8:38 pm |
A Christian is one that by faith in Christ, has received eternal life as a gift of grace. Even so, the depth of that faith is demonstrated through a continual transforming/renewing process led by the Holy Spirit. The goal of that process is to make us more Christlike.
Comment by Sonny Davis — July 15, 2010 @ 5:25 am |
I like the idea that you bring a sense of “process” to this definition; that a Christian is “a work in progress.” No one simply meets the definition and then says, “Okay, I’ve arrived.”
Comment by paulthinkingoutloud — July 15, 2010 @ 9:29 am |
This is a great question. Something I’ve tried to start to hash out on my blog. Overall, I’d say a Christian is someone who accepts that Jesus made it possible for someone to be good without doing good things… after that, it’s just a matter of falling in love with Him.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Comment by bondChristian — July 16, 2010 @ 12:09 am |
Marshall,
Thanks for writing. The link to your own blog offers the question in the reverse, “How to know if you’re NOT a Christian;” though I think that perhaps a third point, the rejection of Christ’s deity needs to get worked in there at some point. As to the positive definition you provide here, it’s a good focus on the end result of accepting Christ’s atonement, but said in a fresh, contemporary way.
I liked your blog; especially the “serving suggestions” analogy on your “about” page. I intend to use that sometime. (With due credit, of course!)
Comment by paulthinkingoutloud — July 16, 2010 @ 6:59 pm |
Thank you. That’s another thing that’s tricky… defining Christian things in everyday language (or as close to it as possible).
About bondChristian, thanks so much for jumping through and reading. I really appreciate it. Feel free to use anything written there (articles included) with or without credit. I love sharing regardless of whether it points back to me.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Comment by bondChristian — July 17, 2010 @ 4:15 pm