What is a Christian?

Since using term Christian in my blog web address I have challenged myself with the following questions.

What does it mean to be a Christian? Who is a Christian? Am I really one of them?

Is a Christian simply any and every person who as a baby was baptised, christened, dunked or dubbed by their parents to be of 'insert denomination here' religion?

Does the simple act of the parents choosing that their baby will be 'made' Christian by the church really make them a Christian?

Is it as simple as filling out the forms for your child and the deed is done? Like ticking a box? A splash of holy water and then a nice lunch? Is that all it takes to secure a place in Heaven?

Does that mean that we should just fly some planes accross areas where non Christians live and drop some holy water over them to make them Christian and to save them from hell, regardless of what they want or how they live? Would that work?

I think not.

Is being Christian about being a good person? This is what many would like to believe. But, I think there are plenty of good athiests out there, plenty of good Muslims and Buddhists, right?

They are good people, but not Christians. So therefore simply being good does not make you Christian either.

So if it is not about ticking a box you are oblivious to when you are a baby and it is not just about being a good person, then there must be more.

I believe that it is about actually living your life as God intended. About being loving and forgiving and faithful. About attending church. About sharing the word of God with others. About serving God by serving others. About living by God's word every day. Not just when you have a bad day, or some stress, or medical problems but on the good days too.

We have all heard of the submarine Christians - I know many - They only surface when they have to. Usually at Easter and Christmas. They are there to tick the 'Church' box before they return to their real life where God and his word has little place. I pray for these people.

My intention is to raise my children in a different way to people such as this. I intend to raise my children with an ongoing religious dialogue. Where God is in our home all the time. I hope not to just call ourselves Christians but live our life following the word of the Lord.

A Christian is one who lives by the bible and the teachings of the church rather than a simple box ticker. This is what I strive to be.

Forgiving and Forgiven. I have forgiven my debtors as God has forgiven me my debts.