Too long have we been misrepresented by those who scream the loudest. We are the everyday believers in Christ, not the extremists that have somehow been held up as our representatives. This is what we believe.

I am a reasonable Christian.

My knowledge is not perfect. Other people have had completely different lives and experiences than I have; I do not know what it is like to be anyone else but myself. I do not have perfect theology or knowledge of God. It is only through God’s grace that I know him at all. Love is superior to knowledge.

I prefer Democracy to Theocracy. I do not believe that other people living in my country should be forced to have Christian morals and values. I believe that people have a choice whether to believe in God or not.

I believe Jesus is the Son of God. This is what makes me who I am. Jesus came to bring salvation to the world, and he told us to love everyone. I confess this is true and cannot confess anything else.

I acknowledge that much evil has been done in the name of Christ. I cannot turn a blind eye or explain away the evils done in the name of my God, but I confess that God is not behind that evil. I strive to emulate a life that shows the love of God, and I hope to make up for those hurt by this evil.

It is my duty to love everyone, not to force them to conform to my ideas. Love is the greatest commandment. God himself is love. If we can do everything but do not have love, we are nothing. All other motives are to be subservient to love.

Some parts of the Bible were not meant to be taken literally. The Bible contains metaphors, parables, and poetry. I understand that there is often a deeper and richer meaning implied by the words written in the Bible.

Evolution does not threaten faith in God. God could have caused us to evolve, or we could have been created by some other means. Either way, it does not harm my faith – I know that all that exists is from God, and our knowledge of that existence is limited.

Dinosaurs were real. When confronted with facts that at first appear to conflict with faith, instead of feeling threatened, I will accept the facts in faith, knowing that there is always an answer.

Science is not the enemy of religion. I am not afraid of new discoveries in science, I embrace them. Knowledge of this amazing universe created by God is to be treasured. Just as we eventually accepted that the earth revolves around the sun, so can we embrace other scientific truths.

I do not hate homosexuals. I do not hate those who choose different genders. I do not hate other races or religions. I do not hate any people; I am commanded and choose to love all others and treat them as I would be treated myself.

People of other faiths are not my enemies. There have already been too many wars over religion and God. I choose to believe the best in others and live in a world where we are free to choose our faith. By demonstrating my love and respect for others, I reflect the love of Christ for all to see.

I am not better than anyone else. No matter how much knowledge I attain, no matter the level of success or prowess – I am helpless to save myself. Only God can save me, and I will strive to always remember that we are all equal in God’s eyes.

I believe that love is paramount. God is love, the greatest commandment is to love, and without love we are nothing. To be a true Christian is to be known for our love. There is no shame or weakness in loving everyone we come across, family, stranger, friend, and even declared enemies. The greatest of all attributes is love.

Bible references:

1. I Cor 8:1-3 - knowledge puffs up while love builds up.2Those who think they know somethingdo not yet know as they ought to know.3But whoever loves God is known by God.

2. Matt 7:3-5 - Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

3. Prov 17:27-28 - The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.

4. John 3:16 - For God so lovedthe world that he gavehis one and only Son,that whoever believesin him shall not perish but have eternal life.

5. Matt 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’will enter the kingdom of heaven,but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22Many will say to me on that day,‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

6. Matt 22:36 - “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied:“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

7. 1 John 4:8 - Whoever does notlovedoes not knowGod, becauseGodis love.

8. 1 Corinthians 13:2 - If I have the gift of prophecyand can fathom all mysteriesand all knowledge, and if I have a faiththat can move mountains,but do not have love, I am nothing.

9. John 14:26 - But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

10. Job 38 - “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5Who marked off its dimensions?Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring lineacross it?
6On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7while the morning starssang together
and all the angelsshouted for joy?”

11. Proverbs 15:14 -The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

12. Luke 10 - “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33But a Samaritan,as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him,“Go and do likewise.”

13. I Cor 13 - Love is patient,love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,it is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs.6Love does not delight in evilbut rejoices with the truth.7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails.

14. Eph 2:8-9 - For it is by graceyou have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works,so that no one can boast.

15. John 13:35 - By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”