How to handle your Christian friends.

As Easter quickly approaches, I have the same frustration that I experience around Christmas. A lot of people like to point out that these holidays have pagan origins. In other words, the Catholic church integrated  Christian beliefs into preexisting pagan rituals, thus forming the holidays that Christians have celebrated for centuries. Of course, I'm not arguing about their pagan origins. I would like to point out, however, that people can choose what it is they're celebrating. If you want to celebrate Jesus Christ, you can do that and not worry about pagan origins. If you want to acknowledge the pagan festivals and their meaning while disregarding Christ, you're free to do that as well. It just seems like there's a tug-of-war over certain times of the year, and there's no reason for it. It also seems like there are people who just like to hurl shit at the beliefs of others for no reason. Why say something like "zombie Jesus" day? If you talk like that to a Christian, it's on a par with saying "that's so gay" to your LGBT friends.

I'm writing this for all my atheist and agnostic friends out there, and there are quite a few, and I care very much for all of them. I want to keep being friends with them; I don't want to be driven away by their insensitivity to my faith any more than I want to drive them away by trying to convert them. My guess is they feel sorry for me for being a gullible and delusional masochist who forces himself to live under a set of imposed values and beliefs, which keeps me from really living my life to the fullest. To those people: you're wrong, but I know you think you're right, and vice-versa, and on and on and on...This writing is not about trying to change your beliefs. It's about being understood.

Christians are not much different from anyone else. They have certain values, and they deserve to not be mocked. While it's true that many Christians have gotten political and made themselves to look like hatemongers, it's unfair to generalize them all in that way. What I want to do is give you a glimpse of a random Christian, someone you might actually like, someone with whom you may find common ground. That Christian, of course, is me. And here's what I want you to know.

I don't think I'm better than anybody else. You might hear me saying, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." But it's those last 3 words that are most important. What righteousness I have comes from Him. It's not because I do good (I often don't); it's merely because I've chosen to receive and believe on Him. So no Christian should ever be giving you "I'm holier than thou" vibes.

If a Christian wants to talk to you about Jesus or invite you to church, it is not because he thinks there is something wrong with you. We believe everyone who is born on this earth needs Jesus; he's our connection to God, and our escape from spiritual death. We're not holding contests to see how many people we can bring to our church, to increase tithes and offerings. This isn't what's on my heart, and I don't believe it's what's on the heart of most believers. Think of it this way:   Imagine if someone you loved told you that he was going to kill himself, and there was nothing you could do about it. Would you respect his decision or would you try to stop him? And would he feel disrespected and insulted that you tried to stop him? When a Christian talks to you about Jesus, in his mind he is trying to throw you out of the path of a speeding semi truck. The fact that they don't want you to go to hell means that they love you, not that they disrespect you.

Here's another way I look at it. What if Christians are wrong and there's no god? I guess people would just die; they wouldn't have a chance to be disappointed because if they're dead, they're not thinking about whether there's an afterlife or not. They will have lived a life that gave them meaning and a sense of purpose. They would not have missed out on anything important. However, what if Christians are right, and our God is real? The disappointment and regret non-believers would face upon death is beyond measure.

Christians don't claim to understand everything, or know everything. If you ask me to prove that God exists, I would have to say, "Sorry, it doesn't work like that." I know in my heart that he's real and living in me, but that's a personal discovery that everyone has to make. They have to be open to it. I do believe that God reaches out and pulls on someone's heart. I don't know why there's so much suffering in the world, although much of it is because God gave man the gift of free will. You wouldn't want it any other way. You don't want to be forced to worship anything. And honestly, I don't think He wants people to be forced; He wants them to make the choice. As for why there is the unusually cruel fact of an eternal hell?  Well, my friends, that's one I cannot answer for you. I know it wasn't meant for man, but it's free will that can get him there. I don't know why man only has limited chances for salvation. I guess when I see Him face to face, I can ask.

I know a lot of my friends might wonder how I can be a Christian and still be gay...and not only that; there are plenty of other things in my life--movies I watch, music I listen to, words I use, drinking, etc--that would raise the eyebrows of some Christians. Well, I'm a work in progress, and I am perfectly righteous but only through Christ. (I know I already said that.) I believe that whatever God wants us as individuals to change in our lives, He gives us the grace and power to do so. These are things I talk to God about all the time. Does it make me look like a hypocrite? Perhaps, but I never pretend that my deeds make me a good person. And I make it a point not to judge others, and usually I'm successful in that area.

There may be a part two to this. Thanks for reading, and be nice to your Christian friends. We'll be nice to you. At least I will.