In recent days, and weeks. I have felt my faith under attack. Mainly by those, I call friends. People have been shoving me into a stereotype of a hater, and a monster. They have told me “my people” are evil, and should not be allowed. I have been told all Christians are bringers of hate. As a Christian, that hits hard. Please know my faith is the most important thing to me. It really shapes all of who I am. The way I act, and dress. The way I talk. My gender, and who I chose to date. I don’t say this to seem as if I am a slave to my “religion” in fact I am not religious. Nor am I a member of a cult. I was not born into my faith. It was a choice I made, and I continually make. When I call myself a Christian I do so with boldness. I do so in the confidence that the Bible is the truth, and that is why I know full well I am loved. Being a Christian does not mean I am religious. My whole life is not devoted to forcing my faith down the throats of others. Although I share myself, I never intend to be pushy, and manipulative,I am not a Christian because I am perfect, in fact, I am incredibly flawed, perhaps flawed more than most. Being a Christian doesn’t mean perfection. It means forgiveness, redemption, and deliverance. It means I am called to love because I was first loved by Jesus, who died to overcome death. Who died so I may live.
So this I want to make clear. This I believe is what sets apart the Christians I know, from those who live in religion. God hates no one. In fact, God loves everyone, despite what you may read. Despite the pictures of the protest, and twisted signage that you may see. Despite how others who identify themselves as Christian may conduct themselves, My God loves all. I am not a Christian who runs away from big social debates, instead, I am one who runs towards them in love. For my God loves, and I love the same. So here is my heart. Here is what I know to be true. This is the God I serve. This is Christianity I live, and I love. The type of Christianity where I do not succumb to social pressure, where I do not partake in Religion, Where I will not always be accepted by the common population, I know I must fight for what I believe, but above all my God loves all, and so do I.
God loves the LGBTQ community
God loves the Porn Addict
He loves the drug addict
He loves the drug dealer
God loves those who don’t love themselves
He loves those who live on the streets in poverty
He loves women who have chosen to abort babies
He loves women who were bullied into aborting babies
He loves the atheist
God loves the alcoholic
He loves those drowning in pain and self-hate
The parents who struggle to parent
The single moms
The single dads
The kids who are broken lost and confused
God loves them all
God loves those who struggle with mental illness
He loves those who have made poor decisions in the past
He also loves those who will in the future
God loves the grieving
He loves those of all faiths
He loves those of all races
He loves the First Nations People
He loves the Black people
The white people
And everyone in between
Those who are Muslim
Those who are Jewish
He loves them all
He loves both men and women
He doesn’t care about the colour of your hair, eyes, or skin
God loves those of all sizes
He loves those who self-harm
He loves those who have tried to take their own life
He loves those who live in shame and guilt
He loves the women who have been sold into the sex trade
He loves those who live with the spirit of suicide upon them
He loves those who face eating disorders
He loves those who love him
He loves those that don’t
He loves all
He loves me at my best, and at my most broken
He loves you where you were, where you are, and where you will be
So do I
