Answer to "A girl's message" on youtube

This is an answer to that girl's message (though the title stated it fairly well, I want to make sure you're with me on this, just in case) on Zergu's blog. You have the girl's lines in bold and my answers in something else than bold. I'm sorry I can't post (and/or record) a video like hers, it is something I will of course be able to do in 10-15 years, when my kids understand that mom is not only someone who builds train tracks, changes the batteries of the engine, plays in the Ikea tent and tunnel, tidies up their room, so that they can safely go to the toilet without stepping on a bridge, the tent or the tunnel. But let's not get caught up in family history and get the message rolling:

Hey there

Hey there

I'm Emanuella

I’m Ioana, pronounce /yo'ah nah/

I’m a Christian

I used to be a Christian

I have been a good Christian all my life

I have tried to be good all my life, being a Christian was something like "being a good pupil/student"

It was my identity

Being a Christian was somehow part of my identity, though I would not have thought of answering the "Who are you" question by saying first "I'm a Christian" 

I used to like to tell people how good I was, how I kept all the commandments

I didn't use to tell people how good I was (probably because I didn't consider myself a role model), and the commandments were not all THAT difficult to keep

I thought that was good

I thought that was good (and enough) 

Then I realized something

Then I realized something: a guy on a blog, patiently and non-judgementally, made me realize that the God I believed in wasn't there

 

I failed

I moved on

Christian was just a name I wore

Christian was just a name I wore

Kind of like a pretty coat over a dirty body

Kind of like "a good student" or "a friendly girl" or "likes shopping kinda girl"

And I can't take it anymore

And I think it wasn't such a big deal

I wasn’t interested in being your friend

I wasn't interested in being your friend

I just wanted to change you

On second thoughts, I could have been your friend, had we been able to find enough things in common. I didn't want to change you. 

I thought that was my job

It wasn't a job job, but more like wanting to get to know you

Christianity is being like Christ, isn’t it?

Christianity is being like Christ, isn’t it?

Jesus loved everyone first

They say Jesus loved everyone first

 

If they didn’t accept what he said, he still loved them

If they didn’t accept what he said, he still loved them

It’s not my job to change you

It’s not my job to change you

I can’t

I can’t

But it is my job to love you

But it is my job to love you (well, at least not jump at your throat, trying to challenge your beliefs the second I meet you)

That I can

That I can (have a nice conversation about something other that your religious beliefs, like the weather, shopping or how annoying it is that Dexter season is finished) 

So, this is an appeal to my Christian brothers and sisters

So, this is an appeal to everyone

Not all, but some

EVERYONE

Stop the damnation

Stop the criticism, the I-know-better-and-you-should-absolutely-mind-my-advice attitude

Stop the judgement

DO stop the judgement

Stop the religism – google it

Stop the religism – google it (I haven't, sounds like something about how badly religion makes you act and think)

That’s not our business

That’s not our business

It doesn’t matter how well you can preach

It doesn’t matter how well you can defend your point of view, bring correct and logic-friendly arguments

How many bible verses you’ve memorized

How many bible verses you’ve memorized

Or how any people think you’re “all that”

Or how any people think you’re “all that”

If you don’t have love, you’re nothing

If you don’t have love, you’re nothing (just what exactly IS "love" to you?)

Love is not a chore

Love is definitely not a chore and not a war of arguments

It’s a revelation

It’s a revelation

The Christ you serve revealed in its purest form

The [insert whatever figure of science you choose to follow] you serve revealed in its purest form

Ghandi said “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians”

Ghandi said “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians”, well, at least some of them

Don’t be one of “those”

Don’t be one of “those”

This is an invintation

This is an inviTAtion

Start the love

Start the love

Join the movement

Join the movement