Marakorpa
Member
It seems to me that we're loosing sight of what a Christian is.
Can anyone that believes in God call themselves a Christian? NO
Does one have to believe in Jesus? YES
Are there any specific doctrine one MUST believe in? Yes
Are we supposed to behave in any particular way? Yes
Are we supposed to do anything particular? Yes.
What makes a Christian be a Christian?
Christianity is not a title it is a way of life. You opening statement is very true but that is because Satan has blinded people to the truth. Satan would be pleased with the human race and how it has degenerated into its present condition.
If you think about it, there can only be one truth, no matter what the subject and this includes God's Word, so, somewhere in the 44,000 "Christian" religions there can only be one that is living according to God's Word as closely as they can.
Many people think that as long as you call yourself a Christian and, maybe, go to Church a couple of times a year you will attain salvation. This, of course, is not how Jesus and his apostles described things.
14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works?+ That faith cannot save him, can it?+ 15 If any brothers or sisters are lacking clothing* and enough food for the day, 16 yet one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it?+ 17 So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.+ From 2 Timothy.
If we look back at the history in the Bible of those that were not of the faithful ones were saved when millions were wiped out you many see a parallel with what is in store for mankind in the near future.
At the time of the world flood some estimates put the world population at between 750 million and 3 billion people. The Bible does not say how many there were it only described the decadence of those times and the faithful family of Noah. However, the point is that only Noah and his family survived because they had the Truth and obeyed God's laws. The rest of the world population was destroyed and they will have no resurrection or hope for everlasting life on the coming Paradise Earth.
God did not allow for some that may have thought they were believers in the almighty God and Creator, He knew their hearts and found that all were wicked.
Look at the way Jehovah protected the Israelites against massive odds when armies tried to destroy the Chosen Race. It was only those that were faithful to God's Laws that were protected.
Sodom and Gomorrah is another example where Lot pleaded with God to allow him to find an ever decreasing number of "Good" people and Lot could find none. The cities were totally destroyed and the wicked ones therein. Even Lot's wife disobeyed God and died.
Jehovah wiped out thousands of Egyptians in the sea as they tried to catch the departing Israelites.
And eventually, with the Jews not following God's Laws, God sent his promised ransom sacrifice to die for the sins of all men, of course, we have to earn that offering, it is not automatic that everyone in now sinless, we are all sinners but many have the opportunity to become a faithful servant of Jehovah and seek dedication to Him and serve him earnestly as a Christian.
The Bible clearly describes what it is to be Christian, and it condemns the world of Christendom, all false religion. Things that seem to be common in these end times like man loving money instead of God, Immorality such as homosexuality and sex outside proper marriage. God hates liars and the Churches are promoted by liars and lies by those who are the hard workers for Satan as he blinds the mind of the world population.
It is all there in the "Workshop Manual for Christians", The Holy Bible, as Jehovah has caused the writings and He is the God of truth alone.