what defines a good Christian?

[Bethany35]

I guess this is a question that there will be a lot of answers on, and it's a very important one addressing our own ethical code and morality.
To me a definition of how a true Christian should be is someone empathic, caring, forgiving, loving and strong, who can stand up and speak against the oppression of others and accepts others truly as they are.
It's a lot to ask, isn't it?

 

[danielkibby]

I think we're called to be righteous, which is more than simply being good. People think being good is enough but you have to be more than that; you have to be Christ like if you're truly living as a disciple should.

When you look at Jesus' character he was passionate and compassionate. As people we are often one or the other but only through the spirit can we be both.

Someone who is living righteously will be producing fruit Galatians 5:22-23 , be focused on others as Jesus was and be doing things to grow spiritually in an effort to crucify their flesh and put off their old selves. Ephesians 4:22-24

 

[Bethany35]

well that's a brilliant answer, I always grow weary when people say passionate as it can mean those who are using their faith to attack others and am pretty sure that's not what Christianity is about. Yes, we are called to challenge oppression and in that way we should be passionate.

 

[SkyWriting]

I guess this is a question that there will be a lot of answers on, and it's a very important one addressing our own ethical code and morality.
To me a definition of how a true Christian should be is someone empathic, caring, forgiving, loving and strong, who can stand up and speak against the oppression of others and accepts others truly as they are.
It's a lot to ask, isn't it?

Love is the only requirement.

 

[danielkibby]

The greatest command love God and love others

 

[com7fy8]

God's correction > Hebrews 12:4-11.

 

[Bethany35]

ahem, Paul's correction

 

[aiki]

I guess this is a question that there will be a lot of answers on, and it's a very important one addressing our own ethical code and morality.
To me a definition of how a true Christian should be is someone empathic, caring, forgiving, loving and strong, who can stand up and speak against the oppression of others and accepts others truly as they are.
It's a lot to ask, isn't it?

Interesting. While I think the things you've listed are important characteristics of a believer, I don't think your list includes some of the most important things like holiness, truthfulness, and faithfulness. Perhaps that is because these things often interfere with what the World tells Christians is the loving, or caring, or truly accepting way to be. In Scripture we read: "be you holy as I am holy," "come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing," "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." These are commands to Christian believers, not suggestions, and are to characterize their living. We read in the Bible also: "Let us not love in word, but in deed, and in truth." Paul the apostle writes of the non-Christian who has "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator," and of sinners who "are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness..." and he directs fellow believers also: "Therefore put away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor...'" Finally, we are told in Scripture that faithfulness is a key characteristic of a disciple of Christ:

Luke 16:10-12 (NKJV)
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

When believers live as holy, truthful and faithful children of God they inevitably come into conflict with the World around them that is unholy, deceived and faithless. This is why in the Gospels Jesus declares,

Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV)
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 15:18-20 (NKJV)
18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...

Selah.

 

[com7fy8]

God's correction > Hebrews 12:4-11.

ahem, Paul's correction

I don't know what you mean, but only God can correct us really right, as Hebrews 12:4-11 shows we need; this says we need to seek our Heavenly Father for how He Himself is able to correct us.

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

In submitting to God, Himself, we get real correction.

But, yes, Paul gives plenty about how we need correction. But only God can change us really right

 

[lupusFati]

In my mind one is either a Christian or they are not. I don't do the whole 'good' or 'bad' Christian thing. A Christian can be ignorant that something they were doing was wrong, and can be corrected for it, sure. Doesn't make them a bad Christian. Just makes them an uninformed Christian.

Imho, as far as this religions goes, it's an on or off state: You either are a Christian or you are not. There's nothing in between.

 

[Received]

Christ defines the good Christian.

 

[Winken]

I guess this is a question that there will be a lot of answers on, and it's a very important one addressing our own ethical code and morality.
To me a definition of how a true Christian should be is someone empathic, caring, forgiving, loving and strong, who can stand up and speak against the oppression of others and accepts others truly as they are.
It's a lot to ask, isn't it?

Grace.

 

[com7fy8]

yet in your association with Christ, you cannot speak the truth, act truthfully, or obey the word of Christ

Well, actually, with God we are able to speak the truth and act according to all He means by His word. This quote says you "cannot". You might make yourself clear about what you mean.

I do not go to "blind" links. So, you might represent yourself and what you mean, here where we can read what you mean.

 

[Armoured]

I guess this is a question that there will be a lot of answers on, and it's a very important one addressing our own ethical code and morality.
To me a definition of how a true Christian should be is someone empathic, caring, forgiving, loving and strong, who can stand up and speak against the oppression of others and accepts others truly as they are.
It's a lot to ask, isn't it?

Contemptuous disdain for homosexuals, transexuals, Obama, and anyone who supports them.

 

[com7fy8]

Contemptuous disdain for homosexuals, transexuals, Obama, and anyone who supports them.

Well, actually, Jesus does not have us "disdaining" anyone who really is wrong. But Jesus is our Great Physician who is able to cure us of whatever in us is only about ourselves and getting the pleasures we want and how we can only use people for what we want. And then we can discover real loving, with Him >

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

"He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness." (Hebrews 5:2)

So, we are defined by howsoever our Father corrects us into His compassion. But He does not have us saying that what is wrong is ok; this would not be compassionate, to help people keep on in what is not good enough for any human being.

And, like I say, we need our own correction, but this includes knowing what is wrong so we do not get into it, ourselves, and so we do not help others to get themselves hurt in wrong stuff.

"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17)

So, God first does not have me busy with disdaining ones I believe are wrong, but first we need deal with our own need for correction . . . of His love's perfection > 1 John 4:17. And as we get into His one real love, then it becomes more and more easy to see what is wrong . . . whatever in us has not been like His love in us.

 

[Albion]

I guess this is a question that there will be a lot of answers on, and it's a very important one addressing our own ethical code and morality.
To me a definition of how a true Christian should be is someone empathic, caring, forgiving, loving and strong, who can stand up and speak against the oppression of others and accepts others truly as they are.
It's a lot to ask, isn't it?

I don't think the definition is confined to the particular actions you mentioned. And "accepts others truly as they are" is clearly incorrect.

If the 'others' in question are behaving immorally, contrary to God's teachings, there is nothing in Christianity that teaches the true believer to pretend that such actions have, for some reason, become just fine.

 

[Dave-W]

"what defines a good Christian?"

Defines it to whom exactly? God? Other Christians? Those who hate Christianity?

 

[Bethany35]

I don't think the definition is confined to the particular actions you mentioned. And "accepts others truly as they are" is clearly incorrect.

If the 'others' in question are behaving immorally, contrary to God's teachings, there is nothing in Christianity that teaches the true believer to pretend that such actions have, for some reason, become just fine.

The words are quite clear that we are not to judge others, it is only God that can pass judgement and sentence. We must still love people no matter what they do.

 

[Albion]

The words are quite clear that we are not to judge others, it is only God that can pass judgement and sentence. We must still love people no matter what they do.

"Not judging" isn't the same concept as "approving of," which is the idea you expressed before ("...accepts others truly as they are.").

 

[Bethany35]

to not judge others means to accept them and let someone else do the judgement - hey, we're all his children right?