I don't want to be a cool christian...

I don’t want to be a cool Christian; just to prove to the world that I am not a psycho fundamentalist.

I don’t want to wear the Abercrombie jeans, holding my Starbucks cup, with the trendy jewelry and hair; just to prove that I am relevant, current, and hip.

I don’t want to hand a few bucks to the homeless guy, just to relieve my guilt.

I don’t want to hang out with the Hindu, the Buddhist, the Muslim, or the Mormon; just to enlighten each other with the similarities in our faith.

I don’t want to change my look, language, or values; just to prove I am not a sexist, racist, heterosexualist, or religionist.

I don’t want to be a democrat so I can fit in with my generation and I don’t want to be a republican just to beat the drum of sanctity of life.

I don’t want to read one more angry Christian book that tears the church up and down; just to prove that I think the church is a waste and out-dated like other 20-somethings.

I want to be a Christian. A Christ-follower. A disciple that follows in his steps.

I want to be relevant and current, communicating the Gospel in a way that makes sense to those around me.

I want to walk by that homeless man, woman, family and have my heart tugged with a heaviness because of the pain in this world. And instead of tossing change in the hand of the man I did not make eye contact with, I want to be a part of finding the fundamental problem and the fundamental solution. I want to be proactive and look to develop ways to empower change, not just relieve symptoms.

I want to spend time with my Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Mormon friends because they are human beings. I want to appreciate the beauty of their culture and the differences between our faiths. I want to stop diluting Christianity and every other religion by saying we are all the same, because the fact is, it is in the differences that the beauty of God is magnified as we find that His word is transcendent of all cultures, beliefs, and ages. It is through Christ that we can have a diverse community.

I want to be someone who can love and seek to know deeper the heart of all people. In doing this, I will not be a racist, a sexist, a religionist, or have any form of hate inside of me towards humans. I will naturally be someone who desires to not be judgmental but always wants to understand a little better. I can share my values and beliefs, without fear of others “finding me out” and lumping me in the “stereotypical Christian”category. I don’t need to fight against a stereotype of “Christians”=judgmental and non-accepting if I am filled with love for all. I can spend that energy fighting for a culture that sees every human worthy of the message of Christ. I don’t have to avoid the subject of religion or spirituality, because it is who I am…it seeps out of my pores…I do not want to put my personal, spiritual, and professional life in separate categories….

I want to be knowledgeable about politics, enough to know where passion and energy is needed to effect social change. Why are social justice issues a “democrat” or “republican” issue? They should be a Christ-follower issue. Some things should not be clouded by party lines. Life is one of those issues: the right for each human to have life.

I want to be an agent of change who is passionate about doing more than voting. I want to sacrifice time and energy to contribute tirelessly to the great social injustice of abortion, domestic violence, lack of housing, food, and medical services for the poor, human sex trafficking, etc. I want to advocate for all life and be a voice for those whose lives are being taken.

I want to see the Church the way God sees it, the way Christ and the disciples spoke of it. I don’t want to be a prophetess protesting the soon-coming doomsday of the church. I want to be a loyal and active part of a community that has the potential and power to transform an entire community and society. We treat her like she is beaten and bruised, no hope of ever being the radiant bride God said she was. I want to be apart of a community that believes in being something larger then “self.” I want to be the one that looks back on the past 2000 years and boldly proclaim that true Christians have always been a part of every social injustice ending and are called to continue to be a part of seeing injustice and evil pushed down.

I am growing weary of a sea of Christians trying to make a point. What if we just decide to love people? And love people by loving God and knowing God and obeying His word. That is who I want to be.