Bailey writes:
A lot of energy is spent by Christians trying to tell one another what a real christian is. Chances are, this is not a new phenomenon - lol. However, it is eerily similar to political mouthpieces trying to say who really represents the beliefs of one party or another....Some common essential properties of being a Christian you might hear are ...
A. Believes the Bible (Or some variation on in what way someone 'Believes the Bible.')
B. Goes to Church (For Catholics, we could enlarge this to include certain practices like eating fish on Fridays, etc.)
C. Believes "Jesus died for my sins."
D. Believes Jesus was/is God
E. Believes only Christians go to Heaven
F. Believes "You cannot make it to Heaven on your own."
G. Believes in the Resurrection
H. Is a member of my denomination
I. Believes God created the world in 6 days
What answer would people you know give ?
The following chart has been assembled to illustrate what teachings you find in Acts regarding Christianity. The book of Acts was chosen because that is the only book where the focus is on 'evangelism' to non-believers and new believers.
Passage
in Acts | Jesus is
Messiah | Jesus
Arose | Jesus
is Lord | Jesus will
Judge All | Repent! | Believers go
to Heaven | Heathens
go to Hell |
| 2: 14-41 | x | x | x |
| x |
|
|
3: 12-26
| x
| x
| x
|
| x
|
|
|
4: 8-12
| x
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
5: 30-32
| x
| x
| x
|
|
|
|
|
5: 42
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7: 1-53
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9: 22
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10: 34-43
| x
| x
| x
| x
|
|
|
|
13: 16-41
| x
| x
| x
|
| x
|
|
|
14: 14-17
|
|
|
| x
|
|
|
|
17: 2-4
| x
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
17: 18-31
|
| x
|
| x
| x
|
|
|
18: 5
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18: 28
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20: 20-22
|
|
| x
|
| x
|
|
|
22: 1-21
| x
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
26: 1-29
| x
| x
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note here that "Jesus is Lord" refers to His being Universally elevated to head o' household status (over Heaven and Earth).
It seems, at least if Paul, James, Peter, and Stephen are good sources, that
a christian is someone who has chosen to follow Jesus the Christs' practices, repenting of unloving acts that destroy relationships, and believes Jesus is the Christ (as shown by his Resurrection) who has been given power over Heaven and Earth, including the office of a lovingkindness Judge.
It seems to the present opinion, Christians in general do not like the idea that repentance is an absolute requirement as opposed to a goal.
And yet repentance is a basic and useful practice for keeping oneself in check.
We would further say that merely believing Jesus is the Christ who sits in power over Heaven and Earth would strike many as "too easy," allowing too many fringe groups in.
I dont care how many people get "in" as long as my behavior plus their behavior allows us all to love each other. God can allow as many people into Heaven as he wants...
One wonders what that says about modern day evangelists and missionaries who start off their message with "Do you know where you are going when you die?"
I agree that this is an outdated and unnecessary concept.
™ Version 4.2
