Don't preach, do

It's been my personal experience that those who thump their bibles the hardest are the least Christian people you will ever meet.  Even if they know hundreds of scriptures by heart.  Even if they don't have to use the index to find the books.  Even if they know all the hymns even the really old ones.  Even if they're actively involved in church. Even if they teach Sunday school.  Even if they tithe a lot of money.  Even if they're a deacon.

See, all those things are things people do for show.  To keep up appearances because appearing to be devout is very important to a person's standing within the church. It's still fake.

Real Christians, that is people who have a close relationship with God, don't care about appearances.  They know they won't always make it to church.  They know it's ok to skip bible study.  Sometimes you think bad thoughts.  Sometimes you think about sex.  Sometimes you cuss.  Sometimes you blaspheme.  You pay what you can in tithes even if 50 cents is all you have.

You're not perfect.  God knows that.  He accepts that.  He doesn't care.

If you tried your damndest to be a good person, that's all that matters.  Not your church attendance or how many scriptures you memorized.  Church is not a building. It's not the preacher.  It's not the ritual.  The church of the bible was our relationship with God.

You can have that anywhere.  You can talk to God anywhere.   You don't need a middle man sanctioned by other middle men to be your link to God.  God is within YOU.

And that's why I don't like organized religion.  Sure, it's good to remind you about God.  Sure, it's good to make friends. But God isn't religion.  You don't need a building or preacher to walk with God.

Unless you're a faker, putting on airs to please the holy men.  God sees right through that.

A real Christian doesn't need to reference Jesus in every conversation.  They don't need to say grace at every meal or only listen to gospel. They aren't required to have a certain political leaning.  They can be pro life and still be pro choice.  They don't have to agree with homosexuality but they'll still be nice to gay people.  They don't have to believe women are inferior to men or even that a woman should marry or have kids.  They understand sometimes sex happens outside of marriage and birth control is a good thing to have. Good Christians can be liberals.

Treat others as you would have done unto you.  That's called the Golden Rule for a reason.  You show respect and love to those around you. You take care of the world and the creatures on it that the good Lord made for you.

In other words, you don't preach it because you're too busy living it.