This week I was drawn to write about something I don't usually write about. Religion. Well, more specifically my own personal faith and spiritual beliefs. I'm a Christian. I'm sure some people would say that I was raised to believe what I do, but I know it's a choice that I made for myself. I vividly remember the night I made the choice. I was young, but old enough to know what it meant. I was moved to the point of tears during a long talk with my mother about what it really meant to be a Christian. I decided then and there that this was who I wanted to be.
Christians sometimes get a lot of crap, and I'll be perfectly honest, some people that claim to be Christians are actually terrible people. But the same can be said for people of every single religion in the world. I don't claim to be perfect, part of being a Christian is being aware of your own sin before you fault others for theirs. I know perfectly well that I have and will make many mistakes in my life, these mistakes are what it is to be human. They are also why I try so very hard not to judge others for their own mistakes.
I'm a very hippie-like person. To me, what I believe is all about loving people. There are people all over the world who will jump at the chance to shove their beliefs down your throat. That's not me. I am one of the least confrontational people I know. I daily try to accept people the way they are, sin and all and love them in spite of it. The best description I can come up with for a true Christian is this: "As a Christian you are supposed to be a light to others, not a blowtorch."
I like to think of my faith as more spiritual than just religious, because my relationship with God is a very personal one that extends beyond just going to church. I'll be honest, I don't pray as often as I should, but when I do, it's less like a recitation of a script and more like talking to a friend and seeking counsel. I don't always make it to church every Sunday, I'm often out of state because weekends are the only time I have to visit certain people in my life. I am attempting to read through the entirety of the Bible this year, I'm struggling, but I'm trying.
There is so much hate going around in the world, and I don't think it's necessary. There are Christians that aren't respectful of other people's religions and beliefs, but again, the same goes for everyone else. It's a two way street. I would never put someone down or remove them from my life on account of what they believe in. Nor am I embarrassed about my own beliefs, I don't go out of my way to broadcast it, but I'm not ashamed of my faith.
I simply cannot believe that a world this amazingly beautiful and full of wonders happened by random chance. If I did, I don't think I would be able to sleep at night. I have enough anxiety as it is over every aspect of my life. I find great comfort in knowing there's a plan and that everything happens for a reason. If I didn't have that comfort, I would, quite frankly, be scared sh*tless.
I'm always willing to have open minded conversations to the best of my ability with people who have questions or are curious. I know I don't have all the answers and that's okay. Some people would say "if you don't put down my religion, I won't put down yours." But as I have already said, that's not my way of thinking, instead: "even if you put down my religion, I will respect yours." God Bless.
"But whosoever shall deny me before men,
him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven."
Matthew 10:33
