There is a difference between being Christian and being a Christian. The former is a lifestyle lived in accordance with the example of Jesus, love, acceptance, forgiveness, compassion, and all the other human traits we admire. Being a Christian is merely a label which too many take on to justify their judgmental, intolerant beliefs. They point to the Bible as the ultimate inerrant arbiter of human behavior, using it uncritically with all of its mistakes and ancient ignorance to impose their will on others. They use it as a club to justify their own bigotry, narcissism, and hate. To take on the label does not mean that one is authentically Christian. The reason Christianity has survived so long is that the core message is so powerful. It is too bad that throughout history, people of ill will, driven by their lust for power and self righteousness, hijacked it to support their destructive agenda. They have hurt the lives of so many people.