My name is Julie. I am a Christian. If you identify with the letters in the title of this post, I have something I want you to know. I love you. God loves you. And I'm sorry. For the things other Christians have said. For the things I myself have said about you. For the ways Christians have treated you and made you feel. For the love we haven't made you feel.
I love you. No conditions. No "but", no "even though", no "in spite of". I love you. You are a person, a creature made after God's own image. You are a sinner and so am I. Judgment is not mine to give. Only love. No "Love the sinner, hate the sin". What is that crap anyway? We are all sinners. That mantra should apply to all people, but I only hear it in reference to people whose sins are viewed as greater than our own. I'm sorry. I've said it myself when referencing you. And I am ashamed.
I'm sorry for the love I haven't shown you, for fear of making myself uncomfortable. I'm sorry for thinking even for a second, that I am above you. Or that I am less of a sinner. I hope you'll forgive me. I'm sorry for putting my love into a context. Who am I to ever do that?
God loves me. No conditions. No "but", no "even though", no "in spite of". He loves me. I am a person, a creature made after His own image. I am a sinner.
My name is Julie. I am a Christian. If you identify with the letters in the title of this post, I have something I want you to know. You and I, we are no different. We're both sinners. And we're both loved by a God who doesn't have rules for who He loves or how He loves them. He just does.
