Dear Non-Christian,
I know you do not believe the way I do. I'm not trying to convert you, but I want you to know a few things about the truth of Christianity......because, and this is a sad reality, we Christians are misrepresenting the very one we claim to follow: Christ.
The truth is simple. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus came to earth to pay the price for my sin so that I can be with God in heaven, because he loves me that much.
That's it.
That's all.
For me, it really is that simple.
I don't have to do anything, or be anything to receive that. It's already been done.....I just have to accept it.
So, while I can't speak for all Christians, I can speak for the truth I know.
I want you to know that I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat.
I don't care if you're pro-life or pro-choice.
I don't care if you have tattoos or if you don't.
It doesn't bother me if you drink or smoke.
I don't care if you've had sex before marriage.
I don't care if you've been divorced.
I don't care if you've cheated on your spouse.
I don't care if you are gay or straight.
The reason I don't care about any of these things? Because while your beliefs may shape the way you feel about things like politics, habits, and sexuality......these things have nothing to do with how much God loves you or how much he values you. And, as a follower of Christ, I am commanded not to judge you for what you do or don't do, but to love you. I may or may not choose to do some of the same things you would, but that doesn't matter. I may or may not mark a different box on my ballot than you would, and that doesn't matter either. What I'm trying to say is, Christianity is about Christ.
Period.
It's about being in a relationship with him and knowing him in such a way that you desire to emulate him. When I see some of my Christian brothers and sisters out in the world......sometimes I want to disown them. They are passionately focused on things that don't matter. They cling to their lists of "thou shalt nots" and wave them in the face of others. What they say and do and propagate is so far from the truth......so opposite of what it means to truly be like Jesus, that I just want to run up to them, take them in both hands, shake them and shout at them how backwards they have things because they have it in their heads that to be a Christian means you have to be a certain way.....vote a certain way.....look a certain way.....and.....you don't.
I apologize because what you see in those people, is not an accurate representation of the Christ I follow. I hate that he has been misrepresented to you, because to truly know him for who he is.....is a wondrous and inexplicable thing.....a thing that transcends our human understanding in the most amazing of ways.
I want you to know him for who he is. I want you to experience him without the taint of misguided Christians who..... just don't get it. And what's worse.....they don't even know that they don't get it. But, non-Christian, I want to assure you that there are Christians out there who do get it. They're out there.....not judging you.....not criticizing you for the choices you make......not condemning you for that abortion you had or the politician you voted for that ran against the person whose bumper sticker they proudly displayed, they are not made uncomfortable by the ink on your arm, the bottle of beer in your hand, or the cigarette butt hanging from your lip. They're out there.....not looking down their noses at you for being gay or lesbian, not disgusted with you because you had premarital sex, not shaking their fingers at you because you lied to your third grade teacher about your homework, or stole a candy bar from the corner store when you were eight.........those Christians.....they're not out there thinking about any of this regarding you - they're simply there loving you. Wanting to share the truth of Jesus with you.....because they know that you are no different than they. Because they know that none of those things has anything to do with what it means to be a Christian. Because they love you with the love of God.....and because they want you to know that being the recipient of God's love and grace and mercy has no prerequisites save for believing in him.
They're out there.
We are.
I am.
Non-Christian, I apologize....because I don't want you to miss out on the best thing you could ever know because it wasn't shown to you for what it truly is. I would hate for a bunch of annoyingly vocal, well-intentioned yet confused Christians who don't get what it really means to bear that name, to be the very reason you reject the beautiful gift of knowing the Living God as YOURS.
This God we Christians know and love.....the one we serve and follow......
he loves you so, so very much. Loves you just the way you are. Has never stopped loving you or wanting you, no matter what you've done, or who you've slept with, or how you've voted, or.....anything else. There is not a single thing you could do or be that would ever make him stop loving you or wanting you as his own.
Not one thing.
Ever.
I beg you.....forget what you've seen and heard from legalistic, judgmental, self-righteous, religious "Christians".....please. Open your heart......seek the truth.....discover the unimaginable.