What’s the point of being a Christian if you don’t follow Christ’s teachings?

[smølf]

What’s the point of calling yourself a Christian if you don’t follow Christ’s teachings?

When 9 out of 10 who claim to be Christians hold beliefs and opinions that are in direct conflict with the clear teachings of the Bible, it shows they are following their own ideas rather than Christ. So what’s the point then?

If true, Christ will not know of them. And if not true, then what’s the point anyway?

[Wuai201]

It's temptation because it's desired. Christians have to overcome temptations, some don't because they like it, some struggle with it, so you might see their mistakes. We're not perfect but striving to be. Even Paul was struggling, but he overcame it. As long as we feel bad about sinning, it's a chance to repent. Then you have other people who say their Christian, because it makes them money, their inner circles are Christians and they want to accepted 🤷🏽‍♀️ if your hearts not in it, overtime the more you show you don't care.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Christianity is the most popular religion on earth, and depending on where you live, it’s also the most powerful and influential religion. Being associated with that religion means being associated with that power, and you’d be surprised how much people will do for the illusion of power.

[BCRanger10]

Which Christians and which teachings? I'm not saying I disagree with you, but when there are 40,000 different churches (and counting) which all claim to be Christian and to follow the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, it's hard to find a consensus.

[smølf]

Whatever Jesus and the apostles taught in the Bible, essentially sola scriptura, and without contradictions, since anything that conflicts with other scriptures cannot be true.

Example, some say the Bible doesn't speak about homosexuality, but really speaks about pedophilia, but that is a lie, a contradiction of numerous scriptures. Just to give an example that is not mainstream and most will agree is wrong, except for a very fringe minority.

[BCRanger10]

Well, see, that's where the problem comes back in. I, as a Catholic, do not accept "sola scriptura". A common objection to the Bible is that it contradicts itself. If you go strictly and rigidly by the Bible, you'll run into problems and there are many reasons why that is. For one thing, that concept itself is not in the Bible. For another, you run the risk of reading it in a contemporary vernacular understanding and you lose nuance, or you can neglect the styles of writing, speaking, and thinking of the times in which the books of the Bible were written. And that's to say nothing of the languages that were spoken in those days. And then, you also run the risk of reading passages in isolation, which leads to SUPPOSED contradictions. That and theological inconsistency. And, of course, like I said, 40,000 different churches (and counting).

This doesn't mean I don't believe the Bible, because I do. It just means that the Bible cannot be the first, last, and only word.

[smølf]

If the Bible is God’s word, then it cannot contradict itself, because “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2). So either it is true and consistent, or it is not from God.

Scripture itself testifies that it is the sole standard. Paul wrote: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If Scripture fully equips, what more is needed?

Jesus also made it clear: “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). He never said tradition, councils, or institutions were truth. When confronted by Satan, Jesus did not appeal to tradition or interpretation, he simply said, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). That shows the scriptures were his final authority.

As for contradictions, the only “contradictions” arise from human interpretation or from reading texts in isolation, not from the inspired text itself. Peter warned of those who “twist the Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). That does not make the scriptures contradictory, but proves the danger of adding human ideas.

So the choice is simple, either accept the Bible as the consistent, inspired word of God and final authority, or say it is not God’s word. There is no middle ground.

[mysteriousNicholas]

It's as valid a question as subscribing to or adhering to anything: you know, in some quarters they may say it's fraud to a degree, in content of "pretending to be or claiming to be something one is not" lol 😆 😔 or even "masquerading" as

[strateguy632]

Wrong because christianity is a faith. Source book ephesians chapter one and book gal. 2,16

Fulfilled jer. 31,33.

[jshm2]

Because Jesus was not a Christian, nor were his parents, or half-brothers.

In fact even the word didn't exist until at least 40 years after Jesus.

So it's a pretentious title at best.