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Dear Christian,

When you hear the word “church” — what comes to mind?

When you’re at work, or out with friends, do you hesitate before saying you’re a Christian? Do you find yourself lowering your voice a little when Jesus comes up?

Why do you think that is?

Here’s what I think is happening. When a lot of people hear “church” or “Christian,” they don’t think of Jesus. They think of a list.

You’re homophobic.

You’re hypocritical.

You’re judgmental.

I’m not making that up. I Googled “Christian homophobia” and got over 5 million results in under a second. The internet has formed some opinions.

And honestly? I get it. Because those things aren’t coming from nowhere.

But here’s what’s interesting. When I searched “Jesus is,” I got a completely different list.

Love. Savior. Faithful. Merciful. Deliverer. Peace. Forgiveness.

So if Christians are supposed to be like Jesus — why aren’t we described like Jesus? What is the Big C Church doing, or not doing, that’s driving people away from the very thing we’re supposed to represent?

Better question: what are you doing about it?

Are you speaking up when you see injustice happen in your church? Are you loving your neighbor — your gay neighbor, your Black neighbor, your neighbor whose life looks nothing like yours — the way Jesus asked you to?

Do you show the people in your daily life — the cashier, the server, the woman with the screaming kids behind you in line — actual love? Not tolerance. Love.

The only way to change what people think of when they hear “Christian” is to give them something different to look at. Consistently. One person at a time.

That’s it. That’s the whole ask.

Go out of your way to show someone love today. Just one person. Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day.

Those encounters add up. Especially if we all start making it a point.

With love,

Ashley