Christianity, as a religion, has made such a bad name for itself that I think it has forgotten what the important thing to be spreading is: God’s word and God’s love. People that claim to be devout Christians and churches that are radical about the laws, rules, and regulations are turning a lot of potential Christians further away from God.
Stop enforcing rules that aren’t Biblical
Listening to certain kinds of music, wearing certain clothes, hanging out with certain people, drinking alcohol, etc. aren’t going to condemn someone to hell immediately. Nowhere in the Bible does it say if I listen to one song by Drake I am immediately going to go to hell. Nowhere in the Bible does it say if I wear a dress that the hemline is mid-thigh I am going to hell. Legalistic religion is not what your relationship with God should be based on.
Stop putting weight on people’s relationships
I am tired of hearing people say, “Well you’re a Christian, what would God think about you hanging around someone like that?” God would be proud of me for giving this person an honest chance at a friendship. If every Christian was only friends with other Christians, who would be saved? No one, that’s who. You could potentially be that person’s only chance at knowing God, their only chance at getting an invitation to church, and potentially getting saved; so stop wondering what your other “Christian” friends will say.
Stop counting people out because of their past
I see so many Christians judge someone on their past behavior and think they can’t have a future relationship with God, and that’s crap. Isn’t our whole relationship with Christ about asking for forgiveness for the sin we have done in the past and looking forward to the future with Him? Just because they didn’t have the best life, make the best choices, or gave any effort in the past does not mean they are going to act that way in the future. People CAN change.
Stop judging people
I know this one is a tough one because everyone judges everyone but as people who are supposed to reflect God, I see the most judgment coming from us. You can see judgment everywhere, even in the church. To God, all sins are equal. No matter if it is murder or gossip, it weighs the same in God’s eyes because it is a sin. So stop putting that person down for the things they do when you comparing your sin to their sin, is a sin within itself.
Start loving people
ELE. Everybody Love Everybody. We are only here for so long and can only impact so many people, so stop being rude and judgmental. I don’t think Jesus ever met anyone that He wasn’t nice to or at least showed them some decency, and he hung out with some of the “worst” people. It’s time to start showing love. It’s time to start showing respect. It’s time to start being kind to strangers instead of being cold and hard towards them. It's time to start turning people towards God, instead of turning them away from Him.
