What do you mean when you say "Christian?"

If you are not Buddist, Muslim, Jewish, or an atheist, doesn't that automatically make you a Christian? No.

But I thought that as long as you believe in God, that was good enough? No, even the demons of hell believe that much.

 You believe there is one God? You do well; the devils also believe, and tremble.

James 2:19

What if you believe in one God, and worship Him, but you are not one of these "Jesus people", aren't you still a Christian?

Can't a person just believe that God loves you without having to get involved with Jesus?

 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denies the Father and the Son. Whoso denies the Son, the same does not have the Father.

1 John 2:22-23

 Well, maybe Jesus was the Son of God, but I just really have trouble with this thing of treating Jesus like He was a God or something.

That's not in the Bible anywhere is it? Isn't that just something that the church made up?

There's also probably not anywhere in the Bible that the people of Jesus' day believed that sort of thing, is there?

And that Trinity stuff: where is there anywhere in the Bible that you see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit mentioned together?

Surely those people back then didn't understand it that way?

Looks to me like I see the Holy Spirit showing David what the Father (Lord), was speaking to the Son (Lord), all in the same verse, and the common people were not confused...

 Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple; How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

For David himself said, by the Holy Spirit: The Lord said to my Lord, sit yourself at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.

David therefore himself, calls Him Lord; and how is He then his son? And the common people heard Him gladly.

Mark 12:35-37

 So what is important?

What sort of characteristics would a person look for to see if a person or a church was Christian, or something else?

What are the basics?

 Then Peter said to them; Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized...and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and prayers.

Acts 2:38,40-41

 Do I have to go to church?

Can't I just worship Jesus out on the golf course or at the beach or off in the woods somewhere just as well?

Why is it important to belong to some local church somewhere?

All Christians need mutual exhortation and admonishing; and it's hard to exhort or admonish each other if you don't assemble together and get to really know one another...

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another...

Hebrews 10:25

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

There are some church groups that call themselves Christian, but many of their teachings are very different from what most Bible believing churches teach; is that important?

Are these churches still Christian?

Is there some main thing that defines a "Christian" church, and also defines what would not be a true Christian church?

What would you look for as something to mark out a so-called Christian church from one that was genuine, and true to what the Bible teaches?

Apostasy: departing from the historic faith for something else.

Adding something to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross as being necessary for salvation, or substituting someone other than Jesus Christ as supplementing God's work of redemption.

 Every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come into the world is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, of which you have heard that it should come, and even now already it is in the world.

1 John 4:2-3

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be manifest that they were not all of us.

1 John 2:19

There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5