Identifying as a Christian

In todays society, we as believers are quick to call ourselves Christians, and ultimately, we would not be entirely wrong, however, it is my belief that we need to go a slight step further.

  There are many denominations, practices, and yes even false teachers that claim the title of a Christian, but what are they really teaching?

Luke writes in Acts “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets” Acts 24:14

My understanding is that the early church described in Acts was more aligned as a sect of Judaism than its own religion. This sect differed from standard Judaism due to the fact that they believed (rightfully so) that the prophecies of the Old Testament (which are still the basis for Judaism) had come to fruition, to include the coming of Jesus Christ.

There are still those in the Jewish community that fall under this sect known as Messianic Jews. This sect is separate from Christianity due to bloodline. We as born again gentiles, are obviously not Jewish by blood and therefore cannot be Messianic Jews.

So flash forward to today, we have adjusted mostly in the gentile world to calling ourselves Christians. Many different branches do so and admittedly, growing up in the church, I believed a great many things. I believed that a Christian was a Christian, it just depended on how formal you wanted to be and how you wanted to praise God. Looking at Baptists for instance, I believed they focused heavily on worship, Catholic on formality, Protestants were always more relaxed in clothing and services. I did not ever really think us different in any way other than those slight differences, and after researching the differences, I still feel this way about a great many.

However, there are also a great many that I believe add in extra barriers between you and God, and even more still teach false beliefs, however still continue to call themselves Christians.

First and foremost, this is not to say that for example, your Grandmother who was Catholic isn’t going to heaven because she wasn’t Protestant etc….

 

This is to point out SOME of the differences of some of, in my opinion, the more dangerous teachings that attempt to align themselves with Christianity. 

For starters, I will state that the only writings that should be followed by Christians should be the Holy Bible. The Book of Mormon or the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures are not the ordained Word of God even though the followers of such writings falsely claim themselves as Christians.

This is also vastly my own beliefs based upon the reading of the Holy Bible as I can only pray for understanding and study what God has ordained to be written.

The teaching that states the only way to God is through the belief in Jesus Christ, that is what I believe and align with.

I do not align with Jesus AND works, or Jesus, works, AND ALMS. I also do not align with Jesus AND others on the same level as Him.

I am not saying either that you can rape and murder a multitude of people and just pray for forgiveness at the end of each atrocity and all will be forgiven.

To have a true relationship with Christ is to internally strive to be like him. This changes your attitude, thoughts, etc. If you come to Christ truly believing that He can save you from eternal damnation, and repenting, then you choose to not lead the life that brought you to that decision. Remember that the word for repent in Greek is μετανοέω (pronounced metanoeō ), which simply means to turn around in the physical sense. In the spiritual sense it means to change your heart, mind, and habits. So by default, you cannot continue atrocities if you truly repent.

I also do not align with using another’s religious beliefs in conjunction with Christianity (i.e. Yoga which was created to empty oneself and take on positions of prayer to Hindu gods should not be practiced by Christians, regardless of the health benefits)

God gave us His only Son, Jesus Christ to commune directly with the Father, so although, I personally do not see anything wrong with talking to a Priest or other individual about your sins, I know that I do not NEED the Priest or other individual to have my sins forgiven. 

Any teaching that states you must repeat things multiple times to be saved is also false. In Matthew 6:7 , Jesus tells us “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.”

Any teaching that states they can tell you when Christ will return, is false. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:13 “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. “

These are just a few of the differences within those teachings that claim themselves as Christians. So be weary of the teachings out there, and ensure that what you are being fed, is Biblically sound.