What is the Definition of a Christian?

SCRIPTURE: John 6:60-66
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

OBSERVATION: People who were disciples, who had accepted that Jesus was the Christ, turned away from him and repudiated their commitment to follow him when they heard a teaching that they did not agree with or understand.

APPLICATION: I believe these verses illustrate the core of what it is to be a Christian. A true believer stays around even when a teaching is difficult to understand and assaults the paradigm of the disciple. When confronted with a clear idea from the Word that is in conflict with his own, a Christian will say, "I must conform my thoughts to His, or at least suspend judgment on this and stay engaged with the Spirit until I have understanding of this."
As an older believer I need to make sure I teach and model this stance to others who are in my sphere of influence.

PRAYER: Help me Lord, to be a good example of a mature Christian to all those around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.