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Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 4:02:48 AM
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Little_1
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Please define Christianity in one short sentence?
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 4/1/2008 4:22:40 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 4:50:53 AM
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oldmethuselah
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Well Christianity is SUPPOSED to be simple enough for a child to understand, and profound enough to engage the wonder of our best minds, so the purpose of the OP should determine whether the restriction "one short sentence" is genuine or not.
For example, on a much SIMPLER plane, it's rather like saying
QUESTION
"define the volume of revolution of the trumpet-like solid formed when the profile curve y = 1/x is rotated around the x axis between the limits 1 and infinity"
ANSWER
pi
Now, although the above answer is true, some of my calculus students would prefer a bit more explanation, and not feel satisfied unless I provided it. 
So...
ASSUMING for a moment, that the enquiry in the OP is genuine, the following three "short sentences" are offered as three examples...
SHORTEST
One twentieth century theologian (Karl Barth I think) was asked by the press,
"Professor, after a lifetime of study, what is the most profound truth you have found"
Barth's answer:
"Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"
MOST CONTEMPORARY
ANOTHER song, used in our kids program, (many readers will be quite aware of it):
"He came from Heaven to Earth to show the Way, from the Earth to the cross OUR debt to pay, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord we lift your name on High"
OLDEST
The following poem is attributed to ancient church writers:
"That Thou shouldst love me as Thou do, and be the God Thou Art, is Mystery to my Intellect, and Music to my Heart!"
< Message edited by oldmethuselah -- 4/1/2008 5:05:18 AM >
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 4:59:52 AM
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Little_1
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Although a vast subject - the OP of this question is to sum Christianity up briefly and precisely as best as one can in a single sentence. It is not to explain the path of salvation, etc to non believers - just for Christians to give a little thought to how they would define their faith in a single sentence - Nothing more and nothing less, e.g.
quote:
Jesus loves me this I know for Bible tells me so.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 4/1/2008 5:06:09 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 5:04:55 AM
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oldmethuselah
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Little_1
Although a vast subject - the OP of this question is to sum Christianity up briefly and precisely as best as one can in a single sentence. It is not to explain the path of salvation, etc to non believers - just for Christians to give a little thought to how they would define their faith in a single sentence - Nothing more and nothing less, e.g.
quote:
Jesus loves me this I know for Bible tells me so.
Both Barth's and the Ancients answer fall into this category, and actually, I just noticed the one provided at the bottom of YOUR very own post ALSO does a pretty fair job (I was lost but Jesus found me)
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 5:07:37 AM
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Little_1
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quote:
ORIGINAL: oldmethuselah
quote:
ORIGINAL: Little_1
Although a vast subject - the OP of this question is to sum Christianity up briefly and precisely as best as one can in a single sentence. It is not to explain the path of salvation, etc to non believers - just for Christians to give a little thought to how they would define their faith in a single sentence - Nothing more and nothing less, e.g.
quote:
Jesus loves me this I know for Bible tells me so.
Both Barth's and the Ancients answer fall into this category, and actually, I just noticed the one provided at the bottom of YOUR very own post ALSO does a pretty fair job (I was lost but Jesus found me)
You know oldmethuselah - I didn't even think about that. Thank you for pointing this out to me. 
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 7:07:42 AM
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granolagirl
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I would say Christianity is believing what Jesus said to be The Truth and following His teachings/commands as best as you can.
This statement would definitely need a lot of further explaining to those who are not yet in the church family though.
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 7:41:52 AM
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Little_1
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quote:
ORIGINAL: granolagirl
I would say Christianity is believing what Jesus said to be The Truth and following His teachings/commands as best as you can.......
Not sure what you mean by 'following Jesus' teachings as best as you can' granolagirl. Sadly, this was the trap the Galatian church fell into, i.e. they tried to live good lives in their own strength and not by the power of the Holy Spirit and the results were defeat and disolusionment:
Galatians 3:2-4
2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
So I'm sorry - but I cannot support the statement you have made granolagirl  but please check out the link below and hopefully this may be of help:
http://forums.crosswalk.com/Are_Christians_denying_the_power_of_the_Holy_Spirit%3f/m_3264594/mpage_1/tm.htm#3264594
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 4/1/2008 9:01:46 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 7:44:26 AM
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SonInMe1
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From: my mom by God
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The commandments are summed upo in these two...to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.
That...is my one sentence.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 10:18:32 AM
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real58
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Followers of Jesus
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 4:32:46 PM
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frankman
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One short sentence, so here does. Christianity is having a personal relationship with God through faith in a crucified, yet resurrected Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
_____________________________
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8 Greetings- Frankman
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 9:15:55 PM
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RJR_fan
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From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
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quote:
Please define Christianity in one short sentence?
Read the Apostle's, Nicene, and Chalcedonian creeds for starters.
_____________________________
The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 9:40:45 PM
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URForgiven
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Christianity is the restoration of the Spirit of God within man.
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/1/2008 11:06:12 PM
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Walker311
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Losing self completely in Him.
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/2/2008 12:52:02 AM
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PaladinWithGun2
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The acceptance that we cannot find happiness in life until we realize our lives do not belong to us; we have been bought out our slavery by the priceless coin of Christ's blood.
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/2/2008 12:55:15 AM
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1love1God1way
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A Christian is one who emanates Christ is all they do.
_____________________________
-Ben-
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/2/2008 6:57:07 AM
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small_creation
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From: midwest
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quote:
ORIGINAL: granolagirl
I would say Christianity is believing what Jesus said to be The Truth and following His teachings/commands as best as you can.
This statement would definitely need a lot of further explaining to those who are not yet in the church family though.
GranolaGirl, I think your personal definition was fine and that you wrote it "as best as one can," which was what the OP originallly asked for.
j
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/2/2008 8:03:28 AM
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Little_1
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Walker311
Losing self completely in Him.
Walker - just noticed your post is along the same lines as mine, i.e.
quote:
Surrender to the Lord Jesus -- Little_1
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Define Christianity? - 4/2/2008 9:18:38 AM
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Little_1
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I realise what you mean now granolagirl - thank you. 
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 4/2/2008 9:28:41 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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The Holy Bible defines what is christianity: 
You have to begin from that point. It's not what you did or what you do; 
