Practical politics and practical spirituality

@fmf said
There were intellectuals who were deists but people who didn't believe in Christ were not Christians. If you're claiming that a lot of people lost their Christian faith in the C18th or they didn't subscribe to Christian beliefs, then fine. But let's not dillute the term "Christian" by calling them Christians.

I'm impressed actually.
There were intellectuals who were deists but people who didn't believe in Christ were not Christians.
They believed that Jesus, His life, death, and Resurrection, was a story sent by God, to people, to conform their lives around. Jesus was the main character of this story from God; and. they were to follow the teachings in this story written by God; however, they did not actually believe that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus actually happened. It was a Blessed story written by God for them (so to speak).
I never claimed or diluted anything. Nothing but you changing and twisting what I actually said; sorry fool. lol

For a non-believer, you sure have a Conservative Christian view of who a legitimate Christian is. Interesting.

@kingdavid403 said
I'm impressed actually.
There were intellectuals who were deists but people who didn't believe in Christ were not Christians.
They believed that Jesus, His life, death, and Resurrection, was a story sent by God, to people, to conform their lives around. Jesus was the main character of this story from God; and. they were to follow the teachings in this story w ...[text shortened]... eliever, you sure have a Conservative Christian view of who a legitimate Christian is. Interesting.

What makes one a legitimate Christian? If there are false ones and real ones what
is the difference between them, because you cannot have a false one without there
being a real one for comparison, so what is the difference?

@kellyjay said
What makes one a legitimate Christian? If there are false ones and real ones what
is the difference between them, because you cannot have a false one without there
being a real one for comparison, so what is the difference?

What makes one a legitimate Christian?
You'll have to ask FMF; That was his term when he was describing Christianity and what a Christian is, or what they have to believe. Go figure...
Let's hear your view on this kellyjay; what requirements or beliefs must one have, to be considered a legitimate Christian?

@kingdavid403 said
What makes one a legitimate Christian?
You'll have to ask FMF; That was his term when he was describing Christianity and what a Christian is, or what they have to believe. Go figure...
Let's hear your view on this kellyjay; what requirements or beliefs must one have, to be considered a legitimate Christian?

I like the ones the Bible uses; without Jesus Christ in us, we have nothing but a
profession in a godless belief system no matter our doctrinal beliefs, Biblical
knowledge, or good works. If Jesus isn't both the end and means to our salvation,
it is on us and for us, not Christ.

Romans 8:9-11
English Standard Version
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

@kellyjay said
I like the ones the Bible uses; without Jesus Christ in us, we have nothing but a
profession in a godless belief system no matter our doctrinal beliefs, Biblical
knowledge, or good works. If Jesus isn't both the end and means to our salvation,
it is on us and for us, not Christ.

Romans 8:9-11
English Standard Version
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spir ...[text shortened]... realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Nice dodge.

@kingdavid403 said
For a non-believer, you sure have a Conservative Christian view of who a legitimate Christian is. Interesting.

It's not a matter of being "conservative" about Christianity. It's a matter of defending the meaning of words. A person who "doesn't believe that the life and death of Jesus actually happened" may well believe in a God figure but they cannot be labelled "Christian". Nothing is to be gained from stripping the meaning from the word.

@fmf said
It's not a matter of being "conservative" about Christianity. It's a matter of defending the meaning of words. A person who "doesn't believe that the life and death of Jesus actually happened" may well believe in a God figure but they cannot be labelled "Christian". Nothing is to be gained from stripping the meaning from the word.

You're preaching to the choir son. However, many have, and many will label themselves as Christians; even tho they are not. Do you get the picture?

@kingdavid403 said
They did not actually believe that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus actually happened.

Then "Christians" is not the right word for them.

@fmf said
Then "Christians" is not the right word for them.

The word 'Christian' came about as a negative slang term in the Roman Empire. The word "Christian" is not a Biblical term or Biblical definition of followers of Jesus. The word Christian is no where to be found in the Gospels or Bible.

@kellyjay said
What makes one a legitimate Christian?

I'd say the answer is: The holding of a certain set of beliefs regarding the life and death of Jesus Christ as set out in the Christian Bible.

@kingdavid403 said
The word 'Christian' came about by humans in Rome as a negative term in the Roman Empire. The word "Christian" is not a Biblical term or Biblical definition of followers of Jesus. The word is man-made. The word Christian is no where to be found in the Gospels or Bible.

I don't think this affects what I have said.

@kingdavid403 said
You're preaching to the choir son. However, many have, and many will label themselves as Christians; even tho they are not. Do you get the picture?

I don't think the fact that people dilute the meaning of the word "Christian" affects what I am saying.

@kingdavid403 said
You're preaching to the choir son.

Nope. We are disagreeing.

@kellyjay said
I like the ones the Bible uses; without Jesus Christ in us, we have nothing but a
profession in a godless belief system no matter our doctrinal beliefs, Biblical
knowledge, or good works.

The legitimacy of the use of the word "Christian" cannot come down to your personal decision about whether Jesus Christ is actually "in" someone or not.

@kellyjay said
If Jesus isn't both the end and means to our salvation,
it is on us and for us, not Christ.

I think it is your belief that "Jesus is both the end and means to one's salvation" ~ because he - as the Son of God, sacrificed his life and rose from the dead to forgive people's "sins" ~ is what makes you a "Christian". I don't see how you can possibly describe a set of beliefs like these as "a godless belief system".