I've grown up in a Christian home for my whole life and as long as I can remember, I have identified myself as such. It wasn't until I was getting older that I started hearing comments and receiving backlash for believing in what I did. There were certain events I wouldn't get invited to or specific things that wouldn't be said to me because they I assumed I didn't want to go or hear based upon the fact that, in their eyes, I was the "good Christian girl."

First off, what does that even mean? What defines that? The most honest answer I can give is I simply don't know. What I do know, is that I'm a believer. I believe in both the trinity and the Bible. Therefore, my main job is to model my life after what Christ taught and how He lived.

In the most simplistic of terms possible, what I do not believe in is judgment. I do not believe in hatred. I do not believe I am superior. I do not believe in discrimination. I do not believe that some people are less than others based upon their religious choices. I was not raised with that type of attitude, but instead with one that encouraged me to love everyone.

Let's be honest, my beliefs, even in simple terms, are not so simple.

I also believe that love is a verb and requires action. When acted upon, it is a powerful force with the ability to drive out both hatred and fear.

I believe in acceptance regardless of appearance, race, religion, sexual orientation or preference, and I truly believe that all people were and are created equally.

I believe that no person is too far from love.

And if I truly believe in God and the Bible and what it says, then I fully believe that I am not a perfect person. No one is. And sometimes, we too, make snap judgments.

The Bible stories I grew up reading had nothing to do with a bunch of people passing judgment at others. The God and Lord I know, that I believe in and love, spent time with prostitutes, adulterers, thieves, and other criminals. If I am to model myself after Him, then who am I to pass judgment upon anyone? Every day as I go out into the world, I strive to look past the things that separate myself form people and instead of focusing on the things that differ between us, focus on those in which we are the same. Sometimes, all that is, is simply being human.

People are entitled to live their lives how they please. I think that quite frequently, we, myself included, make instant judgments on the way that people live their lives and how they identify themselves. Before you dismiss me, or anyone else, I would encourage you to get to know them as a person. Not their stereotypes that surround their identification, but as a human being. Don't exclude them for being different. Befriending one who is different than you, does mean you must agree with their lifestyle. Love the sinner, hate the sin.

Disagreeing with someone is not a form of hatred, but choosing not to help those in need because of their lifestyle is absurd. Help those in their time of need, and more importantly, allow them to see Jesus through you.

He washed your feet; it's time for you to wash others.