Who is a Christian? My Take

[spm62]

Originally Posted by Preterist

Who is a Christian? A Christian is someone who when a gun is place to his head and he is ordered to renounce Christ or die shouts "NEVER!"

Preterist

Were the disciples chrsitians?

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

I used to believe that being a christian meant you extend a helping hand to your fellow man, you love all unreservedly, you judge no one because that is gods job.

Now I see the reality and I believe that alot of christians are some of the most dispicable, hurtful and hateful people out there. The kind of people who suffer from prejudice, deviseness, controlling, manipulative behaviors that are so deeply rooted, they run over people, harm them with no notice to the harm they do. The kind of people I do my best to shield my daughter from.

I will raise her to be a compassionate person to ALL.

Well she has your example...maybe it will work out..

godspeed,

freedom

[Preterist]

Originally Posted by ShanaBrown

But Preterist, did you really mean that ? God bless.

Of course! Why not? It is easy for someone to say "I am a Christian" when one's life is not on the line. That is the case in the U.S. I wonder if such questions arise in Communist China, North Korea or in Muslim nations where being a Christian can be a death sentence.

Preterist

[spm62]

Originally Posted by Preterist

Of course! Why not? It is easy for someone to say "I am a Christian" when one's life is not on the line. That is the case in the U.S. I wonder if such questions arise in Communist China, North Korea or in Muslim nations where being a Christian can be a death sentence.

Preterist

Is that why the disciples scattered when they took Jesus or why Peter denied Christ 3 times? Since most christians believe you go directly to heaven when you die,it would be better to die....would it not?

[Preterist]

Originally Posted by spm62

Is that why the disciples scattered when they took Jesus or why Peter denied Christ 3 times? Since most christians believe you go directly to heaven when you die,it would be better to die....would it not?

The disciples were in a unique pre-Pentecost setting. They did not yet have the indwelling Spirit to guide, direct and embolden them. Do you see the difference in character in the disciples pre-Pentecost and post-Pentecost? They did not flee after that did they?

Preterist

[ShanaBrown]

Originally Posted by ShanaBrown
But Preterist, did you really mean that ? God bless.
Of course! Why not? It is easy for someone to say "I am a Christian" when one's life is not on the line. That is the case in the U.S. I wonder if such questions arise in Communist China, North Korea or in Muslim nations where being a Christian can be a death sentence.

Preterist, Peter denied the Lord three times as Dave stated. Did that mean that he wasn't a Christian, disciple of the Lord in his moment of weakness? And He was with the Lord in the flesh every day, saw His miracles, ate with Him. He fell but he repented and Jesus knew this. Some may not deny Jesus when their life is on the line and some may as in the case of Peter who later became an apostle. God bless.

[Preterist]

Originally Posted by ShanaBrown

Preterist, Peter denied the Lord three times as Dave stated. Did that mean that he wasn't a Christian, disciple of the Lord in his moment of weakness? And He was with the Lord in the flesh every day, saw His miracles, ate with Him. He fell but he repented and Jesus knew this. Some may not deny Jesus when their life is on the line and some may as in the case of Peter who later became an apostle. God bless.

ShanaBrown: I never meant to convey a belief that only those who willingly give their lives are truly Christians. I was simply making the case that it is easy to say one is a Christian when one's life or other precious positions are not on the line.

And again, the apostles became different men post-Pentecost when they had the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Preterist

[ShanaBrown]

Thanks for clarifying, Preterist. God bless.

[spm62]

Originally Posted by Preterist

ShanaBrown: I never meant to convey a belief that only those who willingly give their lives are truly Christians. I was simply making the case that it is easy to say one is a Christian when one's life or other precious positions are not on the line.

And again, the apostles became different men post-Pentecost when they had the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Preterist

They also became different when they saw the risen Christ with their own eyes. Peter swore he would not deny Christ. But he did anyway because he was predestined too. It had nothing to do with him being a Christian. Sometimes we as Christians like to think we can do mighty deeds to prove ourselves to God or show ourselves worthy. We can do nothing apart from God. Which probably gets to your point about the Holy Spirit. It`s God within us that does the willing and performing such as not denying him etc. It has nothing to do with us personally. If it is God`s will for a person to deny him for some greater good then that`s what will happen.

[ShanaBrown]

Good points, Dave. God bless.