Talk to Me Tuesday: Candid Discussions with Kim

Tuesdays will be our communications day here at Insanity. I will be doing book reviews one week out of the month, but on other Tuesdays, we will be talking about particular topics. I welcome any and all comments but ask that you please not fight or bicker or post anything that is vulgar. Your comments will be deleted should you not follow the rules.

What sort of things do people identify as the chief distinguishing characteristic of a Christian?

This question can be answered in so many different ways that I won't be surprised to hear many of your answers. While there are many characteristics I can think of, the one that is strongest in my mind is love. I think of the biggest example of love that Christians have is Christ himself. Jesus knew from a very early age that He had a big task to take on. He knew he was going to die, yet He never acted out in anger or frustration at those around Him that believed but did not behave correctly. He knew He was going to die for our sins. But it's not His particular love that is the strongest. It's God's. He gave us His Son knowing that we were going to rebuke him. Knowing that He would ultimately die to save us all. That love is so completely remarkable and overwhelming that it is hard to even describe the weight I feel when I think of it.
Love of other Christians now-a-days cannot always be seen which I find so terribly sad. I have friends that I absolutely adore who go to church with us. They are such loving people. Their children are loving children. I see that Christian love in them. When they walk in the room, there is never a person who does not feel the love by each member of the family. They smile, they hug, they envelope each person they see with an invisible shield of Christ-like love. AND YOU FEEL IT!! It's not the uncomfortable, those freaky people are coming are going to hug me feeling. It's the warm milk and cookies like you just walked into Grandma's house, glad they are here feeling.
I want to be like that!! That is the one characteristic that I, as a Christian, am excited and proud to know is a Christian characteristic that I strive for each day.

Discuss amongst yourselves ;-)