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Can you be a bad Christian?

Everyone who has been born of God does not sin (1 Jn 5:18). If you love evil, you're evil. If you love righteousness, you're his (Mt 7:20). There is no sort of kind of pregnant and there is no sort of kind of a Christian. You're in Christ or you're not and his wrath abides on you (Jn 3:36). Better get it right. Ge 7:16

See:

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards

"We're gonna need a bigger boat." ~ Brody, Jaws

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "This is a very important point to be discussed here on TOL, I think. When Christians live in a country surrounded by atheists or idolaters or cultists what is the testimony they should give to those around them that are not believers yet? Tell them, "Peace, Peace"?"

That's right. Global warming isn't their biggest problem. Their biggest problem is that the wrath of God abides on them (Jn 3:36). They are a vile, despicable bug that God dangles over the pit of hell (Jn 3:36). He need only to let go of their dirty carcass (Re 3:1, Ro 8:10, 2 Co 4:3, 1 Co 1:18, Jer 21:8, Ro 7:9).

Sidebar: Nice drawing--but God (not the devil [Mt 25:41]) does the torturing for eternity (Mt 25:46).

Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "You have a repellent view of God and Christianity."

If God is not just, then God is not good (Deut. 32:4, Ps 7:11).

"The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood." ~ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Well either John contradicted himself or he is not saying what you think he is saying. I would think the latter...1 Jn_1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 Jn_2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous..."

He does not contradict himself.

OUTLINE

In 1 John there are three definitions of God: God is light, God is love, and God is life, which I have used to form the three major divisions of this epistle.

I. God Is Light (1:5), Chapters 1:1–2:2

A. Prologue, Chapter 1:1–2

B. How the Little Children May Have Fellowship with God, Chapters 1:3–2:2

1. By Walking in Light, Chapter 1:3–7

2. By Confessing Sin, Chapter 1:8–10

3. By the Advocacy of Christ, Chapter 2:1–2

II. God Is Love (4:8), Chapters 2:3–4:21

A. How the Dear Children May Have Fellowship with Each Other, Chapter 2:3–14 (By Walking in Love)

B. The Dear Children Must Not Love the World, Chapter 2:15–28

C. How the Dear Children May Know Each Other and Live Together, Chapters 2:29–4:21

1. The Father’s Love for His Children, Chapters 2:29–3:3

2. The Two Natures of the Believer in Action, Chapter 3:4–24

3. Warning Against False Teachers, Chapter 4:1–6

4. God Is Love: Little Children Will Love Each Other, Chapter 4:7–21

III. God Is Life (5:12), Chapter 5

A. Victory Over the World, Chapter 5:1–5

B. Assurance of Salvation, Chapter 5:6–21

McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 John) (electronic ed., Vol. 56, p. xiv). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Both! You can behave in an unChristian manner, but you can never be an unChristian!"

Someone described Christians like birds and the wicked like frogs. A Christian flies--lives up high and a frog lives at the lower level in the mud. A bird may temporarily hit the ground but he will repent and fly back up again. A frog can jump a little but he lands back where he lives.

See:

The Righteous vs the Wicked

Can you be a bad Christian?