Christianity means I hate Atheists and homosexuals? No

     One thing that bothers me a lot, is how most people have this idea that being a Christian means that I have a hatred for Atheists and think they are despicable people that don't deserve to live, along with gays and lesbians. In all honesty, that is basically the opposite of what I believe and what the whole Christian faith is about. I don't hate Atheists, nor do I hate homosexuals. Why should I when I know that I have sinned just as much as they have, and since all sins are equal to God's eyes, it isn't up to me to judge them. In fact, I have some friends that don't believe in God, and friends that are homosexual. At least for me it felt weird at first, being around these people, but I also know that God wants me to spread Christianity. For all I know, I could be one of the only people that talk about it to these people. Would it be nice if the found Jesus Christ? Of course it would be amazing! However, I respect that they have their own views, and I won't help by shoving my views down their throats. There's that saying that 'you can lead a horse to water, but can't make them drink'. If I were to try to force somebody to convert, then they might get this idea that I do hate atheists, and my friendship is just a way to get them to become Christian.   

     I also don't want them to feel like I think they are idiots, and only I know the right answer. While I believe and know that God is the only God there is, they might have legit reasons to not trust him. I heard a story about a person whose father jumped off a train and committed suicide for reasons unknown to anybody. He turned from God and turned to drugs and other bad things. If I were in his place I probably would have felt the same 'why would God do this to me?' type thought. However, just when this person was about to make a very bad decision, a person showed up at his house and started preaching to him. Out of all the houses, this person chose this man's house. God sent this person to his house because he knew what was happening, and through this person, the man turned back to God. 

     What I'm tying to say is that I do not know why a certain person doesn't believe in God. In the movie God's not Dead, the professor didn't believe in/ love God because of what happened to his mother. I can understand why people would feel betrayed at one of these moments, just like the Jews might have felt in the Holocaust, but I want to let them know that God still loves them, that he never left them. Who knows, maybe I could end up saving a life by talking about God and not being afraid when somebody smacks down my religion. 

     "Not because of who I am, but because of what you've done." - Who am I by Casting Crowns 

                                                     ~Anna~

Challenge

Sorry for the delayed update, I have been busy with the holidays and getting back to school. I want to wish a Happy New Year’s to everybody.  One of the presents I got for Christmas was a devotional. This is the first year I will be doing a devotional and I am excited to see where it leads me and how it changes and strengthens my relationship with God. I’ve gone through my fair share of times when I question whether or not God is there, and wonder how much he actually cares about me. One day I started listening to a Christian radio station and the songs on there just bring me so much more happiness and hope than any other radio station does. I love hearing the stories they share about people who have lost their way and turned to drugs and alcohol along with other things to help them ‘heal.’ However, these stories always end with them turning back to God. These are stories that I wake up to when my radio plays and they help start my day off right. I’m challenging myself to stick with my devotionals and to listen to Christian music whenever I have a chance. However, I know that it is also important to be quiet and spend time with God by listening to nothing and just listening to what He is trying to tell you. I want to start sharing my thoughts on the devotions with you next week, and will hopefully get another post in this week. I don’t want to sound too much like a teacher in my postings, because in all honesty I am just a teen and I am trying to grow in God just as you all are. I want to make this more of a place that people look too when they want help and so by sharing my thoughts on my devotions I hope to do just that.  

           "My heart will sing no other name Jesus Jesus"- Forever Reign by Hillsong 

                           ~Anna~