Ever since I can remember I’ve been surrounded by Christ. I attended a Catholic school from pre-kindergarten until I graduated high school. I was an Alter Server, Master of Ceremonies, Eucharistic Minister and Sacristan. I attended mass every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. I prayed and talked to God constantly throughout my days — in the most natural and unforced way. I grew up around a loving congregation of disciples of Christ and felt at home while at Church.

Flash forward almost four years and it seems like just about everything has changed. I’m no longer that girl who was sitting in the pew feeling happy about everything surrounding the Church.

The people who watched me grow into that girl, to the young adult I am now, would probably (if they haven't already) say I’m a “bad Christian.”

For the longest time, I’ve let this bother me. I’ve let what my conservative family members think of who I’ve become bother me. I’ve let what people who I haven't spoken to in years think of me, bother me. But, now I’m done with that. I’m done letting the idea of being a “bad Christian” eat away at me constantly.

I have an undying faith in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I believe in the power of prayer even more now than I had before. I strive to make morally sound choices in my lifestyle and the way I treat others. I live my life with comfort knowing that there’s a life after death — and that the only person who will judge me is the Father himself, not those who think I’m a bad Christian.

I’m not a perfect Christian, but I’d like to know who is?

I’ve developed into a person who is accepting of all lifestyles, because if it’s not my life, I shouldn't try to control or judge someone on how to live it. I believe God loves every single person on this Earth, no matter what race, sexual orientation, gender, religion or past history they have. I believe that Christian women, as well as men, shouldn’t be looked down on because of the way they dress, how many children they want or how many partners they’ve had. I believe that attending mass is an important foundation to living out your faith, but it doesn't make or break you.

I believe there’s a lot wrong with the world that Christianity could fix, but I also believe there are things wrong with Christianity that the world could fix.

I’m proud of who I’ve become, even if people in the Church believe I’ve taken a step backwards. Sometimes it’s not clear to others where you’re going until you get there. And you can’t always get somewhere following the same path as those next to you. Labeling someone as a “bad Christian” isn’t the responsibility of any one of us.

"Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:11-12

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matthew 7:1-5