What is the difference between a professing and a non-professing Christian with regards to their faith, beliefs, etc?
score:4
The word professing means "to declare openly". So a "professing Christian" is one who declares their faith openly. This leads to the conclusion that the opposite of a professing Christian is one who does not announce his or her faith. They may believe and practice their Christianity in private.
Christianity Today recently divided Christians into five categories: Active, Professing, Liturgical, Private and Cultural. Page 4 of the article gives the characteristics of each type. (Not all would consider every one of those five to be true Christians).
Not all those who profess Christianity necessarily actually adhere to its beliefs. This has led some to adopt the term "professing Christians" for those who outwardly declare their belief while not actually adhering to it. There is some support for this usage in the dictionary definition given above. In that case "professing Christians" are contrasted with "true Christians", meaning those who practice their belief as well as declaring it. True Christians (in this usage) may also actually profess their faith.
Upvote:3
The distinction is not between professing christians and non-professing Christians, but between professing Christians and non Christians. The idea of professing is using your mouth to say words that identify you as a Christian.
The term professing Christian is often used in contexts where the actual status of a persons faith or beliefs are in doubt. A person might claim to be a Christian in name, but if it is not a genuine confession of the heart, their life might not show any evidence of their faith being lived out. When somebodies life does not show any evidence that they actually believe what they profess, this label might apply.
Bob is a professing Christian, but you'd never know it from his behavior at work.
Confusingly, it can also have a different more positive connotation. This usage is more rare and you will have to listen to contextual clues in the conversation to know if it is used this way. Some people will use this term as a way to affirm something positive about a person's beliefs, specifically that they are open and honest about them.
Bob is such a great neighbor. He's a professing Christian and has such a caring family.
The alternative is that somebody who does not profess even to be a Christian probably does profess to be something else. Whatever they claim to be, that is their profession. A person could be a "professing Buddhist" or "professing Atheist" as well.
More post
- 📝 What is the evidence that suggests that the Apostle Paul was married?
- 📝 Is there a Christian sect that believes only The New Testament and only Christ is God and The Whole Trinity exists in Him?
- 📝 Do any Christian denominations have any policies to prevent nepotism?
- 📝 Why did the devil tempt Eve first?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence that would indicate where exactly the ark of the covenant is now located?
- 📝 How do I interpret Joshua 10?
- 📝 Are there any Biblical allusions to St. Raphael or Uriel outside of Tobit?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for tithing money instead of agricultural produce or animals?
- 📝 If the Pope were to commit suicide would he go to hell?
- 📝 What does the Anglican Church teach about being born again?
- 📝 Was Charles Haddon Spurgeon a five-point Calvinist?
- 📝 Is there a commandment to love your parents?
- 📝 What is a Catechism and when and how did they originate
- 📝 What is an overview of criteria used by different denominations to identify authentic prophets?
- 📝 Was tithing 10% required or encouraged by the early church?
- 📝 If someone with no exposure to the Bible / Christianity were to spend 1hr reading the Bible, what passage(s) would you point them to?
- 📝 What did Jesus write on the ground?
- 📝 Philosophical proofs that God must be triune?
- 📝 What does it means INRI in Jesus Cross?
- 📝 What, historically, was the stance of the Catholic Church about the duty to obey non-Christian governments?
- 📝 From the literal perspective, the truth whispered in the ear, are we literally to proclaim that truth from the roofs?
- 📝 What specific thing in the Bible separates the Old Testament from the New Testament?
- 📝 What is the origin of closing one's eyes during prayer?
- 📝 Who is being referred to in [Numbers 24:9]?
- 📝 Does Christianity provide the right elements for democracy?
- 📝 Were Adam and Eve ever given the permission by God to procreate?
- 📝 Why was Jehu considered a "bad" king of Israel?
- 📝 What would a person need to be able to do to be a saint while he was yet alive?
- 📝 What is the Rule of Prayer?
- 📝 Who are the people who attempts to enter heaven but aren't able?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is the difference between a professing and a non-professing Christian with regards to their faith, beliefs, etc?
- 📝 What is the difference between a Christian and a Messianic Jew?
- 📝 What is the difference between the Christian and the Jewish calculation of Anno Mundi?
- 📝 What is the difference between Christian Hedonism and Utilitarianism?
- 📝 What is the difference between the Jewish celebration of Passover and the Christian celebration of Easter?
- 📝 What is the difference between a missionary and an apologist when it comes to proselytizing for the Christian faith?
- 📝 What is the difference between Evangelical and Protestant?
- 📝 What is the difference between Reformed and Presbyterian
- 📝 What is the difference between 'Biblical' and 'Systematic' theology?
- 📝 What is the Difference Between ROCOR-MP and ROCOR-A (ROCA)
- 📝 What was the difference between the Pharisees and Sadducees?
- 📝 What is the difference between icons and idols in churches that permit icons?
- 📝 What is the difference between the doctrines of "Perseverance of the Saints" and "Eternal Security?"
- 📝 What is the difference between "infallible" and "inerrant"?
- 📝 What is the difference between "catholicism" and "catholic"?
- 📝 What is the difference between a pastor, a priest, and a minister?
- 📝 What is the difference between justification and sanctification?
- 📝 What is the difference between a Bible College and a Seminary?
- 📝 What is the difference between classical and revised dispensationalism?
- 📝 What are the differences between the roles of husband and wife in a Christian marriage?
- 📝 What is the difference between man's soul and spirit?
- 📝 What is the difference between "Catechism" and "Canon Law" in Catholicism?
- 📝 What is the difference between a covenant and a contract?
- 📝 What is the difference between holiness and righteousness?
- 📝 What is the difference between an Apostolic Exhortation and an Encyclical Letter?
- 📝 What is the difference between Apollinarianism and Eutychianism?
- 📝 What is the difference between being filled by the Holy Spirit and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit?
- 📝 What is the difference between the Amish and Mennonites?
- 📝 What is the difference between baptism of the Holy Spirit and receiving the Holy Spirit?
- 📝 What is the difference between "called" and "chosen"?