"Real" Christian?

I have had a number of conversations recently about people intent on being known as "real" Christians. This brings to mind countless discussions I've had over the years about who is actually a real Christian and which church is actually a real church. It's a tedious topic, one which brings out the worst in us as we try to burnish our Christian bona fides. Conservatives claim they are real Christians because they oppose abortion or same-sex marriage or ordaining women. Liberals point out how they stand against racism and social injustice and fundamentalism. People claim to be real Christians because they were baptized as adults or because they have read the whole Bible or because they really fast during Lent or never miss a Sunday at church. And, depending on who you talk to, real churches baptize people by fully immersing them or by celebrating the Eucharist with wine (not grape juice) or by singing the good old hymns or by offering contemporary praise music. And lest you think I am casting stones, I sadly confess that there have been too many times when I have contributed ‒ sometimes passionately ‒ to such discussions.

I suppose it fulfills some basic ego needs we have to compare ourselves with others and come out on top. If we can disparage or look down on someone else's faith or religious practice, that helps us to feel like we excel at it, like we are "real" Christians, as opposed to  . . . well, you know, all those others. And so the one Church founded by the Prince of Peace, the community that is supposed to be light for the world, bickers and frets, with various groups of "real" Christians condemning and excommunicating others who somehow don't measure up or make the grade.

But the more I meditate on the Gospels, the more I realize how senseless such nonsense is. Jesus spends no time opining on the various issues that divide his Church. For Jesus, a true follower is just that: someone who follows him. And that means giving oneself away in love, like Jesus does. If people are serious about being "real"Christians, they have no business condemning anyone who believes or practices differently. If we want to show that we really mean it when it comes to faith, then we need to love like Jesus, and that means loving everyone, especially those who most need it, even those who have most hurt us. I would be happy never having another discussion about "true" baptism or which Communion is "real" or how some some people's religion is superior to others. Want to show how serious we are? Share what we have. Feed the hungry. Care for the sick. Advocate for the poor. Forgive our enemies. Love our neighbors as ourselves. Proclaim the Good News of God's love. Those who do that are the only "Super Christians" there are — and they don't need to prove that to anyone.