I work at a church, I'm involved in ministry, and I read my Bible; however, sometimes I still feel as if I'm not "Christian enough."

I'm only 20 years old, but I have been a follower of Christ for eight of those 20 years. Often, I find myself discouraged because I do not fit the stereotypical "Christian" look and conduct—clean-cut, reserved, slow to speak a harsh word, and a listener only of "Christian music". I look at that list (possibly one that I fabricated due to the sterilized culture within the Church) and then I look at my life and my appearance and something simply does not match. When I get bored with my hair, I shave parts of my head, I've gauged my ears, sometimes I get tattoos and piercings on a whim, and I'm certainly quick to offer a sarcastic comment (which has gotten me into trouble a time or twelve). I've heard the phrases, "Christian women shouldn't shave their head", "it's wrong for you, as a Believer in Christ and someone works at a church, to have so many tattoos or listen to Beyoncé", and "you're expected to live with a certain character, and doing these things is causing people to stumble." Hearing statements like this (regarding music or being sarcastic or listening to Tokio Hotel [in my dark, emo years]) since becoming a Believer, I began to believe that to be a Believer, one had to look and act a certain way—and struggling with past sins or current issues is certainly not allowed. This belief and these comments have continued to creep up into my faith and my thoughts toward who I should be as a Child of God.

Here's the problem with all of that: My salvation was begun by the Spirit through faith and is not being perfected by the law.

Eight years ago, Christ knocked me on my face and showed me the depth of my sin, and, thereby convinced me of my need for a Savior. Through faith, I acknowledged His free gift and became a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means that my walk, my transformation into becoming new, is not based on fulfilling the law of legalism and human expectations. Being "Christian enough" is no longer something toward which I need to strive. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells Believers to "trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." It is for freedom Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1), so there is no longer a legalistic image by which Believers must live. Instead, Christ calls His children to seek after Him, die to themselves, and live as a new creation.

As Believers, we must understand this. Not every Believer looks the same, sounds the same, or acts the same; they should be characterized by the new life within them.

The truth about shaving your head, gauging your ears, tattoos and piercings, and music tastes is that, while it may not fit the normal "Christian" aesthetic, they are not sinful and certainly are not causing people to stumble. Though people may be quick to make assumptions about people who choose to express themselves in this manner, these things do not reflect the condition of someone's heart. To make the claim that someone is not "Christian enough" based on these choices is a gross misassumption of the condition of one's heart, and it must cease.