While having an internship under a youth pastor this summer, I have spent a lot of my time hanging out with students and taking them to lunch. As I take students to lunch or coffee, we will pray and talk about God. In public. Out loud. With lots of people around.

Specifically last week, while I was sitting outside of a Starbucks in town, I was going through a bible study to prepare for our college/career group that evening. I had my bible and books all open, spread out on the table, where people could clearly see what I was doing. While reading my bible, I froze and immediately began thanking God for how privileged and blessed I am to live in a country where I have the opportunity to spend time with him in public...without being fearful of what could happen to me. It dawned on me how I have the freedom to practice my faith in public and am not being persecuted. Maybe sometimes verbally, but nothing I can't handle. Whereas in other countries, believers are being tortured and killed just for saying the name of Jesus. And here I am, bible open, praying, in public and not only safe but also comfortable doing it.

I know this isn't anything new. It is mentioned all the time how much freedom we have in this country compared to other countries. How we have privileges here that others don't. We should be thankful every day for this freedom! So why are we taking advantage of it?

Throughout the past year, the LGBT community has been a huge focus. Don't twist my words or misinterpret my point; I am not bashing the LGBT community here. But I do want to make a point as this seems to be a focus in todays society. Throughout social media, there are lots of videos and pictures from different protests between the "religious" community and the LGBT community. Typically the scene looks something like this: crazy churchgoers yelling with signs about the LGBT going to hell while members of the LGBT community are holding their flags and kissing in front of the churchgoers to make them angry. Both parties are wrong in this situation.

Let me clarify one thing, if a "religious" person is screaming on the streets that you are going to hell, that isn't okay. Nobody deserves to be treated that way no matter what you believe. On a side note with that being said, as a Christian I am called to love the LGBT community, BUT that doesn't mean I support or encourage them. Do I treat them with respect as any other human being? Absolutely! Will I be friends and hang out with them just like any other person? Already do! But will I agree with them and tell them I love what they are doing? Nope sorry, can't do it. But back to why the churchgoers in this situation are wrong, God never called them to do that. Don't hate God just because some of his people don't understand grace.

Before you agree that "crazy church people" are wrong, don't think that the kissing gay couple is in the right either. With these new laws being passed regarding gay marriage, and more people accepting these relationships, many like to enjoy their privileges in public. Thats fine, go for it! But that doesn't mean obnoxiously taking advantage of your freedom to purposely make others uncomfortable and upset. This isn't a discussion of whether or not people being uncomfortable matters. If this were a straight couple obnoxiously taking advantage of their public freedom, I would be saying the same thing. But that's not what is important right now is it?

Almost anywhere else in the world, this situation would have resulted in being arrested and possibly executed. But what happens here in America? We fight about it over Facebook. We split into three parties: The people who love and support these actions, the people who are mortified by these actions, and the rest of the population who just don't care because they are too busy thinking about themselves.

Let's take another example; around labor day there was news about protests for equality and discrimination. I saw one video of a group of college students who were yelling and standing on an american flag. If any of you saw this same video, you were probably angry with these students and cheering on the brave veteran who stood up against them. We are so privileged in America to have the freedom to protest and make our voices heard. But standing on the American flag? Are you serious? That is such a disrespectful act that proves you are clearly taking advantage of your freedom and rights. Not to mention that freedom that comes with a price. My heart just breaks for that veteran who had to watch college students stand on the flag that he fought so hard to protect. We need to show our appreciation and thankfulness for that freedom by not taking advantage of it.

If you want freedom, you need to understand mutual respect. There are people all over the world who don't have an opportunity to make their voices heard, who can't practice their faith, who are fighting every day just to keep living. And here we are in America taking advantage of these freedoms and not appreciating how good we have it.

So as I sit outside of Starbucks, drinking my coffee and reading my bible, I am so grateful for the freedoms that I have. I am so thankful for the security and privileges I have. We may not have it perfect in America (I think we can all agree that we are falling apart), but we sure do have it a hell of a lot better than most of the world.