For some reason recently, it's really been bothering me how much people talk bad about the Christian faith. Probably because I am a Christian, yes, but really why would you badmouth what anyone believes.
Call me a bad person, but I believe that people should have the right to practice whatever they feel as long as it is not harming other people. And maybe that's not what I'm supposed to believe by being what faith I am, but at the same time I am an individual person and believe this in my heart. If someone has faith in a certain religion, there is probably a reason.
I'm a Lutheran, partially because I was born and raised a Lutheran, but also because I want to be. I attend my church on a regular basis because I want to, not because I feel I have to. Some of my best friends that I have are also Lutheran and if it weren't for my religion, I probably wouldn't have met them. But above all of those things, I believe the way I do because it makes sense to me. Everything I have learned gives me a rational understanding of why things are happening. Not everything that happens to us happens the way we want it to, but because of my faith I realize that some of the things that I wanted and didn't get were not things that I needed. My faith also gives me support in times that are hard. Without God, there are many things that I would have struggled through. Besides that, God gives me the people of his Church for help and for me to help. And that is powerful.
That is what I believe. And if that's not what you believe, then I understand and I want to know what you believe and what gives you strength and closure at the end of your day. I don't even want anyone to feel like I'm pressuring them into becoming a Lutheran or a Christian if that is not what they desire.
All I ask is one thing. Don't attack my faith. I don't attack yours. I may tell you what I believe and why, but I'm not judging you-if anything I'm trying to learn. Think about it from my perspective; every time you question my faith or judge what I believe, your questioning who I am down to the core and what I would put my life down to defend if it came to that, just like you would your beliefs. So think about it before you attack.
For me, it gives me strength, knowing that I have someone looking over me, helping me when times are hard and things don't make sense. Everyday becomes a miracle and things are just brighter. It gives me something to look forward to when I die, something better this monotonous thing we call life. And you know what? There may not be a God, or a Heaven, but I'm at least living for something and there is nothing you can do to take that away from me. I'll still believe.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6
It is what I believe, not what I'm forcing you to believe. So let me believe. Just let me.
Thank you
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