There was a time, not but a few years ago, when I didn’t believe in a benevolent God. I believed that there was something transcendent out there in an invisible space, but I never really thought that it surrounded me. I went to church because my mother asked me to and I labeled myself a Christian because it was trendy. Being a Christian was like toting around the latest Kate Spade bag: it was cool and meant you were totally connected to the in-crowd. I thought that being a Christian meant highlighting Bible verses and making the casual appearance at church, going through the motions and checking off my religious to-do list. These things are nice, but they are not satisfying. Just this past Sunday, my incredible pastor reminded us that “anyone can come to church every Sunday, but none of that matters unless you’re here to build a relationship with Christ.”
My relationship with Christ is new to me. Six months ago my college suite mates, Anna and Haley, introduced me to a side of Christianity that I had never noticed before. They were so confident and humble within their faith, two qualities that I suffered multiple battles with. They were accepting and excited, joyful and loving. I was amazed at how they chased after Christ, never bent over to catch a breath, but rather always keeping stride with His word. Every day I try to mimic their stride, dropping the Kate Spade bag and running only with God. I am constantly viewing the world in infant eyes, retraining my heart to believe in the goodness of my faith.
However, being in a relationship with Christ is not easy. It is easier to abandon the path of Jesus, falling backward into the inherent, natural state of sin. I’m not saying I’m perfect or without faults. On the contrary, I’m still repairing all of the broken bits that life has hammered apart. But in my faith I have found a happiness that fulfills the crevices between broken pieces, and in Christ I have become more whole. Christianity isn’t just a label, it is a feeling. It is embracing others despite your differences and loving those who have harmed you. It is encouraging greatness in the lives of your friends and trusting that you are a part of a beautiful story. For me, it is learning to love myself in spite of my flaws.
Christ is more than just your handbag. I’m not saying that trendy Christianity is bad, nor am I discouraging anyone from making their religion unique.There isn't one mandate for how we, as Christians, practice the gospel. The difference between religion and Christianity is this: religion is a pattern of behavior, but faith in Jesus is the pattern of believing. You can carry around all of the essentials without ever utilizing them. Society has molded the fashion of Christianity, but your relationship with God matters more than the trends of a few followers. Strap up your Chacos and break out your brightest highlighter. Christ is seeking you, as He is never very far from any of us.
