Being a Christian in college is hard. Being a Christian in today's world is hard. There are times I wished I lived back in the medieval times because even though I would probably have an arranged marriage and die younger, my faith would be stronger.
But this isn't the middle ages, and this is the time period God chose to put me in. An age with abortion, pre-marital sex, children that will disrespect their parents just for attention, and homosexuality.
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So, how does a Christian who values the rights of everyone live in today's world and still maintain faith?
There are those who would say I don't. There are those who would say I'm going to hell. That God has no compromise. That you don't get to pick and choose what parts of the Bible you believe.
Here is what I believe. I believe the Bible is the Word Of God. I believe Jesus is the Son Of God, and One with the Father.
But I don't think God hates gays. I don't think God hates women who decide to have abortions. I don't think God hates.
In John 4:8, John tells the people "whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love." And I know there's people who are going to fill the comment section with Bible verses and I won't stop you, but this is my faith.
God is love. Love doesn't hate.
In human form, love seeks to understand. We've lost something in this age, and it's something we can't buy at the store. We've lost our compassion for one another. We see each other as gay, or a whore, or a baby-killer, or republican, or democrat, black, brown, or white before we see each other as Children of God.
God did not say only the purest white male is my son. Jesus loved the prostitute who cried at His feet. Jesus loved the tax-collector. One of the most crucial promises in the Bible, in the Christian faith, is that God Loves all His children.
And we are all called to be Christ-like.
A few weeks ago, I was at mass and Father Jeff said something that stuck with me. He said that we should all try for saint-hood.
Well, I could be wrong, but I don't think there's ever been a saint who was canonized for persecuting homosexuals. For standing on a street corner telling the girl in shorts she's a whore destined for hell.
The saints have come from all walks of life. None of them were born perfect. But they all cared for and loved their brothers and sisters in Christ.
And whether or not someone believes in Christ, whether they follow a different faith, or choose to have none at all, it is our job as Christians to love everyone, because they are Children of God. And everyone includes homosexuals, bisexuals, trans, Muslims, women who have had abortions, prostitutes, atheists...everyone means EVERYONE.
We are all fighting our own battles and have our own relationship with God. We will all fail somewhere along the way. None of us are perfect. None of us are Christ. But we can all try to be.
In this world it's easy to judge and hate. It's hard to try to understand and love someone who's made decisions you would never make. But, especially now, we all need to try a little harder to be a little more compassionate, and act a little more like Children of God.
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