who is a Christian?

Projection- "A defense mechanism in which the individual attributes to other people impulses and traits that he himself has but cannot accept. It is especially likely to occur when the person lacks insight into his own impulses and traits."

Matthew 7:3-4
And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? [4] How can you think of saying, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?

The first definition comes from the field of psychology. The second from Jesus. You see a lot of projection being used today. It is especially plentiful when Christianity is criticized in the public arena. I will look at some examples this week.

To introduce this whole series, let’s start with a definition of "Christian."

Christian- Someone who trusts in Jesus as their Lord and Savior and responds in obedience to his teachings.

When a person calls herself, “Christian,” this is a self-identifying label more than anything else. One is not born Christian. One becomes a Christian through trust in Jesus, made evident by how that person lives their life. Christian behavior is not a mystery. There are clear teachings of Jesus in the Bible, as well as the model of his life. So, in a real sense, someone doesn’t tell you they are a Christian; you can see that for yourself. No one can lay claim to trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior and not intend to live their life in obedience to Him.

“Christians” sin, but they do not do so in the authority of Jesus. Only right behavior can be done “in the name of Jesus.” Therefore, when people who self-identify as “Christian” sin and call on Jesus for support (e.g., Afrikaners and South African apartheid), they are not Christian. Jesus anticipated this would happen when he said,

Matthew 7:21
"Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.

So, the only test for behavior being “Christian” is this.

Does this action have the overall authority of the Scripture? Is this action modeled by Jesus?