Recently, I was asked a question: "What kind of Christian are you?"
I never know how to respond to such a question. It feels like a loaded question, one that anyone else will misunderstand no matter what I answer I give.
Officially, I am a Methodist, but I am Methodist by culture, rather than by doctrine. If I answer that I am a Protestant, explaining the differences between that and Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity would be like explaining the differences between punctuated equilibrium and systematic gradualism to a non-biologist - not very helpful to the questioner.
I could describe myself as Evangelical, but I do not think the world is 6,000 years old*. I would describe myself as being of an Orthodox faith, but not of the Greek Orthodox or Russian Orthodox church. I would say that I am a Fundamentalist, but I do not consider the Pope an enemy*. I consider myself Conservative, but I accept evolutionary theory*. So how should I describe to my friend what kind of Christian I am?
"The kind that loves Jesus," I found myself blurting out.
As a friend eloquently puts it, a Christian without Christ is just 'Ian'. And 'Ian' didn't die for our transgressions.
So here's the question: What kind of Christian are you?
*Note: The author knows that the statements describing Evangelical/Fundamentalist/Conservative Christians are all stereotypes, which was the point he was making about the difficulty in describing himself. The author does describe himself as evangelical, fundamentalist, conservative and orthodox (with small caps), but not in the way most people understand it today.What would you answer if someone asked you what kind of Christian you were?
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Comments (20)
"The kind that loves Jesus," I found myself blurting out.
Amen!
The kind that may not always agree with the church's teachings, but as @musterion99@xanga said, "The kind that loves Jesus."
I may have some of my own ideas but I believe in Jesus and worship him.
I say something like "The Bible-reading kind," since many people call themselves Christian by default without really caring what the Bible says about anything.
I usually say nondenominational. But I agree that ultimately, it is Christ that saves us and not our denomination does not save us. We are not saved by simply believing in God or Christ and we are definitely not saved by doing good works. We are saved by a faith given to us in God's grace and that faith starts a relationship with God, through Christ.
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."James 2:19
.....the kind that believes that God is Almighty and perfect and Holy in every way, and that preserving His Word for thousands of years is a cake walk for Him.......so yes I believe the Bible is the Word of God, every bit of it. It is His testimony about Himself and His Son and His Spirit......yes I also believe in the Trinity. His testimony is that He sent His Son to die on the Cross for the sins of mankind...and yes I am also that kind of Christian, an imperfect sinner. His testimony is that there is only one, repeat one way to the Kingdom of God, and that is through Jesus, that we must be born again by the Spirit of God, and yes I have been born again through the blood of Christ my Lord. Does that make me a fundamentalist, an evangelical, a conservative.......who knows or really cares.
I would saying Bible believing, nondenominational and one who follows the ways of Jesus.
i am not a christian but i believe in Jesus. i have seen the miracles and his works on me. i believe him.
I love Jesus and I fully believe The Bible is God's word. I also believe the Holy Spirit is here to help us and I believe in and use the gifts of the Spirit.
@princessMic@xanga - If you believe in Jesus and have seen miracles, why aren't you a Christian?
"The kind that loves Jesus," I found myself blurting out.
good answer ahha
Religion will not save me-I do not follow religion.
christianity will not save me-I do not follow christianity.
Man will not save me-I do not follow man.
Discription or name of any kind will not make a difference.
Call me any thing you wish, mean or nice.
it wont make one iota of difference.
there is only one way.
Jesus.
He is that which I follow.
the non-believer kind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins
i prefer science and logical thinking,
thank you.
I believe in Jesus and God. I also feel like God is more like a grandpa though, and Jesus an uncle, I know its weird but I have felt that way since I was a little girl.
I also believe in the devil and evil and good spirits.
I pray.
But I do not have any interest in the bible or believe that someone rose from the dead. Anyone could have wrote it.
why are there even "different kinds" of Christians? shouldn't every christian believe the exact same thing? if not, then how do we know what's real and what isn't? and who's right and who's wrong?
makes no sense to me.
@ltdpaden - THIS.
@momoaisu@xanga - It's what happens when religions spread and man asks questions and forms a different type of belief stemming from its origin.
But yeah, makes no sense.
The kind that will do the only thing Jesus asks us to do, and that is to love our neighbours as He has loved us. No matter how you interpret this, this is what I will try my best to do.
I'm the kind with so MUCH faith I don't even bother to worry or think about it anymore!!!
@ltdpaden - Same here!
I actually love this post because I was just having a conversation with a co-worker about this exact same thing! I grew up Catholic, attend a Baptist church, attend a Pentecostal singles ministry but consider myself non-denominational. I'm all about just living what the bible says and I don't find that any denomination really does ONLY that.