Recently I saw a conversation in a social media thread, in which a person was accusing a number of religious groups of not being "technically" Christian. The rationale for this claim was that the groups in question didn't adhere to a certain, specific set of tenets, or interpretations which are held by a large number of other groups, generally considered "Christian".
There was of course the usual, pointless back and forth, people talking at each other. But consider this:
Christian, Christ - ian. Meaning (etymologically) related to, belonging to, or after the manner of - Christ.
The Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus' time would have considered themselves "Christian"
No, they didn't recognize the name "Christ." But their religious beliefs, their doctrine was founded on and looking toward the coming of Messiah, the one true God and Savior.
But, they didn't recognize him when he came.
You see, they were so entangled in the minutiae of the rules, policies, doctrine, and interpretation of scripture, that they were neglecting the things which truly mattered.
They were so busy chastising their brethren for failing to be proper followers because they took too many steps on the sabbath, or failed to precisely adhere to this or that law, they forgot to care for the poor, the sick, the widow, the bondsman.
Jesus didn't call sinners to repent, he invited them to follow him. He lifted, he encouraged, he served, he healed, he mourned with those that mourned, he fed the hungry. In fact the only groups he spoke ill of... were the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
In fact Mark Chapter 9 records an instance when his disciples, adopted similar behavior, forbidding a man from casting out devils because he "followeth not us." (Mark 9:38)
To which Jesus responded "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." (Mark 9:39-40).
"Christian" isn't a specific set of rules agreed upon by some group of people. It isn't a club, a dogma, or a church.
There is no organization which is "Christian", but there are Christian people in most every organization.
"Christian" is a person. A person who - to the best of their ability - follows, emulates Jesus Christ.
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35)
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;... For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" (Matt 5:44-47)
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