I guess this belongs here, so slythe, if it doesn’t, please move it. And Out of Curiosity have you recently come over to the LBMB because I saw someone with your user name and your profile seemed similar. If it is you, it’s great to see you there. Anyway back to the topic, I’m doing this survey as sort of a background for a sermon I’m doing October 22 on the Character of the Christian, so please help me out. Thanks 
I got kicked out of the LBMB for asking questions. The excuse they came up with though was that I used the word “puff-piece” (or as they put it, "****-piece) in a sentence.
As per your OP, first you must define “Christian”.
Then define “Real”.
Then tell us which sect of which religion you are refering to when you say “Christian”.
Then, 450 posts later, after this thread has been through the Great Debates and BBQ Pit forums, 4 or 5 people have quit the SDMB in protest, and accusations of ignorance and closed-mindedness have been flung all over the place, we should arrive at an answer.
Providing Hell doesn’t freeze over first. 
THAT WAS HILARIOUS SLYTHE!! I really Liked that analogy. Sorry that you were kicked off the LBMB. I Don’t understand what went wrong. What I mean is in my post:
Real–You can tell that what they believe and the way that they live is the same
Christian–People who believe that Jesus was Messiah and is coming again.
Though I could see how this could go for a VERY VERY LOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Time 
I real Christian believes in the 2 greatest commandments: Love God, Love your neighbor. Per Christ’s admonition, Christians extend the definition of neighbor to include their enemies and NOT just those that have the same ideology.
They accept that socially, they must “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with [their] God.” (Micah 6:8). A true Christian speaks fairly in dialog, assumes the good intentions of others, and does not presume to know more about God than God does.
They believe that I Cor 13 is not just about romantic love but how they should behave before all and to all.
Tinker
P.S. I am guessing that you may be seeking a non-christians perspective for your sermon. Disclosure: I am a Christian … tho’ by my own definition an imperfect one.
A real Christian … sigh
Tinker
Someone who believe that Jesus Christ is our God and doesn’t rebel against Him or what He preached, a la Satan (the real one).
Why do you ask?
Yer pal,
Satan - Commissioner, The Teeming Minions
TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
Five months, four weeks, 2 hours, 44 minutes and 40 seconds.
7244 cigarettes not smoked, saving $905.57.
Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes.
If you can’t trust Satan when it comes to matters “Christian”, who can you trust?
A Real Christian is:
Someone who feeds the hungry, clothes the naked and visits those who are sick or in prison.
A person who realizes that if we treat others the way we would like to be treated, salvation wil take care of itself.
A person who changes lives by example, not by inflicting guilt or fear on the unconverted.
A real Christian- someone who believes that eternal salvation comes through Christ, and then proceeds to try to live their life in the manner that Christ/God would want them to or would tries to react in the way that Christ would in the same situation.
Because of this, feeding the hungry, helping the sick, etc., should come as a result of that faith. Didn’t Christ do these things, didn’t he associate with what some would call the “dregs of society”? Additionally, any conversions should come in part because of witnessing(not pushy witnessing, y’all), but also by showing those that you are living what you are telling them…practicing what you preach.
Related to the LBMB…honestly, I never post there anymore. All the “are Catholics Christian” debates got to me. Along with people like slythe being banned for no reason. Got me mad, and then I decided it was time to leave before I said something I would regret. Though at times I wish I had.
All very admiral qualities, but are kind Muslims, Jews, and Buddhists also Christians? Some of them probably wouldn’t like that title. What about me? I’m a Latter-Day Saint; I believe in Jesus Christ; I depend on Him for my everlasting salvation, yet many people claim that Mormons are not Christians simply because we believe in a different Christ.
Someone who doesn’t talk the talk, but walks the walk.
OR
A moral person in general. Lots of non-christians I know are more christian than 50% of the churchgoers I know.
[Athiest, brought up a Quaker.] To respond to MrMcPlad’s response to Fear Itself: what Fear Itself said plus person identifies as a Christian. Obviously this is different to College Student’s definition of “Christian”.
Thanks for the responses. Keep em coming.
I think it’s important to act the way you do in church ALL The time. I worked with a friend over the summer, previously I’d only seen him at church functions. I assumed that he always acted the way he does at curch, mostly because I always act that way or at least try to. NO! At work, he acted COMPLETELY different. He acted like a lot of other teenagers usually do. It COMPLETELY suprised me and tought me a valuable lesson, that people change in big ways, depending on their company.
I agree. That’s why, whenever I’m in a room with more than ten other people, I pass the collection plate.
So is it automatically assumed that when you say “church”, you mean “Christian church that follows the same path that I do”? Or do you mean “any church that calls itself Christian”? Or do you mean “any church?”
I’m the magic Christian. You can call me Sir Guy.
Here’s an enormous amount of money. If you go away, you can have it.
Would that all “Christians” acted thus.
Slythe, your first reply here totally slew me! Most excellent. I must start threads here more often.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by MrMcPlad *
**
My point was not that all people who live lives according to principles that also happen to be Christian, are therefore “Christian” by name. However, they will achieve the same reward as those who do.
I believe anyone who lives their daily lives according to the principles espoused by Christ (whether or not they have ever heard of the man) will achieve greater salvation than those whose only concern is the hereafter and their place in it.
Those who feel they must point out the differences between religions rather than the similarities just don’t get it. They get hung up on the “only through me” words, and miss the point that Christ meant that to mean that those who live by his example will achieve eternal peace.
I don’t believe that, just because someone says “I believe in Jesus Christ”, that they are a Christian. He also said through your works you shall be known; there are many paths that reach the same destination, the result is the same.
Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Atheist, Mormon; it makes no difference what the motivation is, or what you call yourself. If you live a good life, in service and caring for others, salvation becomes irrelevant; you are already there. If all you do is pray in public, you will get what you deserve.
I don’t think you have to be Christian to follow Christ’s teachings, or admire them.
I think “love thy neighbor as thyself,” and “do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” and “let ye who is without sin cast the first stone,” are excellent advice to anyone as a way to live, even though it is not always possible to perfectly do this. But I think they are excellent goals to strive towards, and I consider myself to be agnostic.