Who gets to be a Christian?

This short essay was inspired by conversations with actual, practicing Christians. It starts with an earnest question, one I am still cannot answer. If anyone can offer further insight into this question, please don't hesitate to post a comment.
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Who gets to call themselves a Christian? Who is allowed to join the club, and who is denied entrance?

*for this discussion, I am referring to Christianity as the sub-category of all religions that believe Jesus was the Messiah (which is also often referred to as “Christianity), which is distinct from Catholicism and contains such groups as Protestants, Evangelicals, Born-Agains, and etc.

This question is easily answered when it comes to Catholics – they have a special organization with a leader that presides over every individual within that organization across the globe. To be a Catholic is to be a member of the Catholic Church.

What does it mean to be a Christian, then? The answer is somewhat reminiscent of Islam – it simply requires the Admission of Faith. Most Christians would say that an individual must “accept Jesus Christ as his or her personal lord and savior” in order to be classified as a Christian. The belief that faith alone can align an individual with god is distinct from the Catholic belief that faith, plus admittance into their club, is required to align with god.

To believe in Jesus as the one, true god, and to follow the Bible’s teachings – that’s another way of putting it, I suppose. What further criteria is there for a Christian? I earnestly wish to have this issue clarified, as it seems to me to be quite ambiguous.

If the above is true, why is it that so many Christians are quick to say “They are not a real Christian” when referring to so-called Christians that cast a negative light on their faith? What right to they have to question another’s faith? I guarantee that so-called Christians feel just as much conviction, emotion, and faith in regard to their adherence to Jesus as the one true god. I’m sure he or she has accepted Jesus his or her personal lord and savior. What is the difference between them and you, oh arbiter of Christendom?

For argument’s sake, let’s put down some reasonable criteria for deciding who gets to decide on the members of the Christianity Club, taking some inspiration from the Pope. I will repeat for emphasis: this is not the criteria for being Christian (which would be more lenient), this is the criteria for being an individual with the authority to judge who is Christian and who is not.

Arbiter of Christianity

1. Must have read the Bible, from cover to cover, more than once.

2. Must know the general contents of each book of the Bible.

3. Must attend religious gatherings with great frequency and consistency.

4. Must understand the cultural climate of Biblical times, to allow for proper interpretation.

5. Must accept Jesus as personal lord and savior.

6. Must have faith in Jesus’ power to save souls.

7. Must attempt to follow Jesus’ example as much as possible (including charity, humility, honest, unconditional love for all humanity, and absolute adherence to pacifism).

I am being very generous with Numbers 1 and 2. The Pope can probably recite whole books of the Bible from memory (and in two or more languages); I’m simply requiring a basic level of Biblical comprehension. Number 3 is not too tough, either. Number 4 is not outrageous to require, it is vitally important for examining both the Bible and Jesus’ life and actions. Numbers 5 and 6 are easy enough. Number 7 should be expected of the Arbiter of Christianity, of course.

I think I have presented a very reasonable set of criteria that would give someone the authority to judge who is a Christian and who is not, in fact, I think I am being overly lenient. I am being especially lenient to prove a point, of course. I ask any Christian that thinks that the members of the West Borough Baptist Church are not real Christians to take a look at the extremely basic criteria I presented above. Look at that criteria and ask yourself, do you meet each requirement?

Never actually sat down and read the Bible, cover to cover? No authority.

Didn’t retain any information from your Bible reading? No authority.

Can’t quote the Bible to back up claims? No authority.

Only attend religious gatherings on occasion? No authority.

Don’t have knowledge of the culture and history surrounding Biblical times? No authority.

Violent, in action or in words? No authority.

Turn down a homeless person’s request for money? No authority.

Habits of acting jealously, untruthfully, or maliciously? No authority.

Focused on accumulating material wealth? No authority.

I will repeat the question again, for added emphasis: Who are you to say who is a Christian and who is not?

Compare yourself to, say, a member of the West Borough Baptist Church. I would bet my bottom dollar that most the members of said church have read the Bible several times, and can quote verse at the drop of a hat. They can recite various scriptural passages in order to back up their (insane and hateful) claims. Can you quote the Bible? You assert that they are not real Christians – can you back that up with line and verse references? Again, I bet they can back up their (insane and hateful) claims with said references. So who are you to say that you are “more Christian” than them?

This critique applies not only to Christianity, but to Islam as well (and any other faith, for that matter). Modern, moderate adherents to various faiths are quick to disavow the actions of the “extremists”. But you know what? I am fairly certain that those extremists know your religion better than you do. I am fairly certain they’ve read and studied their religious text more frequently and fervently than you have. I am fairly certain that their level of faith reaches summits yours has never achieved.

I ask anyone who adheres to an Abrahamic religion (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) to answer the following question regarding faith:

Is your faith strong enough that you would hijack an airplane filled with innocent people and fly said airplane into a building filled with more innocent people, taking your own and thousands of innocent lives, in order to fulfill your god’s wishes?

That, my friends, is real faith. That is someone who really believes.

I’ll ask it one last time: Who are you to question the faith of others? Who are you to say who is Christian (or Muslim) and who is not?

Side note: When it is all boiled down, stating that “They aren’t real Christians” is just a clear example of the No True Scotsman Fallacy. Fallacies are just that: fallacious, and therefore not a credible or powerful line of reasoning, especially when the individual making such a claim is in no position to arbitrate who is a Scot and who is not.