Every one always wants to put Christians in a box. From the outside looking in people have this idea of what a Christian is and the way they should act. That we should all fit in this tiny little perfect box. That once we are saved we are transformed into this perfect person with all the answers and no faults. Christians, like anyone else, are humans. Christians make mistakes. We were all born the same. Perfect little babies that have never sinned, never made anyone angry, never messed up. As we get older we make choices. God gave us the ability to make choices. Some choices are good. These are the ones we talk about to our family and peers. Other choices are bad. Ones that we try to cover up or pretend they never happened. That is the funny thing about choices... good or bad... they are all a part of what shaped us to be who we are.
I made a choice when I was 19 to follow Jesus. This wasn't the first time I had asked Jesus into my heart. I remember reciting that prayer many times through my childhood, but this time was different. I really meant it. To me, being a Christian meant that I was embarking on a journey that would lead to an authentic relationship with my creator. To me it meant that I was forgiven. That God and I had an "open-door" policy, which I still utilize daily. Whenever I needed, I could come to him, confess my sins and be forgiven. I have never felt more unworthy of a more beautiful gift. However I believe that others have a job description of a Christian and as soon as you don't fulfill all of the duties they rip the label of Christian off and replace it with a hypocrite label. Being a Christian never means you are perfect. There was only one prefect person that ever existed, and he was a homeless carpenter that lived over 2000 years ago and was crucified on a cross in front of all his friends and family.
Why must we put these expectations on each other? Expectations that none of us can actually live up to? Or, is it that Christians are to easy on themselves? Looking at God's open door policy more like a revolving door? I know I'll never be like Jesus. He was an amazing person that lived 33 short years and left more of a legacy than I'll leave in 100 long years. But I do know that I will love God until the day I die. I will, everyday, do my best to be a good daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend that I can. I will fail. I will make mistakes. I will learn from them, ask for forgiveness, brush myself off and keep going. I'll never be perfect, but I will always be a Christian.
