Before I begin, I would like to disclose that I love the Lord, Jesus Christ with my whole heart. This article is not meant to bash on my own faith or relationship with Christ, but to bring light onto some major issues that I have seen within the Christian community these past few months. I know the wonderful joy of having Jesus in my life, but others do not. As Christians, we are called to go out and spread the gospel (Mark 16:15), loving all of God's children as Christ has loved us (John 15:12).

Sadly, I am seeing less and less of that Christ-like love that we as Christians are called to give. Christianity has become what seems like a popularity contest--a "thing" you do to meet friends, or even meet your future spouse. Oh, I am bored with this lonely sinful life. I think I will become a Christian and go to church. What do I have to lose? Or my favorite,the way that Christians are known for their fads. Christians are seen at little coffee houses, with nice clothing, in their prayer circles, and usually, someone is posting a picture on Instagram of their coffee and their bible (I do it too, I am just as much to blame).

However, this is not the mindset that we as Christians need to have in when we decide to follow Christ. When you, the Christ follower decides to follow Christ, you deny yourself and follow Christ (Matthew 16:24). Period. When I look around at my fellow Christians, and even at my own life, I am seeing less and less of this from a fellow body of believers who are called to deny themselves.

I find that more and more of my fellow brothers and sisters state they are Christians and follow Christ, however, they have no action behind the statement. Now, I am not saying I do not think that they are a bunch of liars, and they are only kidding, but there is a disconnect between what we say and what we do as Christians. I know because I have the same issue. A few weeks ago, I was driving and a car with a 99.1 Joy FM sticker began to tailgate me. I waved them ahead of me but as they passed, they told me that I was an "idiot" and "needed to learn how to F*%$ing drive". Yes. Very loving right?

If we are going to claim that we follow Christ, we must follow through with the action. Jesus came for the sick and the broken. In Matthew 9:12, Jesus states, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick". He came because we all fall short and have darkness inside of us. The same is also stated in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

When did the matters of what we see on the outside become more important than the matters of the heart? When did it become okay to make fun of someone for what they believe, think or feel? When did it become okay for someone to be judged based on their appearance? When did we stop remembering that each and every person is a child of God--made in HIS image to do HIS work. It should not matter if a person is black, white, green, purple, deaf, blind, with a disability or without, straight, gay, whatever. We are called to love everyone (Matthew 22: 36-40). Period. While we might not always agree with the choices someone makes or like the way a person acts or thinks, they are still a creation of God, and God knew everything that person would do before they were born. We have no idea what God has called another person to walk.

In Romans 15:7, "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God". We must stop judging those around us, and begin to share Christ like love with everyone..the believers and the non-believers. When we see others struggling, offer a hand.When someone is making fun of another, intervene. Instead of saying that we are Christians and this is the way we should be acting, let's start acting like it. Let us no longer create a disconnect that only affirms what the non-believers see and adds to their reasoning for not following Christ.

Let us all love, as Christ has loved us.