For Followers of Christianity: What does it mean to you personally, to be a Christian?

[chri'stina 190]

This is one of the important distinctions between Catholics and most other Christian faiths. Catholics regard someone who lives their life in a Christ-like manner as an Anonymous Christian. I can't imagine someone who lived their life as Christ lived, would be sent to the eternal flames of hell, simply because they had not recognized Christ as God incarnate. For me, I think a lot of Christians are going to be surprised/shocked with how many "non-Christians" are in heaven - Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims, for example.

I think some people openly say they don't believe Jesus was God nor that He was our salvation, so I am not sure if they get a free pass for helping people or not. The bible says faith without works is dead, yet that works alone cannot save you. Well with what I said the other day about what happens when people die, yeah I am not sure. For people who never heard about Jesus, I do believe they definitely get some kind of pass according to how they lived.

[chri'stina 190]

Do all Catholics feel that way about anonymous Christians? Because a local radio station here I listen to sometimes is Catholic and they are very pro-born again.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I had a Catholic wedding last week and one of the things we had to do was go and pray to the Virgin Mary. It is done all the time by Catholics and they think nothing of it but being raised Methodist it would have been considered a big time sin. If you look at my profile and hit the picture link you can see my wife and I and some wedding pics and one of them show us praying to the virgin mary.

Yeah, for Catholics, prayer is NOT worship.

Do all Catholics feel that way about anonymous Christians? Because a local radio station here I listen to sometimes is Catholic and they are very pro-born again.

I think those Catholics who call themselves born-again are confused about the teachings of their religion.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Yeah, for Catholics, prayer is NOT worship.

I think those Catholics who call themselves born-again are confused about the teachings of their religion.

Understand.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think some people openly say they don't believe Jesus was God nor that He was our salvation, so I am not sure if they get a free pass for helping people or not. The bible says faith without works is dead, yet that works alone cannot save you. Well with what I said the other day about what happens when people die, yeah I am not sure. For people who never heard about Jesus, I do believe they definitely get some kind of pass according to how they lived.

But most Hindus, Muslims, Jews, etc. have probably all heard about Jesus as the Messiah, and I'd have real trouble with imagining that none of them will go to heaven simply because they didn't follow the Christian faith. I can't imagine what that does to the psyche of any Christian, to believe that no matter how good or Christ-like a person is in how they live their life, that they would be condemned to hell. I suppose as a Christian, one could be hopelessly optimistic that everyone has the potential for conversion, but in reality, that hasn't happened. At least not on any grand scale.

Edited September 29, 2010 by El Buscador

[chri'stina 190]

Yeah, for Catholics, prayer is NOT worship.

I think those Catholics who call themselves born-again are confused about the teachings of their religion.

Well it's an entire diocese down here(St. Petersburg) who runs the station. I feel like I have a lot in common with them, except for the specifically Catholic beliefs. I feel like people use born again too much as a "thing" when it was just words Jesus used to make a point. That you would be starting life fresh when you choose to follow him and his teachings. That is all it means, so then I would assume everyone who chooses to do that would be considered born again in the way Jesus used the terms. I almost wish that term never became what it did in the church because it just causes misconceptions.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Denomination = divide the nation.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

[chri'stina 190]

But most Hindus, Muslims, Jews, etc. have probably all heard about Jesus as the Messiah, and I'd have real trouble with imagining that none of them will go to heaven simply because they didn't follow the Christian faith. I can't imagine what that does to the psyche of any Christian, to believe that no matter how good or Christ-like a person is in how they live their life, that they would be condemned to hell. I suppose as a Christian, one could be hopelessly optimistic that everyone has the potential for conversion, but in reality, that hasn't happened. At least not on any grand scale.

I know what you mean, but the bible seems clear on it. The thing it might not be as clear on is whether another chance is given right when you die to accept that Jesus is the way of salvation. It says in more than one place that works alone cannot give you salvation. But I know I am not God, and He can be the judge of whether someone actually understood or not who Jesus was if they heard about it in their lifetime. If there is a lack of understanding or they just heard about him a little, doesn't mean they had a full chance to believe - which could be the pass on being judged instead on how they lived their lives.

Eph. 2:8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Works are also emphasized as a part of faith:

James 2:14-17

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Well it's an entire diocese down here(St. Petersburg) who runs the station. I feel like I have a lot in common with them, except for the specifically Catholic beliefs. I feel like people use born again too much as a "thing" when it was just words Jesus used to make a point. That you would be starting life fresh when you choose to follow him and his teachings. That is all it means, so then I would assume everyone who chooses to do that would be considered born again in the way Jesus used the terms. I almost wish that term never became what it did in the church because it just causes misconceptions.

As far as I understand it, the Catholic Church does recognize what Jesus had said that one must be reborn, but how that is expressed and understood, is quite different. We believe that a Christian can go through several rebirths so to speak. The conversion process is ongoing and one can stray from God, even after they've gone through a conversion.

Here's an explanation of the Catholic Church's view on salvation:

...even if the two sides did disagree about the relationship between faith and works, they both agreed (1) that faith is absolutely necessary for salvation and (2) that we are absolutely commanded by God to do good works. Both these two points are unmistakably clear in Scripture.

......

When Luther taught that we are saved by faith alone, he meant by salvation only the initial step, justification, being put right with God. But when Trent said we are saved by good works as well as faith, they meant by salvation the whole process by which God brings us to our eternal destiny and that process includes repentance, faith, hope, and charity, the works of love.

The word faith was also used in two different senses. Luther used it in the broad sense of the person's acceptance of God's offer of salvation. It included repentance, faith, hope, and charity. This is the sense Saint Paul uses in Romans. But in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul uses it in a more specific sense, as just one of the three theological virtues, with hope and charity added to it. In this narrower sense faith alone is not sufficient for salvation, for hope and charity must be present also. That is the sense used by the old Baltimore Catechism too: faith is "an act of the intellect, prompted by the will, by which we believe what has been revealed on the grounds of the authority of God, who revealed it".

This "faith", though prompted by the will, is an act of the intellect. Though necessary for salvation, it is not sufficient. Even the devils have this faith, as Saint James writes: "Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe — and tremble with fear" (James 2: 19). That is why James says, "it is by his actions that a person is put right with God, and not by his faith alone" (James 2:24). Luther, however, called James' epistle "an epistle of straw". He did not understand James' point (applied to Abraham's faith): "Can't you see? His faith and his action worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions" (James 2:2 2).

Faith is the root, the necessary beginning. Hope is the stem, the energy that makes the plant grow. Love is the fruit, the flower, the visible product, the bottom line. The plant of our new life in Christ is one; the life of God comes into us by faith, through us by hope, and out of us by the works of love. That is clearly the biblical view, and when Protestants and Catholics who know and believe the Bible discuss the issue sincerely, it is amazing how quickly and easily they come to understand and agree with each other on this, the fundamental divisive issue. Try it some time with your Protestant friend.

http://www.catholice...ics/ap0027.html

[chri'stina 190]

As far as I understand it, the Catholic Church does recognize what Jesus had said that one must be reborn, but how that is expressed and understood, is quite different. We believe that a Christian can go through several rebirths so to speak. The conversion process is ongoing and one can stray from God, even after they've gone through a conversion.

I agree with that completely, and I am not even Catholic. lol Many non-Catholics would agree.

[chri'stina 190]

Also, to make works so absolutely necessary would mean someone who had just decided to have faith in Jesus then dies before accomplishing any good works, would be in what state?? In my opinion, going to heaven. (Again, I don't believe in purgatory where people need cleansing.)

[Gemmie 142]

My husband was told by Baptists that he was going to H3ll when he was just a kid because he went to a Catholic school, and at the time, that really scared and upset him. I've been told that because I WANT to believe in Christianity but don't think I'm able to, I'm going to H3ll too, even if I live a good life and help others.

These are just a couple of drops in the ocean of 'Reasons I Cannot Be Part of Organised Religion Again'.

[mawilson 2,133]

So are you saying right here and now, that you are a Christian and what it means to you is Christmas Shopping?

Hey everyone, mawilson is a Christian!! lol

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying!

[chri'stina 190]

My husband was told by Baptists that he was going to H3ll when he was just a kid because he went to a Catholic school, and at the time, that really scared and upset him. I've been told that because I WANT to believe in Christianity but don't think I'm able to, I'm going to H3ll too, even if I live a good life and help others.

These are just a couple of drops in the ocean of 'Reasons I Cannot Be Part of Organised Religion Again'.

I myself have had issues with Baptists because I wasn't Baptist. But can't blame all Baptists, I know some very very sweet people from a church that is Baptist. We know we differ on certain things but don't let that get in the way of friendship. They think we are weird for certain reasons, I think they are too uptight for certain reasons.

And then on VJ and in real life I have had people treat me like I was nuts, or brainwashed, or stupid for believing what I do. No matter what, someone isn't going to like what you do.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Also, to make works so absolutely necessary would mean someone who had just decided to have faith in Jesus then dies before accomplishing any good works, would be in what state?? In my opinion, going to heaven. (Again, I don't believe in purgatory where people need cleansing.)

I think of salvation as a process - both intellectually, physically and spiritually. To recognize Christ as the Savior is the foundation or beginning, but one must live as Christ lived or they are Christian in name only, IMO. So it's not works as an achievement - like I saved three drowning people, but rather a way of living.