What Does it Mean To Be a Christian?

What is a Christian and what does a Christian Do? A Christian is defined as someone who follows the teachings of Christ, not some but all. That is to say, we may not choose to exclude certain teachings and accept others, of course, you may do that but then you would not be a Christian. Being a Christian is not a ticket to wealth, it is not a ticket to an easy life. We are not guaranteed that there will not be hardships in this life, in fact, you may face hardships everyday, but with the hardships there is a peace and an overcoming joy within you that can never be taken away.
Love is present with the Christian in a way that is not found with any other religion or faith. I am speaking of true Christians, not just those of lip-service. If it is not so, the person is not living a Christian life. This does not mean a person should not follow legal recourse in a theft or violent act, but we must always love the one that has committed such an act, there is no place for hate in the Christian heart. Loving means holding one responsible for wrongful actions, as it may lead to one's salvation in the long run. A Christian speaks truth and does not lie. If one lies and he is a Christian, he must confess that sin to the Father and ask for forgiveness to the one(s) wronged. If a Christian is busy in the task of completing the work for the Kingdom of God, then they are not idle and will have a hedge against falling into ungodliness. If a Christian empties himself or herself of selfishness and pride, they may experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit working mightily within them, it is there waiting on you dear Christian to allow it to flow out as a river to quench the dying thirst of many who are living in darkness and violence, not knowing the way out is in Jesus. We must tell them the way, if we are truly Christians. We must not only strive to just keep ourselves from falling, we must work to bring others in, according to our talents. There is a parable that Jesus spoke regarding talents that show to us how we must invest our talents, as our Christian life, that were given us, into the world of Sin, so that an investment for God may result. We may read the following in Matthew 25:14-30:
¹⁴ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. ¹⁶ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. ¹⁷ And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. ¹⁸ But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
²⁴ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  (NKJV)