We are living in the 21st Century, an age of diversity. We fight for civil rights, humanitarian rights, environmental rights, animal rights, all rights. These are times of awareness and change. Social movements give a voice to public values. True Christian values reflect social advocacy and human rights. We are not in the Christianity of the dark ages, or turn of the centuries, nor the 50’s, nor the 80’s. It is time to push Christianity into the times we are in now. Not that Christianity changes, but that humans change, language changes, needs change as we evolve as people. As a Christian, I know that my beliefs and the writings of the Bible do not represent the far right, fundamentalist approach sometimes using religious rhetoric to take away basic rights, to take away the basics of faith; such as, feeding the hungry and clothing the poor. It is not a Christian value to make it harder on others, to separate families at the boarder, to rashly uproot and deport people, to cut our social systems and funding for those that need the most care. Instead, we think of others higher than ourselves. We serve and help others. Believers in the Christian faith are here to accept others with unconditional love, not to control or deprive people of basic rights and freedoms.

Many people have used the bible and Christianity to argue bias opinion, topics like abortion, or birth control or not, or to live or to die, whom to love or not, what to wear, or what to eat and drink, or what to read and what to ban. These judgments are human scorn, human values, not God’s. It is each person’s right to chose what they do with their body, or life. To not give an individual the right to choose what is best for their own life is not Christianity, it is enslavement. Christians do not to rule by forcing the “right” decisions on other people. Again, we are in the 21st Century, let’s not act barbaric. It is time to reach across the aisle and be a friend to the community around us. This does not mean we compromise our personal values, a Christian can chose whatever they want for their own life, as all do. 

Let’s not run the risk of turning Christianity into a collection of human traditions, or ambitions. To cling to outdated Christian stereotypes such as never talking back, or never wearing a mini skirt, or smoking, drinking, cussing, these are no more superficial than any material concern. The doctrine of the faith does not change, but as we evolve, we will learn more about God. We learn more about being Christian than we knew before. We must allow space for God in today’s world. 

How someone is dressed, what music you listen to, what books you like to read, who you vote for, or what groups you participate are arbitrary distractions and don’t concern faith. Christianity is not just about going to church, or how many programs you are involved. Christianity is living with God in a real relationship. It is a relationship that is active and alive between God and each individual. There is personality, diversity, inclusion differences between all people. We cannot behave in one way over the other to become or work up to holiness. Holy is already here in God. Heaven is already here within us, if we partake.We allow Christian values to replace our human prejudices and bias.

The Christian faith is a living faith because Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and God the Father are connected as one person who is alive and active today in a relationship with people. The Holy Spirit is God’s own spirit that dwells within us, and resides over the earth. When we allow the Holy Spirit to be active in our lives by acknowledgment and surrender, we automatically share in the person of God. Each person has to experience God for themselves to have their own questions answered about the being, the presence of God.

Being a Christian is about experiencing Jesus’s love for humanity and God’s desire for relationship with all people, not just people deemed agreeable. We have no right to judge our brother or sister, or insult someone else’s lifestyle. It is our responsibility as Christians, to modernize our understanding of the Bible, because in fact, Jesus had very modern and inclusive values.

It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. It matters if we accept and love one another. Seeking to understand, to help others is equality. This is not done through positive thinking, or keeping to a rigid lifestyle. Instead, in Christianity, there is a freedom to be a whole, authentic, loved by God, so we can love people. The 21st Century Christian Church needs to to let go of the past and reread the beatitudes. Lets accept and welcome each person into our lives as a brother and sister.