Transparencies

This will be preachy, possibly uncomfortable, and maybe a little bit hateful. I shan't apologize. I do NOT believe in the straight-edge gospel. Not cussing, drinking, smoking, associating, wandering, does NOT make me a Christian. It makes me safe. I am made a Christian by my love, peace, joy, and grace, given by God. I don't cuss because I don't want to offend my parents. I don't drink because alcohol abuse broke my family apart. I don't smoke because it makes my lungs hurt and killed one of the most important people in my life. I DO associate with all kinds of people. I DO willingly wander. My wandering has taken me beyond the straight-edge gospel and into the real peace and grace of Christ. I would much rather sacrifice my freshly washed exterior appearance for dirty transparency. I would much rather share my dirt with the world than pretend to be perfect; perfection is never reached so it is always pretending. Being transperent hurts, usually, but it is where real freedom in Christ is found. Christ has made us free that we can abide in complete freedom.