God's love runs deeper than religious differences

I struggle with the strict rules of Christianity and the concept that nonbelievers are excluded from heaven. It just does not make sense to me. I feel like the people who have explained these concepts to me have my best interests at heart and want to be helpful to me in understanding the word of God. But the idea that Christianity is the one and only 'right' religion and the only truth has caused me to have a lot of doubts about God's goodness and His love. A loving God forgives everyone, even those who do not trust Him or do not believe. He loves them anyways, just as He loves us even when our faith falters. Jesus said 'love your enemy' and I believe that God loves those who outright hate Him and recognizes them as His children too.

I believe that everyone's relationship with God, as well as the way that He chooses to work in each person's life, is unique. I developed faith in God and in His love, forgiveness, grace and mercy when I learned that God looks at the qualities of our heart.  I found this verse in Kylie Bisutti's book I'm No Angel, "Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT) God alone has been with us for all of our existence. He alone sees the deep and complex struggles and motives of our hearts, and it is up to God to judge us, NOT people.



There are so many people who do horrible things in the "name of God". There are also people who are amazing parents, wives, husbands, and children who spread love and kindness to the world without ever giving a thought about God. To me, it doesn't seem like it should matter whether someone chooses to be a different religion than you or whether or not they say they believe in God. What matters is that God already loves them and nothing they do or don't do will make God love them any more or less. I did not feel God's grace until I realized that He loves me unconditionally.

God knows and loves the real you and His forgiveness and mercy makes you good enough. God might not work in someone else's heart the way He works in mine and that is His choice and it is not for me to tell someone that their religion or way of life is any less than mine. I am so thankful for Christ and for His sacrifice and He is my role model. And just as Christ loved sinners, nonbelievers, and everyone He met, as a follower of Christ I hope I can someday do the same. I hope I can see past the exterior identities that people have such as their looks, gender, religion, and lifestyle and grow closer to their hearts though the love that Christ has shown to me.