---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christian: One who believes that the New…"
description: "\"Christian: One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/ambrose-bierce-140_christian_christian-one-who-believes-that-the-new_3173955.jpg"
---

#  Christian: One who believes that the New Testament is a…

![“Christian: One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/ambrose-bierce-140_christian_christian-one-who-believes-that-the-new_3173955.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/ambrose-bierce-140_christian_christian-one-who-believes-that-the-new_3173955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/ambrose-bierce-140_christian_christian-one-who-believes-that-the-new_3173955.jpg)

> “Christian: One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.”

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Defines a Christian as someone who follows Christ only when it aligns with personal comfort, highlighting hypocrisy.

**In simple terms:** Selective Christianity.

Key Takeaway

Question personal motives in faith.

Themes

faith hypocrisy morality

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- personal conduct
- community leadership
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical teaching

Key Concepts

ethical relativism religious sincerity

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you practice beliefs consistently?
- How does personal comfort shape moral choices?

A Different Perspective

Faith may be compromised by self-interest.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believes New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes-new-374831/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-believes-465110/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Teachings Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachings-christ-1042366/)

## Related quotes

> [Christian, n.: one who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/christian-n-one-who-believes-that-the-new-testament-is-a-divinely/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [Christian - One who follows the teachings of Christ insofar as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/christian-one-who-follows-the-teachings-of-christ-insofar-as-they-are/)

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> [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/)

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> [“He who believes that new benefits will cause great personages to forget old injuries is deceived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-believes-that-new-benefits-will-cause-great-personages-to/)

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> [He chief reason why the Christian believes in the divine origin of the Bible is that Jesus Christ Himself taught it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/he-chief-reason-why-the-christian-believes-in-the-divine-origin-of/)

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> [Well, I am a Christian who believes that there are certainly many more paths to God other than Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/well-i-am-a-christian-who-believes-that-there-are-certainly-many-more/)

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## More by Ambrose Bierce

> [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/)

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> [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/)

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> [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/)

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> [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/)

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> [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/)

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> [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/)

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> [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/)

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