C.S. Lewis

A close friend of mine reminded me recently what C.S. Lewis said: {not directly quoting here... paraphrasing....}

My sister-in-Christ reminded me that the answer to the question, "Are you a Christian?" can NEVER be answered, "Yes and no." The answer is either yes OR no - it can never be both.

By definition, a Christian is one who believes in Jesus Christ - that He was and is and is to come - that he was born of a virgin, suffered, died and was buried and on the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures - and most importantly, that He IS GOD. Jesus is DIETY. I mean, come on... the word CHRIST means MESSIAH -

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source Christ
O.E. crist, from L. Christus, from Gk. khristos "the anointed" (translation of Heb. mashiah, see messiah), from khriein "to rub, anoint," title given to Jesus of Nazareth.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source messiah
c.1300, Messias, from L.L. Messias, from Gk. Messias, from Aramaic meshiha and Heb. mashiah "anointed" (of the Lord), from mashah "anoint." This is the word rendered in Septuagint as Gk. Khristos (see Christ). In O.T. prophetic writing, it was used of an expected deliverer of the Jewish nation.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source Messiah [(muh-seye-uh)]
For Jews and Christians, the promised “anointed one” or Christ; the Savior. Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah who delivered mankind from its sins. Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

So do not call yourself a "Christian" unless you fully believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour, Diety.

But back to C.S. Lewis: My friend told me that in his book, Mere Christianity , C.S. Lewis talks about who and what Jesus is.... Jesus is either Lord, lunatic or liar - He cannot be telling the truth and not be Lord, and if He thinks He is Lord and He is not, He is a lunatic! You cannot have him both ways - He is either Lord or He is not. He does not give you the option.

I have got to get my hands on that book....