Re: May only fundamental evangelicals be termed "Christian"?
I have the impression, that fundamental evangelicals tend to reserve the term "Christian" for themselves.
All the others are no "Christians" for them.
They may say things like: "There were 10 people in the room, 5 Catholics and 5 Christians."
Is that right?
I haven't heard any Christians that I know say something like that. More like …...
"There were 10 people in the room, 5 Catholics and 5 Baptists."
I think, referring
generally to "fundamental evangelicals," is a sweeping statement.
I don't think all fundamental evangelists would not only be judgemental as to judge who is a Christian, but that to condemn someone openly too -
wouldn't that be
contradictory to being a fundamentalist? After all, the definition of fundamentalist is to believe in the strict and literal interpretation of the Bible!
Matthew 7
Do Not Judge
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Therefore...…. how can a Christian who doesn't adhere to that teaching, be called a
fundamentalist?
Of course, it is different when we are in a discussion or forum. We are in a debate. Thus, sometimes you see arguments that explain why such and such followers of certain denomination(s) are not considered Christians.....and, usually this verse by Christ is cited:
Matthew 12
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Christians who are spreading the gospels tend not to cite any specific denomination...... but instead stress upon the importance of obedience to God.
But we can expect to hear them mention the importance of not adhering to
practices that goes against the teachings of Christ.
As to referring to "Catholics," don't Catholics refer to themselves as Catholics? When we talk about Christians" in general - do we say, "......
except Catholics and Orthodox, etc..,?"
Of course, we mean all those who believe and follow Christ.
We refer to Catholics as Catholics, because that's what they refer to themselves. Same as referring to a
born-again as
born-again (and not Protestant)!
Do we refer to a Baptist or Methodist as Protestant? Don't we refer to them as Baptist or Methodist when we want to be specific?
