I know you feel judged. I know you’re tired of feeling like Christians have been treating you as an inferiority. I know you feel looked down on. You may see Christians as snobby, hypocrites or “goody-two-shoes.” Christianity may come across as obnoxious or annoying to you. Along with that, you may feel like everything you do never seems good enough in their eyes.

I am a Christian. I fall into that category of crude gestures and smug looks. And I hate it. I hate that so many feel that Christians are these boastful, mean-spirited individuals. I hate that because I believe a certain way, I fall into this general assumption that Christians are frankly not good people.

So, I am so sorry. I am so sorry that someone along the way has mistreated you, made themselves seem high and mighty and/or made you feel like you do not matter. But, mainly, I am sorry this has given you a negative view of Christians.

I have grown up in a Christian home. I never knew many people who were not Christians. When I went to college, I met many. I was even told how rude and hateful Christians were to these people, and it was the biggest wake-up call. It broke my heart. Hearing those words actually come out of someone’s mouth crumbled everything that I have ever felt about being a Christian. I was so unfamiliar to this, and I almost felt ashamed of the word “Christian.” Since I was always on the inside of the “Christian bubble” before these encounters, I finally saw what others saw from the outside looking in.

I immediately watched myself closer. I was on the hunt to become more and more like Jesus. Because apparently being a Christian had been misinterpreted along the way. I think the world needed and may still need a little clarification — both Christian and non-Christian.

The reason us Christians categorize ourselves as Christians is because we are saved by the absolute epitome of grace rooted deep within our Father’s heart. God sent His son to die for our sins because He loved us that much. I do not think I know anyone or could be the one to send my own child to die on account of the measly mistakes of another human. Our Father loves us like a hurricane and seeks our heart continuously. And what’s even more amazing is that He just keeps forgiving us. He does not love us any less for what we have done, and He does not think of us any less. All sins are the same in His eyes, and being covered by His endless grace is the most peaceful state of being. Being in the arms of our Father is the sweetest indulgence. That is what our Christianity is about.

Now, I’m not writing this article to preach to non-Christians about how they are wrong and suck and don’t know what they’re talking about.

Because that’s just the point. We have got to stop that.

If you were to believe oh-so-confidently against something and someone else that did believe in this constantly nagged you, was rude and boastful towards you and tried to shove their beliefs down your throat, wouldn’t you automatically want to distance yourself? Wouldn’t you instantaneously decide that this belief not right for you just because someone that believes in this is self-righteous and this crude toward you?

I would too.

That’s exactly what has happened. This goes without saying that not nearly all Christians act this way because many still do show love and compassion to others; however, many Christians do have an idea in their head that they are more important than the rest of the world.

So, I am so sorry. I am sorry that the appearance of the depths of Christ’s love has been diminished by stereotypes rooted from the mishaps of some. I am so sorry that somewhere along the way, you have been turned off by Christianity because you had a bad encounter with a Christian or heard about something of the sort.

Because being on top or seeming cool or boosting one’s pride is not at all what Christianity is about. It’s about showing others this same love that God shows us, has shown us and continues to show us with every breath we take.

My hope is that we can change this impression you have of us. I hope that you will see Christians as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and having self-control. No matter what you, I, the man in jail that murdered his father, the woman that molested her son, or the child that bullies his/her classmates on the playground has done, Jesus still loves us all. He forgives us for everything we have done. Regardless if you believe that or not, I want to show you that I believe. I want to show you that love and forgiveness. I want to cleanse the palette of the people that are bitter about Christianity.

Christians are not perfect. We are not better than you by any means. We make mistakes all of the time. I know I for sure can testify for that. But, that’s exactly why I need my Savior. Because I am this imperfect human, and I constantly make mistakes, I need Him to greatly assist me in becoming a better version of myself. I need Him to help me mature and blossom into who I am meant to be. I am not better than you, him, her, or anyone else because I too am a sinner. We are all sinners.

I hope I can show you that I am just like you. Jesus walked this earth too, and he gets it. He knows it sucks. This life on earth is seriously so hard. This religious thing wasn’t meant to be for only the rich or the famous or the coolest most popular person. This is meant for the sinners. It is meant for the weak. It is meant for the oppressed.

I hope we can show you that. I hope we can show you love. I hope we can show you kindness.

I am so sorry if you have ever been shown anything less.