When I was a kid, I went to camp (as so many do), where I learned about Jesus. One of the most impactful things I learned was that being a Christian meant that someone had Christ within. I wanted to be a Christian and I thought it was easy to have Christ within.

Years after camp and being baptized the first time, and living life in the world I think I finally know what that means to be a Christian.

Period.

He did not judge.

He did not push his views on others.

So tell me ...why is it that many people feel that Christians are doing these things? I think it is because we are. In a world that is comprising so much of the “Christian principles”, Christians feel the need to voice their opinion and stop it. While that is admirable is that Christ-like?

As Christian, it is believed that Jesus was God’s son. He was born as a human, lived a perfect life, died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. When looking at the way we ought to live as Christians, we look toward Jesus. Many look at Matthew 21:12-13 and think that they then can do the same in their worlds. That somehow, Jesus' actions make it is okay to protest against what they feel is wrong.

If you are that person own it.

I was.

I wasn’t a protester but I promise you if I didn’t like something or I felt that it was wrong I let you know probably multiple times.

After I gave my heart up to God again when I was 17 and was re-baptized, I felt the Lord wanted me to go out and change everyone. I wanted to take the fire I had inside and make everyone else have it too. Now looking back, I am afraid that I could’ve turned more away than brought near; to be completely honest I still have days now that I could be turning people away from God instead of letting His light speak through me.

Anyone that knows me can tell within the first few minutes that I am an intense person. And when I was 17 I was even more so. I was the first one to help, even when help wasn’t needed. This extended far into my spiritual life. “I love God. God loves you. You need to love God. Do what I do, or die forever.” This was my mentality and quite literally what I would say to anyone and everyone. If only I could go back and tell that me to be quiet. So that is what I am doing now.

I am telling 23-year-old me to be quiet: reminding myself every day to love. And I hope that my reasoning is important enough for you to think about being quiet too. You see, 1 John 4:8,19 makes it very clear that love is what we, as Christians, are to do.

Gary Chapman wrote a very popular book (maybe you’ve heard of it), where he explains that people give and receive love in their own way. The Five Love Languages states that gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, and physical touch, are the way to show love. Certainly not judgment, giving unsolicited advice or ignoring.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Paul tells us what it means to love in Christian terms. Many seem to think that this love only applies to those that we care about, yet Christ makes it very clear that Christian love applies to everyone.

How do I show Christian love? For me, it means being patient, kind, and encouraging. It means that instead of TELLING everyone about the God I love; I SHOW everyone the God I love through my actions.

If God is really working through us then others can tell. Jesus lived His life in a way that attracted people to Him and they wanted to know what made Him different.

Christians, if we say that we have Christ-within, let’s live that way too.