All are welcome here.

Hi! My name is Becca and my dog’s name is Scout.

Most of you know that but because of this quarantine, a few new friends have been popping up so I thought I would formally introduce myself.

I’m not really one for labels but here are some of mine:

Christ-follower

Daughter

Sister

Friend

Animal Lover

Dog mom

Progressive

Feminist

Tree-hugger

Production Coordinator

Reader

The list goes on, you get the point. Did you get past the first one without making assumptions about me? Did “progressive” or “feminist” give you pause after the first label?

There are a lot of assumptions about Christians; there are a lot of labels that are automatically applied. Republican. Boring. I’m happy to show that there are all different kinds of Christians. But there are assumptions you may be holding onto that blanket covers Christianity that I want to clear up.

Judgemental

Exclusive

Close-minded

Dismissive

Ignorant

There are many churches who have turned people away for reasons that they then cite in the bible. If you have been turned away from a church because you appeared to be too broken, too much of a sinner, too outside the box, too whatever, I’m sorry because that is not of Jesus.

Jesus came for everyone. If someone is citing the bible to you in order to keep you out of a system made to glorify God, they are wrong. Plain and simple. When Jesus came to Earth, He hung out with the sinners. He didn’t choose the company of the holiest or devout or highest-ranking people. He chose beggars and sinners and the outcasts.

Jesus came here for you.

In today’s sermon, my pastor said, “To Jesus, there aren’t categories of people, there are just people.” We are meant to love on each other through everything because that’s what Jesus would do. And as Christians, we are called to live a life like Jesus.

Since a lot of you don’t really know me all that well yet, I want you to know what I mean when I say I’m a Christian. I mean that I sin and God gives me grace. I drink sometimes, swear more then I should, and have multiple tattoos. Guess what? Jesus still loves me. And not in spite of those things. God loves me for every part of me because He created me. I was made this way so that His kingdom would be diverse and big and beautiful and to glorify Him through His grace. And He made you for the exact same reason.

We are all different on purpose. God did not send His one and only son for a very small, specific group of people who happened to all subscribe to the same beliefs. He sent His son to save YOU. I don’t care what your labels are. I want you to know that as a Christian, Christ-follower, Jesus-loving person, I am a safe place. You are welcome with me.

If you have had a bad experience with Christians or the church, I apologize to you. That was not of God. People who act in hate are not representative of the God who saved me. We are all different but we all need Jesus and we all need each other. The kingdom of God needs you.