There are some things you must understand before you read any further. First, I am a sinner. I screw up every single day. I am completely dependent on grace; a scandalous grace that pursues me when I am unfaithful. Second, I don't have all the answers. Perhaps more important, I am not claiming to have all the answers, so you can put your pitchfork down now.

There is an epidemic in the church where Christians are often deemed intolerant by onlookers. By intolerant I mean closed minded, prejudice, ignorant, and unfortunately, even hateful. I've personally seen these characteristics personified by many who claim the name of Christ and it hurts my heart. I've also seen many leave the church or refuse the title of Christian because they do not want to be put into this box. This also hurts my heart.

One of the biggest flaws of the modern day church and conservative Christians is a lack of empathy for those who are different from themselves. This lack of empathy casts its net wide over a variety of people: Immigrants and refugees, opposing religions or political beliefs, families receiving government aid, and the LGBTQ community, just to name a few. Through the lens of privilege and an overall "holier than thou" mentality, the church has become apathetic to these groups.

Please, do not misunderstand me. I am not encouraging the Christian church to toss aside Biblical truth and sound doctrine. Studying, understanding, and living according to good theology is so important! However, it's equally important to not allow knowledge to become pride, and pride to become judgment.

Being tolerant does not mean you must agree with every decision a person makes, but rather you choose to love that person because they are a human being. Tolerance should be a natural progression of following Christ because we are called to love just as He first loved us. The people Jesus devoted His time to were not Pharisees or rulers, but rather prostitutes, the sick, tax collectors, and the demon possessed. He didn't just hang out with them, He gave up His life for them. It seems with an example like this there should be no confusion on how to be inclusive, but yet, the Church can't quite seem to figure it out.

So how would Jesus treat the groups of people that the church often looks down on? WWJD, if you would?

Jesus loves the LGBTQ community. Jesus died for gays, lesbians, and transgenders. Jesus pursues the gay community. His heart for this community is for them to be so captivated by His love that they come to know and be in relationship with Him. My prayer is that the gay community would receive healing and restoration from the church, instead of homophobic remarks and looks of disapproval. Would the church step up and be a hospital for the broken, not a museum of hypocritical saints.

Jesus loves immigrants (yes, even the illegal ones) and has a heart for refugees. May I at this point kindly remind you that Jesus was a brown skinned, Middle Eastern, refugee child of Jews. There is a lot of fear and uncertainty in our world today, and it is not unmerited. However, it's important to approach this situation with empathy and the understanding that our God is bigger than fear.

Jesus loves those who practice other religions. He loves atheists. He loves Hindus. He loves Muslims. Get this, Jesus even loves radical Islamists. So often, Christians cry foul when their religious freedom seems at jeopardy, yet are often quick to put down any belief that differs from their own. Christian, I ask you, how do you expect to win people for the Kingdom of God if you can't even respect another person's ideas and beliefs at a surface level? No one ever received salvation from losing an argument.

Jesus loves poor people. Jesus loves people on government assistance. Jesus loves the orphans, the widows, and those who sit at the poverty line. My single mom worked very hard, but money never quite stretched far enough. I remember being so embarrassed because our family had to purchase groceries with an EBT card. With every Safeway trip, I recalled the hurtful comments I had heard our conservative Christians say about "those lazy people" who "live off the government." Please Christian, do not be quick to judge. You have no idea the battle others are walking through. Pray for those who are less fortunate and count your blessings.

How does the church expect to make disciples if they time after time abandon Jesus' command to "go into the world?" We must meet people where they are at, whether that means a Pride parade or at the poverty line.

At the end of my life, I want to stand before God knowing I have done my best and gone out of my way to love those who were outsiders. Do you want the same? Please Christian, do not accept the lie that says you don't need to tolerate those who are different.

I urge you to leave your comfort zone with wild abandon, go into the world, and pursue others, just as Jesus' scandalous grace pursued you.