# Are you a Christian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 15, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498 "2003-05-15T18:35:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/61 "2003-05-18T19:02:47Z")
I know His4ever’s answer to this, but I would like your answer, **Monty**. Do you consider someone who is loving and kind and “acts like Jesus” a christian, even if they’re not a church going believer? (an aside, I e mailed James Randi on whether he considers chrsitians fools or not). Unfortunately, I spelled christian chrsitian all the way thru, plus made more sics (embarrassing!) His reply was "not all “chrsitians. Just some…” :o ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/62 "2003-05-18T19:54:36Z")
I consider such a person to be acting in a charitable manner, vanilla, regardless of that person’s faith. Now, if that person self-declares as Christian, no matter how the person acts, that person then, is, in fact, a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![dreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/63 "2003-05-18T21:24:04Z")
Hang in there **jackie lee**. I am human and I call myself Christian too 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ronbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@ronbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ronbo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/64 "2003-05-18T22:14:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NaSultainne \* > \*\*…Meanilngless propaganda… \*\* :)\*\* Okay, thats not the real quote.\*\*🙂 I say again that this is the very narrow, divisive and corrupted definition that reactionary Christians want to foist on the world. That does not mean that Jesus would agree with it. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/65 "2003-05-18T22:44:38Z")
Captain Amazing: Winchell’s is a 24-hour donut shop franchise. The lame joke in using that is alluding that police officers are more prone to be eating donuts instead of being on duty. It’s just another invalid prejudice. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/66 "2003-05-18T23:32:00Z")
I am a Christian. I don’t think there is enough evidence to convict me of it, if simply saying that I am one is not sufficient. That makes me rather sad. I am not too worried about the definition. Definitions are limits, and the Lord is greater than limits. Theology is logic, disguised as faith. The love of the Lord is greater than theology. I think that Monty and H4E will probably still be able to argue about theology in Heaven, although they might find it less important by then. I probably won’t listen, much. ## Tris “We have met the enemy and it is us.” ~ Walt Kelly, **Pogo** ~ ---
**Author:** ![GOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@GOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GOM)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/67 "2003-05-21T16:06:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\*1. I dunno what Winchell’s is, but what about the second part of my definition… > > 1. “believes a general set of Christian beliefs”. And since you can’t know what someone believes, if they say they’re Christian, shouldn’t you take their word for it? \*\* 1. Winchell’s is a chain of donut shops where we often see several police cars parked outside. I thought they were a national chain, so I assumed everyone would get the reference. You can insert your local donut store. Or maybe you are from an area where the police don’t eat donuts… 2. I take most people at their word when they say they are a Christian. However only God knows for sure. We know there are people who claim to be Christians who actually are not. So, as President Reagan said: “Trust, but verify.” Attending church does not make a person a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/68 "2003-05-21T16:26:27Z")
If only God knows for sure then how do you verify? Didn’t your God tell you not to worry about verifying the holiness of others but instead to concentrate on your own life? Just saying… ---
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/69 "2003-05-21T20:26:03Z")
Sounds to me like you’re _human_. ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/70 "2003-05-21T20:40:30Z")
🙂 @ **JD** ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/71 "2003-05-22T17:34:35Z")
🆒 @ Jersey, also. ---
**Author:** ![jackie\_lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@jackie\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackie_lee)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/72 "2003-05-24T23:13:01Z")
Thank you everyone I think I am human and Christian. I was really wondering and thinking I had to be the next thing to perfect. I knew I could never pull that one off. I am not going to worry about it anymore. Thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![GOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@GOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GOM)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/73 "2003-05-26T16:41:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mars Horizon \* > \*\*If only God knows for sure then how do you verify? > > Didn’t your God tell you not to worry about verifying the holiness of others but instead to concentrate on your own life? > > Just saying… \*\* Possibly verify could be exchanged for a better word. I’m drawing a bland right now on an alternative. However we can often verify a person’s claim to be a Christian by listening to their words and watching their actions, which sometimes speak louder than their words. For example, just a few days ago I met a man who is a Christian. He did not make a claim to be a Christian, but it was obvious that he was after a short conversation. OTOH some people are much less obvious about where they stand. I think there will be some surprises about who makes it to heaven, and also those who do not. The reason we must pay attention to the false claims of some people who claim to be Christians is because they tend to lead people into bad situations. You will recall that has happened in the past. HTH ---
**Author:** ![GOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@GOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GOM)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/74 "2003-05-26T16:44:38Z")
hahaha Bland… Blank… I hate preview! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/75 "2003-05-26T17:01:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GOM \* > \*\*The reason we must pay attention to the false claims of some people who claim to be Christians is because they tend to lead people into bad situations. You will recall that has happened in the past. \*\* Yeah, but that can happen with Christians too. For example, the religious struggles after the Protestant Reformation in Europe, where Protestants were being killed for their beliefs in Catholic areas and Catholics were being killed for their beliefs in Protestant areas. Both those groups of people were Christian, but they both were doing some pretty nasty things to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/76 "2003-05-26T23:03:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GOM \* > However we can often verify a person’s claim to be a Christian by listening to their words and watching their actions, which sometimes speak louder than their words. Yeah, that whole judging others stuff you’re advocating here speaks volumes of your claim to Christian action. ---
**Author:** ![GOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@GOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GOM)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/77 "2003-05-27T04:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Yeah, that whole judging others stuff you’re advocating here speaks volumes of your claim to Christian action. \*\* The words of Paul: 28 **Take heed** therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that **after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in** among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, **speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.** 31 Therefore **watch, and remember** , that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/78 "2003-05-27T22:14:06Z")
GoM: What’s the matter, you don’t like being judged? Actually, I made a comment about your action–I did not judge you as not being Christian. You responded with an absolutely irrelevant quotation from Scripture, apparently under the incredibly mistaken notion that I am not familiar with Christianity’s Holy Writ. ---
**Author:** ![GOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@GOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GOM)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/79 "2003-05-31T15:48:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*GoM: What’s the matter, you don’t like being judged? Actually, I made a comment about your action–I did not judge you as not being Christian. You responded with an absolutely irrelevant quotation from Scripture, apparently under the incredibly mistaken notion that I am not familiar with Christianity’s Holy Writ. \*\* I’m sorry. I don’t know exactly what you are talking about. There are real Christians and there are the fakes. Sometimes the fakes look real good. Sometimes they have a lot of money. And some of them are real smooth talkers. Christianity is under attack, from within and without. This is no surprise to some of us who pay attention to these things. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/80 "2003-05-31T16:03:47Z")
I’m talking about your judging others’ self-designation of being Christian. Unless you’ve magically become Jesus the Christ, then that’s your not purview. I’d like to see your cites that Christianity is under attack from within, especiallly if you’re going to say those that are doing the attacking are fake (and thus not actual) Christians. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498.md?page=5)