I am not religious; I'm just a Christian.

I feel like sometimes people will see all religions the same.

One word comes to mind when I think of the word "religion"...

RULES.

I think a problem often found among people is that they think of having faith, that believing in God, that BEING a Christian is a religion. Actually, Christianity is quite the opposite. Compared to other religions (I will explain a little later why I use the word "religion" in some instances and not in others). Think of Islam for example. Islamic people are obligated to attend prayer whenever the bell rings (the amount of times in the day they are summoned escapes me at the moment...) and if they don't they are shunned, and ultimately thrown in jail. In religions such as Mormanism and the Jehovah Witnesses the believers are working into heaven. They are working to gain glory and forgiveness.

Christianity in it's purest is the complete opposite.

Christianity offers freedom. Freedom from sin and freedom from death.

Christianity allows the believers, through the grace of God and the sacrifice He made on the cross, to not have to work for their freedom, because in God's eyes we are already free; He sees us as innocent, as little children. In God's eyes, one sin is not greater than the other. In God's eyes we don't have to earn ANYTHING.

For me, being a Christian is a lifestyle, NOT a chore. It's an honor and something I do not, to any extent, take ligthtly.

Religion to me is unrelenting and harsh. It doesn't care about it's believers and the well being of it's "saints". Alot of people conform themselves to religious activities, and frankly, it saddens me. Faith should not be limiting but uplifting and freeing.

Christianity allows the Christian to have hope that the day will get better. That there is something better than the cirumstances of this world. Something better to live for. Somone who will accept people right where they are at and will never let them go.

I have had to make the decision to make my faith my own, and it is a decision I have never looked back on with regret. Being a Christian has given me a feeling of peace and grace and accomplishment that this world cannot offer. Through Christianity, God has been able to grow in me and give me a sound mind and a heart that is greatful and abounding in joy. Yes, I hit walls and times of trials, but I know that even when I'm in my lowest, God is my Provider and He will never let me go. I am never wanting or lacking. God is everything to me. So whether people may see my choice to live out my faith as constraining or maybe limiting, I see it as the total opposite. My faith in God gets me up in the morning and gives me something to live for. It keeps me going and allows me to live in freedom that nothing else could give me. I do not look back on my decision. I do not regret my choice.