Growing up, I was one of those people that only went twice a year (Christmas and Easter) to church. As I got older, I started to not like going to church. Not because of the church or the people, I just didn't like it. So, by age ten, I had stopped going to church. At age eleven, I started going to church again, but this time a different church. I started to love going, and I learned a lot. But it wasn't until age fifteen when I started to take my faith seriously. I was born again at the age of sixteen, and that day, changed my life forever.

But for the next few years, I was never really vocal about my faith, or what I believed in. To be honest, I really didn't know where I stood on a lot of the issues like pro-choice/pro-life. I knew that I believed in God and Jesus, and I wanted to follow what the bible had stated. My friends knew that I was Christian, and they never had a problem with it. And I never had a problem with what they believed in either.

I didn't talk about religion or my faith unless the topic was brought up. I'm still that way. I only talk about my faith when the conversation comes around to it, or someone asks me a question that I need to bring it up. I'm not ashamed of being a Christian nor am I ashamed to talk about it. I'm an open book. So, if you ask me questions, I will answer them honestly, and as best as I can. I just don't want to be one of those people that always talks about religion and my faith to people. Because I am one of those people that will not shove my faith down your throat.

As I'm getting older, I'm starting to take stances on what I believe in. In this moment in time, I'm pretty strong in what I believe in, but that doesn't mean that I won't listen to what you have to say and have a nice conversation with you. I love talking with other people that have different views than me. I not only want to know what you believe in, but why you believe in what you believe in. I want to see your side of the story because most of us know that there is always more than one side to any story. Each person in this world is different. Each person grows up differently, and has their own set of beliefs. I will respect you if you respect me. I'm not going to hate you just because we don't believe in the same things.

For me, I want to strive to be open minded. I want people to come to me and talk to me, and not be afraid that I'm going to judge them just because I'm a Christian. Yes, I'm a Christian, but that doesn't me I'm going to yell at you every time you do something wrong, or hate you because we don't have the same beliefs. Because I do have people in my life that I love and that I'm close to that have different beliefs, sexualtiy, race, and so on. I believe no matter what religion, sexuality, race, or class you are, we can all get along. We may have our differences, but we can have so many similarities that bring us closer together and outweigh the differences.

Let's stop hating each other, and start loving each other. If not love, at least respect each other, and get along. Because we are not getting anywhere by hating each other.