My friends always praise me for my inspirational art work that covers my dorm walls, and recognize how much time and effort I put into creating every single piece. They look down at my feet and recognize the silly shoes that are Chacos, wondering why someone would actually wear those in public. I listen to my Camp Tecumseh playlist on Spotify featuring Rend Collective and Hillsong United, while dancing around my dorm room. I spend time highlighting my Bible and reading scripture. I add stickers saying “I love Jesus” on my MacBook cover. I carry my camelback everywhere. I am planning the day I can get my God>Others>Self tattoo on my body. I suddenly realize, I am the stereotypical Christian.

I don’t write this statement as a bad thing, because being a Christian is something I cherish dearly. Society has shaped me to believe that how I am living is the “perfect way” to be a Christian. Without my Chacos and Camp Tecumseh Playlist, do I even believe in God? Am I worthy enough? These questions are put into my head based off of the images I see and some of the people I have met. It looks like to me that if I’m not highlighting my bible and know every verse someone speaks to me, I am not doing well enough with my faith.

Recognizing that I am not perfect and I am going to constantly mess up is something I have finally accepted after 18 years of living on this planet. I grew up in the church and consistently thought that if I didn’t ever take a sip of alcohol, only listened to Christian music, didn’t kiss a guy, or only hung out with girls as friends; I was going to be the perfect Christian. That is the completely wrong viewpoint to have. As a Christian, we are unique people that all believe in one thing: we are wonderfully made by God and we have to honor that statement. God loves me for me, no matter what shoes are on my feet, what tattoo is put onto my body, what songs I am listening to, or what stickers are on my MacBook.

I’m not saying that being the stereotypical Christian is a terrible thing. I believe anyone that knows a piece of scripture, wears Chacos on their feet, or listens to Rend Collective is my type of person. That isn’t the only type of friend I want to have just because I am a Christian. If it only is represented on the outside, living a stereotype isn’t a terrible thing. When someone looks at me they may view me as the “trendy Christian.” I have no problem with that label, until it defines who I am on the inside.

I support gay people, I hang out with people that are atheists, I forget to pray before bed, I sometimes don’t go to church on Sundays and I am a part of a Greek life organization. All of these things don’t make me any less Christian or of lesser value to God. The whole point about being a Christian is living God’s word and spreading God’s love. Love who you are no matter what someone labels you to be. I will still love Chacos, listen to Rend Collective and carry my Camelback everywhere; it only means that I appear the stereotypical Christian, not that I am one. Being in a relationship with God is difficult and sometimes we question everything about it. Jesus doesn’t care what color Patagonia we own or what verse in the Bible we highlight. Our relationship with Christ is what is most important. Live the “I’m Third Moto” of Camp Tecumseh, God is first, Other’s are second, and you are third. If that is what defines me as the stereotypical Christian, I like how I am defined.