What is a Christian?

We hear the word Christian used a lot these days in so many different contexts.

We hear politicians talk about having "Christian values." We hear that this country was founded on "Christian principles."

When somebody does something wrong somebody might say, "well that wasn't very Christian of them, was it?"

We hear thousands of disagreeing denominations claiming that they are the "true Christian church" or the "first Christian church." And we hear about "Christian fellowships" or "Christian communities."

"Are they Christians?"

"Are you a Christian?"

"Well, I was raised Christian, but I don't really go to Church" or "Yeah, I'm a Christian, but I think I can believe whatever I want" or "well...I believe in the Bible, so yeah."

So what is it? What is a Christian? Who are the Christians?

Webster's dictionary has over ten definitions of "Christian" that would support each of the uses in the above statements. So it's not much help at all.

This is not a new problem though. The early Christians faced similar challenges.

There were numerous sects in the first few centuries that held conflicting ideas about what was true Christianity. And these were important issues - such as the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the monotheism of the Trinity, and whether or not matter was good or evil. These were foundational issues that defined the Christian Church and still do to this day.

In all cases, however, these early Christians discerned the answers to these conflicting interpretations by turning to the leaders appointed by the apostles themselves - to the Church. The main way that early Christians could tell what was true Christianity from what was false was by examining the source and verifying if it had apostolic authority.

Those with apostolic succession (the Bishops) would get together in councils to clarify issues. At these councils they used reason and the Tradition of faith handed down from Jesus' apostles (with some help from the Holy Spirit) to discern the Truth on a matter (if possible at that time). And just as Christian doctrine had to develop then, so it continues today through the same apostolic succession in the Catholic Church.

The only way that the early Church could remain unified and meaningfully definable at all was to appeal to an authority that Jesus left in charge - His apostles and their successors. Otherwise there would have been constant division and disagreement. Nobody would have known who was really a Christian and who was not.

This is much the situation we find ourselves in today.

It is not clear enough to simply say that I believe in a book or a man. For how do you interpret that book? Where is this man? And what did he believe? What did he do?

To many, Christianity has become a philosophy. A sociological movement. A family tradition. A synonym for "good." A mood. A book. A fellowship. A personal ideal.

In all of this confusion, we cannot appeal to our own authority to decide such a matter - for we have none. It is that apostolic authority in the Catholic Church that is the only thing that can rightfully define what is Christian - for there is nothing else to appeal to.

So, if Christian's are followers of Christ, and Christ founded a Church, then it would seem to me that a "Christian" would be defined as a member of this Church.

And this very same Church proclaims that one must be validly baptized to be "incorporated into the Church" (CCC 1213).

So it would seem that a "Christian" is someone who is validly baptized.

Now, how good or bad of a Christian that person is, that is something entirely different.