What is the BARE MINIMUM it takes to be a CHRISTIAN?

[Nonie]

Deleted. Dupe again.

 

[msa]

I can remember a family member talking me into attending a Kenneth Copeland seminar. They all went up...so did I, reluctantly. He kinda pushed me, laying his hands on me and telling me to ..."just start with this...'ubabashemda '...whateverthehell." I was like, I remember being with a friend and her family in this one evangelical church and in a separate worship service for single young adults, just about EVERYBODY was kneeling, speaking in tongues. I was like..... But she seemed to have a great experience.

He was completely out of line for that. Speaking in tongues is straight from the Holy Spirit. If it happens to you, you don't need any prompting whatsoever.

I can feel when the Holy Spirit is working around me and others are speaking in tongues and it really is beautiful. I don't know whether I believe in it for myself.

 

[Ramya]

He was completely out of line for that. Speaking in tongues is straight from the Holy Spirit. If it happens to you, you don't need any prompting whatsoever.

I can feel when the Holy Spirit is working around me and others are speaking in tongues and it really is beautiful. I don't know whether I believe in it for myself.

I was just about to type the bold. Dude was out of line for that. All I had to do was pray. Nobody touched me, laid hands on me or prompted me in any kind of way. We prayed, I felt the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit and He began to give utterance. Don't let nobody fool yall.

 

[Nonie]

W/r/t gifts of the Spirit, speaking in tongues is only one. This is what 1 Corinthians 12 says about the gifts of the Spirit:

1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.

 

[Nonie]

And here's more about speaking in tongues:

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

6Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

13For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21In the Law it is written:
"Through men of strange tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand[h]comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

 

[music-bnatural-smile]

that's pretty pessimistic. the Bible says that we are fearfully AND WONDERFULLY made. He doesn't say to hate ourselves. Satan is the accuser. Let him do his job of hating all mankind. I don't think that any of us should try to add to what he says. Focusing on what God says about us is all that matters in the end.

Suck= fall short of the glory of God...
quit cryin yall know what I meant of course God loves you and made you beautiful and counted all the hairs on your head, armpits and pubes...
but... we are all sinners, don't forget that... however, I'm glad you guys point out everything that needs to be known
lets just not forget that we all sin equally, thats the point I was trying to make. i hang around with too many guys, hence the harsh language...
hopefully this forum will get used to it... cuz thats me lol

 

[MuseofTroy]

I just read another thread and the question came to me. I'm also curious as to what it takes to be a Jew, Muslim, etc. but that is for another day.

Folks are quick to talk about "other" Christians yet I often wonder, are they Christian? How is that defined for them/you?

Is Christianity in the bloodlines (your granny went to church so you are by default a Christian?)? Is it just proclaiming that "Jesus is your Savior" and nothing else? Is it going to church only on Easter and nothing else?

What makes a person a Christian in your opinion? (Keep in mind, could the person be of another faith if they did all that you say?)

I'll give my answer after some other thoughts are posted.

One would think that after getting saved, you would want to give your ALL for Christ. Christian's doing the bare minimum is why most are no longer a light to the world. The behavior that you see going on in the church is no different than how non-believers conduct themselves. It's quite sad. But to answer the question is that the bare minimum is to believe that Jesus dies for our sins and through him we are redeemed/ made worthy. However most saved Christians that I know strive on a daily basis to improve their lives and try to be as Christ like as possible. You don't just get saved but continue to participate in the same kind of mess. You see a transformation in the person and a desire to do better in order to make our father proud. I'll be honest anyone I'm highly suspicious of any "Christian" who just wants to do the bare minimum. None of us are perfect but we should strive to be better.

Mindset is everything and there are tons of scriptures of how a Christian should conduct themselves in their thought life which impacts your spirit and physical life

· Isa. 26:3 - "the steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace"
· Jere. 17:10 - "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind"
· Jere. 20:12 - "The Lord who seest the mind and the heart"
· Matt. 22:37 - "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength" *
· Rom. 14:5 - "let each man be fully convinced in his own mind"
· I Cor. 2:16 - "we have the mind of Christ"
· Phil. 2:5 - "have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus" *
· Phil. 4:8 - "whatever is true, right, pure...let your mind dwell on these..." *
· Col. 3:2 - "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" *
· Heb. 8:10; 10:16 - "I will put my laws into their minds
· I Pet. 1:13 - "gird your minds for action"
· Rev. 2:23 - "I am He who searches the minds and hearts"
· Titus 3:5 - "regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit"
· I Cor. 2:16 - "you have the mind of Christ"
· Heb. 8:10; 10:16 - "I will put my laws in their hearts"
· Prov. 23:7 - "As a man thinks in his soul, so is he (in behavior)
· I Pet. 1:13 - "gird your minds for action"

 

[MuseofTroy]

in fact, let me rephrase, people as a species suck... Christians better not forget that we're part of the species too LOL

Speak for yourself, but I don't suck. Human beings are flawed but there are some pretty awesome people out there who are the reason why there is still some decency in the world.