We were trained to pray the same prayer in the same order, in the same way, in the same time frame.

Trained to lift our hands at the peak of a great Hillsong chorus and sing “When Oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace for I am yours and you are mine” when the drums start to rumble and the crowd starts to rise to their feet.

Trained to say blessings over people even when we have no idea what anyone is talking about and end with a great and powerful “Amen” after each awkward pause.

Like a soldier joining a massive army, I was trained on how to be a Christian a good one, in fact. To look, dress, speak, act, and sound like the role model for children and other heathens of the world to follow.

No piercings, tattoos, crazy shavings or frisky T-shirts with Buddhist influences ever touched my body, since, of course, my body was the sacred temple that Christ dwelled in forever and ever. However, does that mean those with piercings, tattoos, crazy shavings, frisky T-shirts and gothic makeup cannot be considered Christians?

Is Christianity selective towards those who fit the criteria? The spotless, shiny, clean and orderly type that have no flaw between their two eyes.

New flash, that is completely false.

In Romans 5:6-8, Paul writes that Christ did not come to live and die for the righteous- the clean, safe and worthy. Rather, Christ came and died his horrific death for the unrighteous- the unworthy, lame, dirty and faction less.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Christ did not come for the worthy, rather He came for the uncommon, the unworthy, the weird ones.

Just because someone wears a nose ring or has snake bites, does not make them demon possessed. Just because someone likes to wear dark, gothic makeup does not make them suicidal. Just because someone dyes their hair multiple colors and shaves designs on the sides of their head, does not make them juvenile delinquents.

Being Christian does not mean be boring. Christ died for those who remained faithful to their identity and chose to follow Christ with their actions instead of changing the outward appearance for society's approval.

Christ loves you for you and your actions should resemble Christ just as your appearance resembles your personality. Choosing to not place tattoos on my body does not make me more worthy in God’s eyes if my actions do not resemble Christ’s orders and teachings. Instead, it is our deeds that should resemble Christ in every aspect of our lives. God needs all sorts of people, from all sorts of backgrounds and personalities to spread His message.

Stop trying to be the perfect Christian.