It’s everywhere. It’s #LoveWins.
It’s an easy stereo-type to say that I, as a Christian, hate this. And, I can see why some people may believe that. I’m on social media enough to read about people who have had negative experiences from people who claim Christianity. For instance; “You’ve got a one way ticket to hell for being gay” or “God doesn’t love people like you, and neither do I” or “You’re wrong, I’m right” and honestly, I’m sure the list goes on. Let me tell you something I do know for sure, though some people say those harsh things, I don’t believe that it’s 100% true.
See I believe that God is love. He didn’t send His one and only son, Jesus, down to earth for us to all hate. So, get off your high horse and leave the Hatorade you’re drinkin at home. Now, you may be reading this and not agree with me. That’s ok. I’m not writing this with intentions of brainwash. I just want you to know something, from me personally. It’s that I love you. It doesn’t stop there though, I truly believe that God does too.
Please accept my apology for the way you’ve been treated by people who claim Christianity. Because that’s just not fair. And it’s not what you deserve. I would hate to be judged for wearing t-shirts and my hair in a ponytail instead of a nice dress or cute outfit with my hair done all the time just because I’m a girl and that is what our culture says. What I would like is to live in peace with the dress-wearers and the t-shirt collectors (me). The same goes for you. You should be able to have the choice to live your life the way that you want to without being judged and hated. In addition, you should be able to live your life the way you want in peace with people who live differently. Why can’t that be true? Beats me. Maybe that will be the first thing I’ll ask Jesus face to face among the many questions I’ve accumulated over the years.
And no, you do not have a one way ticket to hell, God does love people like you and I think it’s beside the point who is “right” or “wrong”. If it’s love we’re fighting for, then does it really matter? Truth be told, none of us are always right or always wrong anyways, myself included. If I believe that what the Bible says is true, then there just isn’t a way for you to automatically have a one-way ticket to hell. If there is absolutely nothing you can do to earn or lose God’s love, that it is a f-r-e-e free gift, then it can’t be true. Because that would mean you earned it based on something you did. And straight from Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Not your own doing, gift of God, not a result of works. Put in simplest terms, you cannot do anything to earn God’s love or lose it. It’s a gift. It’s a gift you must accept, yes. But it’s a gift open to anyone and everyone. God wants to know you, just the way you are. He doesn’t expect you to be this pristine “perfect” person before you decide to walk into a church. He just wants you.
People often say that you are damned to hell for this sin forgetting there is more than just this specific sin in the world. If that was true, we’d all be done for at the age of like 3 or 4 when we told our first lie. Those same people are missing the bigger point, you see. The character of God is what should be the focal point of our faith; grace, mercy and forgiveness. Jesus came, He took the punishment that we deserved for our sin so that there would be a new way; through Him. If I truly believe that what the Bible says is true, I will do my best to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. That, is what you deserve. I’m so sorry that you’ve received things outside of that. If you’d like to explore this more deeply, I invite the opportunity to talk and I’d open the chance for me to hear you out.
I’ll end here, I may believe differently…but more importantly, I love you. I love that you’ve fought for something that you believe in and will rejoice with you that now it is possible to live in a way that is authentic to who you are as a person. That’s right, person. You and I are alike you know, we’re both people. We’re both p e o p l e living in this world that is in desperate need of…wait for it…love.
I love you.
Love,
me.
