christian ? ..

being a christian isn't something you do
it's who you are
in your heart where the real you lives

you aren't a christian like you're a democrat or a skin diver or an accountant

christian is a defining term, describing you
like blue eyes or 27 or 5'10"

a Christ-ian is a follower of Jesus, the Christ
that person has submitted who they are to the authority of another .. Jesus
he now defines who they are
he represents that person before God
he stands in their place in the heavenlies as if that person was right there, in person, right then

so, while a christian 'does' Jesus-things and lives a Jesus-life, because the fruit identifies the tree, the primary issue is that they have been re-created in the image of Jesus, and are new persons

all the dribble about denominations and doctrines and whether you were born in this country or that says absolutely zero about you being a christian ..

thing is, who is your authority ..
who strums your strings
who says 'yea' or 'nay'
who do you turn to when the chips are laid down
who determines your mindset and your behaviour and your attitude

who is your master ..
when you can answer that, you have defined who you are
even if the answer is 'me' ...

peace