I learned some new things while I was on vacation. Not all of them pleasant.

For instance, with no set agenda, no alarm clock to answer or desk to report to, I discovered that I can be pretty self-indulgent. Actually, I guess I've always known this about myself, it's one of the reasons I keep myself on a prescribed schedule. No schedule, no discipline. No discipline, no productivity. No productivity, no satisfaction. I was glad to return to the grind of 7-5.

The weather certainly contributed to my productive demise. I watched it snow, snow, snow and thoroughly enjoyed pushing my neighbor's snow blower around his property. The lines weren't very straight, I fear, as I spent too much time gazing at the geyser of snow flying out of the machine. I guess I did get something done, after all.

Since time wasn't a factor, at all, I did get to watch more television than I usually do and I was particularly pleased when CNN's Anderson Cooper did an encore presentation of his video essay "What is a Christian?" The original air time was well past my usual go to work in the morning bedtime, and I was interested to see what this somewhat left-leaning broadcaster had to say about the Christian faith in America.

Not surprisingly, it dealt with the politics of faith and how faith played out in the midterm election. It also explored the changing place of faith in environmentalism, and in issues of prosperity and poverty. End times also were addressed and the issue of tolerance made its way into the discussion.

Cooper introduced some astonishing statistics. For instance, in his introductory remarks he states that nearly nine in 10 Americans is a Christian. That translates to 85 percent of the population. Also, two-thirds of Americans believe that America is a Christian nation.

Citing a Baylor University study, some 100 million Americans are Evangelical, or 24 percent of the total. Another 22 percent of those claiming to be Christian belong to mainline Protestant denominations, such as Episcopalians and Presbyterians, and the largest single Christian denomination is Catholicism, at 21 percent. Evangelicals hold to a more literal interpretation of Scripture, promote a personal relationship with the person of Jesus Christ and actively share the gospel. The mainline Protestant denominations, however, take a more flexible approach to the Bible, not necessarily seeing it as the literal Word of God. Nevertheless, in each case, the more literally any of these groups read the Bible, the more likely they are to be politically conservative.

So, it begs the question. If we claim to be Christian, literally a follower of Christ, what is wrong with our world? With our country?

Fear runs rampant, even among professing believers. Fear of terrorists. Fear of poverty. Fear of illness and most astonishing -- considering the promises we claim to believe -- fear of death. Christians seek man's solution to that fear as eagerly as someone who believes nothing awaits them after this heart stops beating. Self-indulgence, a character trait too readily revealed in my own life, also afflicts Christians at nearly the same level as non-believers. Otherwise, why would divorce among Christians be tolerated? Those who call themselves believers participate in premarital and extramarital sex. They bring others, even brothers, before the judge's bench for financial satisfaction in lawsuits. Even a liberal, non-literal, interpretation of Scripture should preclude these kinds of behaviors, but the evidence is clear. So, to answer Anderson Cooper's question, "What is a Christian?"

For far too many it is nothing more than a label, to others a presumed "get out of jail free" card, and for others, an assumed birthright that has no bearing on reality. Far too many who call themselves Christian have no idea whatsoever what the name means or what the cost of following Christ is.

One pastor, out of several who appeared on camera during the hour-long show, nailed it. The Rev. Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptists Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, when asked directly by Mr. Cooper, "What is a Christian? What does is mean?" answered, "It means to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It means a command to be the salt of the earth. It means a command to be the light of the world. It means to obey the command, to go forth and to share the gospel and never seek to impose it, never use coercion, but as an act of love to seek to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all who will listen."

Imagine, if you will, how different life would be if those who call themselves by his name, lived as he lived and loved as he loved.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

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