What does it mean to be a Christian?

The world of Christendom has tried for years to understand what it means to live as a Christian in a world full of sinful evil desires.  It can be a very daunting task for many Christians to even try to figure out what being a Christian means for their own lives.  For me personally, I ask myself everyday what it really means to live as a Christian.

Christianity rose up out of the very followers of Jesus Christ.  When Jesus died on the cross, his disciples took up the very ministry that Jesus Christ preached here on earth.  For centuries, these followers of Jesus have found themselves showing love, compassion, and mercy on those who are in need.  The church has become a home for many people that are broken and lost and need of someone to save them. 

This is the simplest definition and history of what the universal Church of Christ has been a part of.  Whenever you say you’re a Christian that is supposed to identify you as a Christ follower.  Yet, what does that mean?  Does it mean you are elected, or do you have free will?  Does it mean that you are a conservative or liberal, pro-guns or anti-guns, or that you are for war or against war?  Does it mean that you are to take care of the poor, or stand outside the White House protesting against gay rights?  What does being a Christian mean?

When I was in Memphis Tennessee working with a non-profit company, I met a man named Tyrone.  Tyrone was a man who was so deeply broken by the things of this world that he found himself trapped in a world of drugs and hurt.  Yet, when he was asked what it means to be a Christian Tyrone said it’s all about praying to Jesus.  Now, that strikes me as an odd response because he never mentioned anything about that went along with the responses I thought he should have had.  But, maybe he is on to something.  Maybe, Christianity is about a relationship.

Now, I do not agree that prayer alone is important, but I believe a relationship is.  Prayer is an important part in having a relationship with Christ because it’s our communication to God.  Even Jesus believed in a prayerful life that seeks a relationship with God.  Just read the Lord’s Prayer!  Jesus spoke about a God who is holy, who forgave our debts as we forgive others, and who delivers us from the evil that surrounds us.  This is the love of God, that loved us so much that he died for us (John 3:16).

What upsets me about Christianity is that we have to choose a side on a political issue that define us as evangelical Christians or you’re not even a Christian!  Some even go as far as to believe that you must be a Baptist or a Methodist, or even a Nazarene or you’re not a true believer in Christ.  Since when does Christianity become defined by a world class of political power instead of a relationship with the God of the universe?  When has Christianity lost its meaning to go as far as to argue with other Christians about whether they are even going to heaven?  What happened to the love of Christianity?