Quote (pcgamingred @ Dec 21 2014 10:56am)
Do you have to believe in god to be a Christian? Can you be a Christian for sharing many values/morals with Christians? And not practicing.
Yes
No
To believe in Christ as a Christian is to believe that He is one God that exists in three entities known as the Trinity (father (God), son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit (who is in you) ).
I, personally like to be very clear that the Holy Spirit is not to be referred to as the holy ghost but that's a theological discussion that is hear nor there.
To receive salvation as a Christian, all you have to do is simply recognize and accept that Jesus, the son of God the father (God in the form of a human) died for your sins.
Believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins and you will receive salvation (be saved from Hell and receive heaven/ inherit the earth).
Christianity is not a series of traditions that add up to make you a good person. You can be of good morals and be a good person but the Bible makes it clear that if you are not for Christ, you are against Him. So be sure that you do not think just because you open the door for old women and donate to charity that you will receive salvation because they certainly is not the case for a Christian.
I am not telling you how to live. Simply describing what a Christian believes.
I am a Christian and I am positive that anyone that asks for the Holy Spirit, believes in salvation through Christ and truly truly studies the Bible, they will undoubtedly find concrete evidence to support their faith.
There will be "holes" in the story seemingly that I chalk up to two reasons in general. 1) our lack of knowledge/misinterpretation in the topic in discussion and 2) God is our creator. It is impossible (and designed) for us to be incapable of fully understanding Him.
Number two takes faith. No one will be able to prove it to you fully and no one will be able to dispute it fully to you. That's being fair.
That stance takes faith and that's really it.
You can chose to believe or not to believe.
I won't try to debate all the ins and outs of it with everyone. I will simply lay the ground work and show you where the decision part comes in to play.
If you agree with number two , you believe. If you disagree, you don't believe and it is as simple as that. I have not listed anything that is up for discussion. I just stated what christians believe and where your choice comes in to play
I hope that made sense and I hope everyone that celebrates Christmas does it with a heart for Christ.
Merry Christmas y'all