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Being a Chrisitan in 2016

The struggle is worth the reward.

Jessica Salzman

Jul 12, 2016

Union University

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I feel like Christians have a bad reputation. I know it wasn't always this way. People used to respect those that were considered to be a man of God or a woman of God. When people hear that I'm a Christian they automatically assume I'm going to judge them for the sins they have committed, or tell them that they have to believe in God. And while I believe in God and I want everyone to believe that, I am not going to shove the Bible down your throat.

I want to literally live my life on mission. I want to be a missionary and share the Good News with those that have never heard it before. I want to see others come to believe in God like I do and to watch God change their life. Contrary to what you might think, I do not want to force my religion on you. I want to live my life in such a way that others will see Christ through me. That they will see me as different from the rest of the world because of Him.

I struggle to make that a reality sometimes. It is very easy to slip and follow after what the world is telling me is right and acceptable compared to what God has called me to do. I wrote an article a few weeks about the struggle of finding modest clothing and I think that has a big problem for Christians in the year 2016.

Lately I've been paying more attention to the kind of music I listen to and actually listening to what the lyrics are saying. Most of the music on the radio is not something I want to actually listen to. All everyone wants to put in a song is sex, drugs and drinking. I don't want to listen to that kind of song. I want to be able to tap my foot and belt out a song that I wouldn't be embarrassed to be caught by my parents listening to or singing. Some of the words in the songs can be like poison to Christians.

Being a Christian can feel more like a punchline than an actual lifestyle. Christians are not perfect. We are just believers in a God and while we want others to believe in that, we are not going to force it down someone's throat. Being a Christian was never meant to be easy. Our reward for suffering for His name's sake is worth all the pain when we finally get to Heaven.

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Being a Chrisitan in 2016

The struggle is worth the reward.

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No matter how old you are.

1. Build a snowman

2. Start a snowball fight

3. Build a fort

4. Binge-watch Netflix

4. Look out the window

5. Grab coffee with a friend

6. Complete school or office work

7. Sleep

8. Read a book

9. Bake cookies

10. Drink hot cocoa

11. Go ice skating

12. Take a Walk

"I don't want to do things. I want to not do things."

1. When you look at the syllabus and realize there are only three weeks of the semester left; even though the first day was LITERALLY yesterday.

2. You look at your grades and realize they probably aren't as high as they should be, which is a terrifying realization.

3. When you think to yourself at night, "tomorrow, I will wake up early and go to the library ALL day, and, hell, maybe after I'll go to the gym for a little bit, just to push myself that extra mile."

4. Tomorrow actually comes. The inevitable and overpowering sense of procrastination is too strong to overcome.

5. But you DO end up going to the library. Not all day though, but still, a while. But no, you do not go to the gym. Still, you made an effort, so you decide to treat yo' self.

6. When you realize you need to schedule a meeting with your adviser because you need to sign up for classes next semester. But you also realize that since you waited until the last minute, you're going to get stuck with all of the crappy classes.

7. When you low-key try to slip into conversation with your professors that you need extra credit because you're that desperate.

8. When it's already the third time you've seen your adviser in two days because you have no damn clue what you're doing and need all the help you can get.

9. When you apply for a job associated with your major even though you have no experience, but you just want to dive headfirst into the deep end of adulthood and get it over with.

The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

1. Figuring out when to start

2. Searching through list after list to get everything you need

3. Shopping for deals

4. Getting bins to put everything in

5. Figuring what you can’t live without

6. Going through clothes to find what you need

7. Finding out your siblings took something from you

8. Fighting with your parents.

9. Trying to plan things with your roommate

10. The fear of forgetting something

11. Move in day

Relatable moments from one of the best shows I have ever watched.

1. When you fail that midterm you studied so hard for.

2. When your crush finally texts back.

3. When payday comes around.

4. When you accidentally like someone's picture from 108 weeks ago.

5. When someone takes your unassigned assigned seat.

6. When your favorite character in your favorite TV series dies.

7. When that guy/girl you’ve been crushing on agrees to go on a date with you.

8. When you have so much to do, and such little motivation to do it.

9. When someone asks for your last fry.

10. When you try a new health-food craze.

11. When you get new clothing.

12. When you check your bank account.

13. When they're serving good food in the dining hall.

14. When someone tries to tell you what to do.

15. Or just your thoughts about life in general.

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