I am…. one of those…

I’ve come to a horrible revelation.

I am an Evangelical Christian.

I mean, technically, that’s what I am. I looked up the words….

Evangelical: Pertaining to or keeping with the gospels and its teachings.

Egads, that’s me! Or at least who I want to be.

Christian: Believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Egads, that’s me too!

Though a bit repetitive, those terms both apply to me.

And yet, in today’s culture – in social media, regular media, conversation, pretty much everywhere – you could interchange Evangelical Christian with oh, say, Ax Murderer, or Republican-Gun-Slinging-Homophobic-White-Male-Who-Hates-Women-and-Children.

It’s a horribly derogatory term… 

How can this be?

I love Jesus – He literally changed everything. His love, his grace, rocked my world. And if you had told me (way back when), that I was going to be a full-on believer, a Jesus Freak, I would have laughed in your face. No way. Not me. I’m not going to be one of those religious nuts. And then I met Jesus. He is good. He is kind. He’s worked the most amazing stories out in my life and I learn new things to enjoy about him through each season of this crazy life.

So I love him. And I follow him.

And I love people – and frankly, I have an even greater affinity for those that march to the beat of their own drum. I don’t own a gun, but have no issue with those who do. I also believe in common sense regulations for owning such a weapon. I love beauty. I am passionate about this life. I think creation reflects God’s love in extraordinary ways. I am crazy about my family and care deeply about my neighbors and my community. I would fall on my sword (if I had such a thing) for any of my loved ones and spend hours agonizing about how I can make this world a better and brighter place.

So to be labeled a Republican-Gun-Slinging-Homophobic-White Male-Who-Hates-Women-and-Children? Or in other words, an Ax Murderer?

Ummmmmm……