live out Christianity in a way that lets people know it’s not just a bunch of stupid rules

There’s a line in the movie “Magnolia” that I love. There’s this drug addict, Claudia, who likes this inept police officer, Jim, and before they decide to date each other they agree to tell one another everything they hate about themselves. Claudia says “I’ll tell you everything, and you tell me everything, and maybe we can get through all the piss and crap and lies that kill other people.” There’s something to be said about getting all the stuff that would cause problems in a relationship out of the way before you get in too deep. That’s exactly what I see that Jesus did by dying for my sins. He just wanted to know me so much, that He did what had to be done to get rid of the only thing standing between me and Him. It’s a tough position for Him to be in. Think of a judge who has to try a case involving his own daughter as the guilty party. He has to be fair and serve justice, but he also loves his daughter and doesn’t want the daughter to endure punishment. So the judge agrees to serve the time for the daughter. That’s what God did for me. He proved Himself to be just, by still dishing out the punishment for offence, but also merciful, by serving the time for me.

I think we make this thing a lot more complicated than it should be. What I know is that Jesus came and died for my sins because they were the one thing standing in the way of me having a relationship with God. I think it’s worth more people seeing that it’s just that simple—no denominations, no fire and brimstone, no Hail Marys—just a lot of getting to know the God that thought I was so unique that the world He created wouldn’t be right without me in it.