Thank you, Contendah,
You have answered my question. You are NOT a Christian believer. I am not sure what you are; but, from your answers below -- you are NOT a Christian believer.
You say, "Thomas Jefferson was Christian non-believer. He belived (sic) in the existence of Jesus and believed strongly that civilized man should try to emulate him. TJ disbelieved in all the supernatural crap that is attributed to Jesus."
No, according to that description you have given us -- Jefferson would not be a Christian believer. He would have been exactly as I was until I was fifty years old, and as millions of others are -- who believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, maybe even believe He is the Son of God -- but, have not yet become Christ Followers.
In other words, they wear the Christian hat -- for whatever reason. But, they do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. As I said, I was in that condition until I was fifty years old. But, praise God, since then I am a Christian believer and will spend eternity in the presence of God.
Then, you declare, "He even (secretly, while in office) made his own bible, called the Jefferson Bible, http://articles.latimes.com/20...05/local/me-beliefs5 "
No, he did not make his own Bible. He merely did what many wayward denominations and churches do today -- he took the true Bible, and by cut and paste, he cherry picked the parts he liked and discarded the rest. Why do you think we have so many different denominations and misled churches today? They cherry pick the parts of Scripture which fit their predetermined theology -- and use only that. Not a Jefferson Bible -- A CHERRY PICKED BIBLE.
Next, you declare, "There are many Christ followers out there who do not believe in the diety (sic) of Jesus but try to follow his example. I was even one of those for a while before I admitted my non-belief to myself."
Any person, or church, which denies the deity of Jesus Christ IS NOT CHRISTIAN. You say that you deny the deity of Jesus Christ; then YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN. It is as simple as that.
You declare, "If one is going to emulate some other being, I think Gandhi would be a better choice. He actually did exist."
Now, we are getting down to the nitty gritty, to where the rubber meets the road. You are denying that Jesus Christ even exists?
Need I say more? You do not believe that Jesus Christ exists! Then, most likely you do not believe that God exists. Therefore, welcome to the ranks of the church of atheism, the church of NOTHING. Your declarations have just made you a charter member. Say hello to Richard Dawkins for me.
Finally, you tell us, "When I used the term "believer," it was within a frame of reference that I should have explained for those not familiar with the New Testament use of the term "believer." An example is found in Acts 5:14: "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." See I Tim. 4:12, also.
"Believers" and "believer" are used as synonyms for followers of Christ or "Christians." Thus, it is unnecessary to use both "Christian" and "believer(s)" to identify such persons. Hence the "redundancy." Similarly, when the New Testament speaks of one who has "believed," that is a way of saying that he has become a Christian. See Acts 8:13 & 17:12."
That is so true, a person who, by the grace of God, has confessed faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) as the preexisting Son of God (John 1:1) and in His virgin birth, His atoning death, resurrection, and ascension back into heaven, where He is interceding continually for all believers -- IS A CHRISTIAN BELIEVER.
However, since you have just denied all of this in your belief system -- YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN BELIEVER.
On the other hand, a person can BELIEVE in atheism, in pagan religions, in New Age religions, in cult religions, etc. All of these people are BELIEVERS; they are just not Christian Believers -- and therefore, do not have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Contendah, thank you for clarifying the issue of your belief or non-belief system. Now that we know you are an atheist, we can respond to you as we would any other atheist. Or, are you going to tell us you are a Mormon -- or a Jehovah's Witness? But, not a problem, if either of those were my religion, I would not admit it either.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
