What does it mean to be Gnostic Christian?

I thought the Gnostic Christian is one who seeks out understanding that doesn't place limits on where that understanding lies. The Orthodox have their Bible. Gnostic understanding can be achieved when the spirit senses the divine and holy in many places and not just the preconceived ones. We define each of ourselves differently. We each have our strong and weak points. That is why the congregating is so important. Where I am weak, another is strong, and so on and so on. And I am strong where another may be weak. Orthodoxy has all members believing they need the strength of the one to lead the many (weak). Gnostics understand that through the many we become strong.

I seem to remember reading somewhere lately, that by the end of the first century there were close to two hundred Gospels circulating. Would that not be possible as Jesus was teaching for three years, that those who listened would document what they heard? Rather than discard all and find 4 (Catholics), the Gnostic would seek all. And the more he/she understood by seeking, the easier it was to set the tainted from the truth. After all, isn't it the Gospel itself that is the mirror by which we define ourselves?

It's not an easy question to answer.  We seem to be fairly individualistic by nature (otherwise we'd probably identify with a more popular ideology).  I think we tend to be deep thinking, analytic, passionate people with a rebellious streak for good flavor.  There had likely always been something about the story of Christ that we couldn't dismiss as easily as the stuff that got attached to it, we saw the bleak darkness of the world yet also perceived a light shining in the darkness, something rang true for us in the writings of these ancient heretics, they had put into words many of the concepts we had come to believe based on our experiences , and they had done this thousands of years earlier!  

We may agree or disagree about the use of names or concepts but we are very likely to agree that names and concepts can be deceptive and only (at best) point to the Truth.  Gnostic Christianity is a very personal way of acknowledging and seeking the Truth.  When we fight the inner battle and win, the outer battle is already won (cleaning the inside of the cup).

"And he has a semblance of his own - not like what you have seen and received, but a strange semblance that surpasses all things and is better than the universe. It looks to every side and sees itself from itself. Since it is infinite, he is ever incomprehensible. He is imperishable and has no likeness (to anything). He is unchanging good. He is faultless. He is eternal. He is blessed. While he is not known, he ever knows himself. He is immeasurable. He is untraceable. He is perfect, having no defect. He is imperishability blessed. He is called 'Father of the Universe'".- Sophia of Jesus Christ

Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty." - Thomas

Too many seem to think that when they know others, or the "outside" (of what they see}, that this is reality, better yet truth. But if one doesn't know themselves, how can they truly know another. It's like racism. The understanding know that men and women of any color are spirits alike, and had no control over the garments they adorn.

Philip explains:

It is not possible for anyone to see anything of the things that actually exist unless he becomes like them. This is not the way with man in the world: he sees the sun without being a sun; and he sees the heaven and the earth and all other things, but he is not these things. This is quite in keeping with the truth. But you saw something of that place, and you became those things. You saw the Spirit, you became spirit. You saw Christ, you became Christ. You saw the Father, you shall become Father. So in this place you see everything and do not see yourself, but in that place you do see yourself - and what you see you shall become.

If you cannot see yourself, how can you know yourself? Since we cannot see the Father, he is not the example by which we know ourselves.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? - John 14:9

Jesus was the example of how to be a Christ. To know him is to allow us to compare ourselves, finding ourselves within his example. He wasn't racist. So how can one who emulates Christ (Jesus) be racist. His words were spirit. They were for the spirit, about the spirit. When they are seen as physical or what the outside (garments) need, confusion will set in, and control is handed over to the physical god(s). Knowing the inner, looking pass the garments, we see the truth. We must make the inner take control, where Chirst (Jesus) says he is. For that is what life eternal is, while the outer will decay and it's desires become dust once again.