I am a Christian, first and last. Any label I carry along with that makes the simpleness of the gospel and my relationship with Jesus Christ more complicated than it has to be.

I attend a Baptist church, and I believe what I've been taught there. But when the lessons stray away from the Bible, I will leave and go somewhere else, even another denomination, where the Word of God is the ONLY standard.

I believe unborn children deserve a chance to live. Psalm 139 reminds me that God "knit me together in my mother's womb" and that he "saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in [His] book and planned before a single one of them began." (HCSB) Knowing that, I believe every child plays a part in God's story for the world, and cutting that life short is not something we should be able to decide.

I believe every believer worships their own unique way. Outwardly expressing how the Holy Spirit moves someone is beautiful. Reflecting solemnly with the Father in stillness is beautiful. There is no right or wrong way to give Christ Jesus praise, and no one should ever look down on someone or themselves for being the "odd one out".

I DO NOT believe human ideology should be used to interpret Christian theology. Calvinism and Arminianism really don't matter, and we shouldn't be divided by the ideas of man. Do I believe God knows all things from the beginning of time? Of course. Am I a Calvinist? I don't know, and I don't think that matters. If I believe God sent His Son to die for my sins, was resurrected after 3 days, and will return again, that's all that's truly important.

The church is divided by ideology, Bible interpretation, and personal preference. We aren't even close to coming together as believers, and until we ARE one, we can't fight against those who persecute us AS one.

I AM A CHRISTIAN. FIRST AND LAST.