Definition(s) Of A Christian?

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='abercius24' post='1361597' date='Aug 18 2007, 12:30 AM']As Hebrews 12 explains, a priest cannot be a priest if he does not have a sacrifice to offer. Protestant Christians believe they are not obligated to offer sacrifice because Christ's sacrifice is sufficient. But again, how can they be living out their duty as members of the General Priesthood of Believers if they do not offer sacrifice? The fact is they do not live out that duty in its fullest.[/quote]

Protestants don't have the Eucharistic sacrifice, but anyone can offer the sacrifice of their heart:

"The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." -Ps 51:17

Hence, all Christians believe in the same priesthood of believers, but for Catholics and Orthodox, it is further emphasized by the ordained priesthood.

[quote name='adt6247' post='1361784' date='Aug 18 2007, 10:32 AM']I'm sorry -- no baptism, no Christianity.

I'd be willing to extend this further -- if you do not believe everything stated in the Nicaean Creed (with or without the "filioque" -- take your pick), you aren't Christian. Those are the most BASIC tenants of the Christian faith.[/quote]

Well, the Apostle's Creed is even more basic

What about the Baptism of Desire? Clearly, any Christian who hasn't been baptized would desire Baptism if they knew the true teaching about it.

[Aloysius]

Baptism of Desire is not to be presumed in anyone; nor is it to be speculated about except post-mortum. The idea of Baptism of Desire is that they had no chance before they died, so God applied the effects of baptism because of their desire so that when they die they are not damned.

God does not apply the effects of baptism willy nilly to anyone who desires them right away; otherwise, there'd be no need to baptize anyone who already desired it. no one is a Christian, prior to their death, who has not been baptized.

[adt6247]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1362607' date='Aug 19 2007, 03:19 AM']Well, the Apostle's Creed is even more basic smile.gif[/quote]
There were plenty of gnostic sects that no one could consider Christian that had no qualms with the apostles creed. The Nicaean creed has been the standard since, oh, Nicaea. You can deny the divinity of Christ and the Godhood of the Trinity accept the apostles' creed, and those are both very basic tenants of Christianity.

I think you mistake "basic" for "simple". Basic implies, at least, the core, at the base. The Apostles creed is more simple but less basic.

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1362607' date='Aug 19 2007, 03:19 AM']What about the Baptism of Desire? Clearly, any Christian who hasn't been baptized would desire Baptism if they knew the true teaching about it.[/quote]
Baptism of desire is for those who actually wish to be baptized, but died before they were able. If you believe Christian baptism is unnecessary for salvation, you're simply wrong, and do not desire it.

Why do many Catholics bend over backwards trying to come up with ways that other faiths might be salvific or valid? The fact is, they aren't. There is no salvation outside the church; if someone who isn't explicitly Catholic makes it to heaven, it's because:

1) They are in some way Catholic (baptized, and behave the best they know how)
2) 100% ignorant of the gospel, and they live life according to the natural law to the best of their abilities, AND before their death God gives them sanctifying grace in some unknown and miraculous way
3) They were faithful Jews before the coming of Christ
4) They had the sincere intent of becoming Catholic, and died beforehand.

All men, including you and I, deserve hell. That's just the way it is. We're sinful, wretched human beings! We reject God's love daily. We deserve, in turn, to be rejected by Him. Protestants in turn reject God's church, in a very conscious and definite way. That's certainly a mortal sin. How can one get to heaven with a mortal sin on their soul? They lack the sacramental graces necessary to absolve a mortal sin. If they reject His church on Earth, why would they not also reject it in heaven?