What is Christianity

[bibleteacher]

Christianity is the teachings that Christ taught the Church that He established 2000 years ago.

The Bible reads that He taught His Church (the 11 Apostles) all truths, and sent His Church to teach all nations, til the end of time.

If a man or woman reject the teachings of the Church that Jesus started, and makes up their own beliefs, and claims their religion to be Christianity, is it possible that their religion could be Christianity?

Examples

Martin Luther rejected Jesus' Church and created the Lutheran religion in the 16th century. Luther's religion contradicts the teachings of the Church that Jesus started; the question arises, Is Jesus' religion Christianity or is Luther's religion Christianity?

The same question applies to:

John Smyth and Thomas Hewlys created the Baptist religion in 1609
Joe Smith created the Mormon religion in 1830
Charles Russel created the JW religion in 1870
We also have the Wesleyans, the AoG, Pentecostals, and the 1000s oif other man-made religions.

Are their religions Christianity, or is Jesus' religion Christianity?

[fanuvmxpx]

Actually Christianity (or in the singular, Christian) is the name given to the martyrs of Christ. You don't even know the origin of the word Christian, why should anyone listen to you?

[bibleteacher]

Actually Christianity (or in the singular, Christian) is the name given to the martyrs of Christ. You don't even know the origin of the word Christian, why should anyone listen to you?

If you ever decide to read a Bible, you'll find it reads:
Acts:11:26:
And they conversed there in the church a whole year: and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.


Christians are the people who joined the Church that Jesus started. Christianity is the teachings given by the CHurch that Jesus started

[fanuvmxpx]

Christians are the people who joined the Church that Jesus started. Christianity is the teachings given by the CHurch that Jesus started

Christian was an insult to followers of Christ. And as you claim Christianity as the origin of the true church, I find it slightly ironic that the Roman Catholic church decided to change its name, and give us silly protestants the 'Protestant/Christian' title...as they slaughtered us for not bowing before man(or its temple made with hands).

[fanuvmxpx]

You are equally ignorant regarding Christian history as you are regarding Scriptures. Its no surprise

LOL. How brainwashed does the Catholic church have you? Have they stored all their filthy history in the Vatican's secret archives? Have all the dirty deeds been erased from history so her sheeple believe a falsehood?

[bibleteacher]

You are equally ignorant regarding Christian history as you are regarding Scriptures. Its no surprise

LOL. How brainwashed does the Catholic church have you? Have they stored all their filthy history in the Vatican's secret archives? Have all the dirty deeds been erased from history so her sheeple believe a falsehood?

You are another person who does not exhibit the ability to reason, and I'm not going to waste any more time on you.

[fanuvmxpx]

You are another person who does not exhibit the ability to reason, and I'm not going to waste any more time on you.

Probably wise, the free indeed (in Christ) cannot be so easily brainwashed.

[broach972]

Christianity is the teachings that Christ taught the Church that He established 2000 years ago.

The Bible reads that He taught His Church (the 11 Apostles) all truths, and sent His Church to teach all nations, til the end of time.

If a man or woman reject the teachings of the Church that Jesus started, and makes up their own beliefs, and claims their religion to be Christianity, is it possible that their religion could be Christianity?

Examples

Martin Luther rejected Jesus' Church and created the Lutheran religion in the 16th century. Luther's religion contradicts the teachings of the Church that Jesus started; the question arises, Is Jesus' religion Christianity or is Luther's religion Christianity?

The same question applies to:

John Smyth and Thomas Hewlys created the Baptist religion in 1609
Joe Smith created the Mormon religion in 1830
Charles Russel created the JW religion in 1870
We also have the Wesleyans, the AoG, Pentecostals, and the 1000s oif other man-made religions.

Are their religions Christianity, or is Jesus' religion Christianity?

Bibleteacher,
I would like to offer some random thoughts on your OP...

I think the more important question would be "What is a Christian?"  Perhaps we should start there.

I am a recent convert to the Catholic faith and my journey was quite long...ten years in the making.  History was one of the factors that pulled me to the Catholic faith, and as a history major and teacher, the history of the faith continues to fascinate me.

In the beginning, there had to be one faith and ultimately one Church.  I cannot imagine that Jesus intended something different.  It is important to remember though that the faith wasn't handed to the world in a nice and neat package.  The New Testament wasn't even formulated until 400 years after the Resurrection!  Doctrines had to develop over time and many individuals (The Church Fathers) and councils had a role in this.

As for the Reformation...now that is one loaded subject...

Some things to think about...

[DCR]

Doctrines had to develop over time...

Are you sure that doctrines "had to develop over time"?  I always thought the faith was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

[trifecta]

Good point DCR.  Development of doctrine is a sticky issue.   We have some different expressions of the faith today, but the faith itself must be the original one. 

[broach972]

Good point DCR.  Development of doctrine is a sticky issue.   We have some different expressions of the faith today, but the faith itself must be the original one. 

I seriously doubt that the Doctrine of the Trinity was immediately understood and well defined after the Resurrection.  This is just one example.  Christ came, He died, and then He rose again.  This they did know.  I am sure that at some point in time, the first Christians asked themselves, "Now, what does all of this mean?"  The faith was once and for all delivered to the saints.  Again, the Bible wasn't faxed from heaven after Christ ascended into Heaven.  There had to be some development of doctrine over a period of time.  If this is not the case, then why is Paul so important for us or better yet, why should we pay him any attention at all.  I guess we can throw out the writings of the Church Fathers as well.

[trifecta]

Broach,

You have a point but you take it too far.  I chose my words carefully (not that I always do ).  I think the folks at Pentacost had a good understanding of the Trinity at that point.   Being that the sign of cross comes early on in church history.  I am guessing that, yes, they had faith in the Trinity.  Now, did they understand it as we do today, probably not.  In fact, maybe having seen the Holy Spirit work so powerfully, they understood it better than we do!   This is what I mean by "expressions of the faith."  They inately understood the Trinity while we do more because of history. 

But the RCC view of development of doctrine goes further.  It justifies the universal authority of the Pope of Rome by saying that it took time to develop.  The problem here is now what was true in the early church (bishops are equal) is not true of the later church (Bishop of Rome is superior).  We can say that the early church did not have the understanding of the Trinity that we do today, but we cannot say opposed the idea of the Trinity.  We can't say what was right in the early church (bishops equal) is wrong today.  That would go against the once-for-all thing.
 

[mclees8]

Christianity is the teachings that Christ taught the Church that He established 2000 years ago.

The Bible reads that He taught His Church (the 11 Apostles) all truths, and sent His Church to teach all nations, til the end of time.

If a man or woman reject the teachings of the Church that Jesus started, and makes up their own beliefs, and claims their religion to be Christianity, is it possible that their religion could be Christianity?

Examples

Martin Luther rejected Jesus' Church and created the Lutheran religion in the 16th century. Luther's religion contradicts the teachings of the Church that Jesus started; the question arises, Is Jesus' religion Christianity or is Luther's religion Christianity?

The same question applies to:

John Smyth and Thomas Hewlys created the Baptist religion in 1609
Joe Smith created the Mormon religion in 1830
Charles Russel created the JW religion in 1870
We also have the Wesleyans, the AoG, Pentecostals, and the 1000s oif other man-made religions.

Are their religions Christianity, or is Jesus' religion Christianity?

Luther did not reject the RCC He still believed they were the church. He was only trying to right a wrong. He recognised what was not of God and pointed it out 
His first intention was not to start a rebellion 

As the RCC was at the time and for even long before Luther they were not living up to what Jesus started but became worldly and corrupt. In fact the papacy itself was born of corrupt bishops of Rome.

Next there are many religions in the world. Believing in Christ unto salvation must never be reduced to just another religion. in fact it is not religion at all but Just was simply the truth.  Spiritual truth. When it only becomes outward forms it becomes just another religion.

[mclees8]

Christianity is the teachings that Christ taught the Church that He established 2000 years ago.

The Bible reads that He taught His Church (the 11 Apostles) all truths, and sent His Church to teach all nations, til the end of time.

If a man or woman reject the teachings of the Church that Jesus started, and makes up their own beliefs, and claims their religion to be Christianity, is it possible that their religion could be Christianity?

Examples

Martin Luther rejected Jesus' Church and created the Lutheran religion in the 16th century. Luther's religion contradicts the teachings of the Church that Jesus started; the question arises, Is Jesus' religion Christianity or is Luther's religion Christianity?

The same question applies to:

John Smyth and Thomas Hewlys created the Baptist religion in 1609
Joe Smith created the Mormon religion in 1830
Charles Russel created the JW religion in 1870
We also have the Wesleyans, the AoG, Pentecostals, and the 1000s oif other man-made religions.

Are their religions Christianity, or is Jesus' religion Christianity?

Luther did not reject the RCC He still believed they were the church. He was only trying to right a wrong. He recognised what was not of God and pointed it out 
His first intention was not to start a rebellion 

As the RCC was at the time and for even long before Luther they were not living up to what Jesus started but became worldly and corrupt. In fact the papacy itself was born of corrupt bishops of Rome.

Next there are many religions in the world. Believing in Christ unto salvation must never be reduced to just another religion. in fact it is not religion at all but Just was simply the truth.  Spiritual truth. When it only becomes outward forms it becomes just another religion.

What is Christianity? That's a good question. Is Christianity today what Christianity was when believers were first given the name  Christian.  It certainly is a very loose term today. To quote one pastor people believe they are an American he is a Christian. It shrouded in much deception and confussion so much so that the world at large has no idea what a Christin is.  So it ins'nt what is Christianity, Which is just an umbrella term for many religious ideals and beliefs, but who is a true follower of Christ. Who truly walks in salvation? Don't look to the corpperate church so much, but look deeply at yourself

[wayne]

Christians are the people who joined the Church that Jesus started. Christianity is the teachings given by the CHurch that Jesus started

Christian was an insult to followers of Christ. And as you claim Christianity as the origin of the true church, I find it slightly ironic that the Roman Catholic church decided to change its name, and give us silly protestants the 'Protestant/Christian' title...as they slaughtered us for not bowing before man(or its temple made with hands).

ouch. look out! the pope is watching