As a non-Christian who has an interest in the teachings of Jesus, I consider a person who follows the thrust of the actual words of Jesus as a Christian. I think there are many people who are using His name to sanctify their biases, personal opinions and desires.

I find the latter to be offensive because they use His name and misrepresent Him. I think each person should take responsibility for one’s own views. Most of us can read and Jesus says to love one another, to be kind to strangers and foreigners (Good Samaritan) and to turn the other cheek. People who don’t really believe Him make rationalizations explaining that He didn’t really mean what he said, that in context he was supporting the (not really) Christian’s pre-existing view.

In any case, I think I’m being charitable to Christianity when I see loving people as Christians and those attributing less loving viewpoints to Him as not Christians. That said, I believe most people who identify as Christians BELIEVE themselves to be Christians and I see no point in arguing with them because they are, in fact, sincere.