What is a True Christian?

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So, some questions to start with:
What is actually necessary to be a true Christian?
- belief in bible inerrancy?
- belief in creationism?
- regular Church-going habits?
- regular prayer?
- use of the bible as a moral guide?
- belief in the core message of Jesus Christ?

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A true Christian is someone who has completely
entrusted his life to Jesus Christ.
Entrust = (usu with with) to confer as a responsibility, duty, etc’ (usu with to) to place something in another’s care.- belief in bible inerrancy?
That is the idea, but if you don’t have the love of Jesus Christ, that won’t do you any good.Bible:
Psalms 119:160: The entirety of Your word is truth,
and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.1 Peter 1:25 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.- belief in creationism?
Why should you not? If one can believe some theory like evolution, one might just as well believe in creationism. But that doesn’t make you a true-er Christian.Bible:
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Psalms 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.- regular Church-going habits?
I personally want to visit God’s house every week. Every week there’s something to learn from the Word of God. If you do not go, where will you learn out of the Word? One could go to a bible study. We have them too, and we have them at home with our brothers and sisters (in the Lord)Bible:
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.- regular prayer?
In sundayschool I was taught that prayer is ‘talking to/with God’.Bible:
James 5:16: Confess your trespasses* to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
(5:12 M-Text reads hypocrisy.)John 15:7: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.Who gets to decide who is and who isn't, and how relevent is their opinion?
- the Pope? nope
- Christian fundamentalists? nope
- majority decision by ordinary Christians? nope
- just the person in question? nope
- non-Christians who are familiar with Christians? nopeActually it is God who gets to decide who is and who isn’t. His opinion is the most relevant you can find.Romans 2:1-3:
1-THEREFORE you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2-But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3-And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

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Of course, this leads to the question of whether someone who decides to go on a killing spree for God after reading the Old Testament is a 'true Christian'.

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See Romans 2:1-3 above.
Personally I don’t think someone who’d do that is a true Christian. Or most certainly that person has missed some part of the Word of God. For sure that would be: Thou shalt not kill. (exodus 20:13)

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‘Any more elaboration needed?

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nah, this is fine ^__^Thank you for your time.

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1Cor 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

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A true Christian is someone who has completely entrusted his life to Jesus Christ.

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did you miss this part?
if you didn't, which part of it didn't you understand?
(not throwing virtual rocks, friendly smile see: )Of course you know when you're a true Christian.
If someone completely entrusts his/her life to Jesus Christ, he/she is a true Christian. And then he/she will know he/she is, in life as well as in death.The only one who can truely judge a person on that, is God. Other's can judge a person too, but that has no true meaning. At least, not to me. People can think of me what they want. They cannot look into my (or anybody's) heart.

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1Cor 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Sorry this reply came a bit late. I've been busy this week. Let's see...

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So by what criteria can we mortals judge?

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Matthew 7:1-2
JUDGE not, that you be not judged.
For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.Jesus spoke to his disciples in
Luke 6:37-38
"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." 1 1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

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By your definition all Christians making that claim are true Christians whether they believe in evolution or creationism, or a young earth or old earth; correct?

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I don't know if God will even look at the minor differences we find so significant, such as creationism or evolution.

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If true, then Christians should respect each other and shouldn't be slinging mud, right?

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You are very right about that one! I must sadly conclude that even on Christian forums, there is a lot of mud slinging. I'll try not to do so. I don't like it, that's for sure.

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Kinda goes back to the post with the footballer and tennis. If a Christian says he has entrusted his life to Jesus Christ, but his behavior is deplorable, doesn't that negate his claim?

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Maybe it just shows that he/she is only human. When you are a Christian, and you behave like that, God will let you know it's not approved of. He'll do so through his Word, of maybe He'll allow something to occur in that person's life to put his attention to that wrong behaviour. That way the person can change it.
If that person is really a true christian, he/she will change it.The bible says this about certain behaviour:
Ephesians 4:29-32
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 5:3-5
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know,* that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Ephesians 5:8-10
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
(for the fruit of the Spirit* is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. What could happen if you don't?
Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

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If I claim to be a good writer, but my posts are filled with misspellings, lack of punctuation, run-on sentences, and no capitalizaion; wouldn't you question my claim?

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Yeah, I would.

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If one who has entrusted his life to Jesus Christ should act Christlike, what is Christlike?

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See verses above. That's a small part of christlike behaviour.You can find a lot about what Christlike behaviour is in the bible. Must non-believers know exactly what kinda behaviour that is hence they always know exactly when a Christian does something he/she is not supposed to do. Thank you for your time.

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1Cor 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

please read my quote again
it contains the answer to your question.
A Christian can claim another is not a true Christian, so what? He/she is only human.

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1Cor 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."