They say to me, "So, tell me about yourself"
but I don't know what, exactly, they want to know
So I ask, "What do you want to know?"
Someone says, "Are you a Christian?"
I look around awkwardly
Hesitantly I reply, "Yeah, but I'm not one of 'those'"
"Not one of 'those'? What do you mean?" they ask
I say, "Oh, I'm not like the ones you see
in the news or social media
We're not all like that
We don't all believe the same"
They all look at me
and then at each other
and then back at me
Curiously
So I tell them this...
God is love
and God loves everyone unconditionally
No exceptions
We should try to do the same
Love is love is love is love
Do good, but do no harm
Turn weapons into garden tools
We don't have to check our brains
at the church doors
Science is real
It's okay to question your beliefs
Wrestle and take inventory
Don't take the Bible at face value
Not everything should be taken literally
Ask questions, dig deep
Women aren't less than men
and don't have to be mothers or wives
There are more options than that to our lives
Women can speak in the Church
Women should lead
Fling wide the doors
Welcome the people in
the immigrants and the outsiders
Church shouldn't be an exclusive social club
Help people in need
Comfort the hurting
Seek justice
Fight oppression
Feed the hungry
Clothe the naked
Speak up when you know something's wrong
Don't be compliant
Care for creation– the animals and the land
Share what you can
and expect nothing back
I think I've covered the bases
The looks on their faces
tell me that they weren't expecting
to hear all that
And then I ask them,
"What about you? Are y'all Christians, too?"
