When I can get people talking about religion, I ask this question. Here in the bible belt, the answers are centered around words like belief, acceptance, personal Lord and Savior, and so forth.
Roland Bainton, in his seminal biography of Luther, "Here I Stand," said that in Luther's mind, the essence of Christianity is to be like a little Christ to your neighbor. I agree.
Christianity is that simple and that profound at the same time.
The Calvinists want a rule book (scripture) to define how to love your neighbor.
Luther had a tart reply, "no one needs to tell lovers how to love each other."
Using this definition, not all Christians call themselves Christian. When Ghandi was alive, people would say that the greatest living Christian is a Hindu.
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