Most of the people in America or Europe, when thinking of Christians, have one of three stereotypes in their mind. First, the hypocritical televangelist who's only in it for the money, i.e. Jerry Falwell or Benny Hinn.

Next we have the nominal Christian. This is a person who goes to church on Sundays because either they want to add to their reputation in the community, or because their parents took them every Sunday and it gives them warm and fuzzy feelings inside. Then, all the rest of the week, they live like they ignored everything the pastor said.

Thirdly, we have the "religious nuts." These are people who are definitely sincere about their faith. But if a non-Christian asks them about their religion, the person's answer is usually so steeped in "Christianese" and abstruse language that they walk away befuddled and confused, or even intimidated. I have known and observed some of these people throughout the years, and though they are usually well-meaning, they don't accomplish much for the Christian faith beyond their own lives. It may be your natural way of speaking, but God did not send his Son to die so you speak Christianese. Things like, "I'm praying for you, Brother So-and-so," mean very little to non-Christians. The televangelist stereotype mentioned earlier loves using Christianese also. Let's say John Doe calls in and wants the televangelist to pray for his mother, Jane. Then, six months later, Jane Doe dies of cancer. Most of the televangelists would say that the reason their prayers were ineffective was because "She didn't have the faith to claim her healing according to the Word of God."

If "Christian" means "Little Christ," none of these stereotypes (which are often true stereotypes) are living like Christians.

That is what I strive to do-- live like Jesus lived. I want to be genuine and accessible to the people I meet, to be righteous and blameless, to be vigilant in the defense of my faith from religious bigots or passionate believers of another faith, and to love and care for others as God loves and cares for them. I am not perfect, and I will never fully reach these goals, but Jesus came, not to give us laws and tell us what we can and can't do, but to set us free from laws through forgiveness of all the crap we each do wrong every day. If you want more information on Christianity, here's a good site for it.