Learning to Ask "Why Not?"

   I sent a text the other day to a friend, just wanting to check in with her since we hadn't saw each other since school ended. After she received it she sent back a single reply, "Why?"

   I stopped. Why? She was wanting to know why I cared to check in with her, why I wanted to know how her life was going, why I wanted to pray for her? It was if she might of thought there must be a catch, maybe she thought it was too good to be true, or that I was just trying to pry into her life, or maybe I was trying to gain attention from others.

  Being a people pleaser it was always hard for me knowing that some people in life just won't like you. Especially with being a Christian and being bold with my faith it makes you a lot less attractive to society. So people when they see my "Christian label" automatically assume that I'm a righteous and pious Christian or a weird Jesus freak or a hypocritical Christian. And I know they do, because I've judged and looked at some other believers the same way.

  I say to them "Why?" Why did you post that bible verse on Instagram, did you just want attention? Why did you go to that party Saturday, but then went to church Sunday? Why are all your posts about Jesus, are you trying to shove it down my throat? I judge people not even knowing their hearts.

  I've said it before that the outside appearance is easier to judge than the heart. It's easier to judge another person by what they post, how they act, what they do. But we don't care to try and know their heart, we just assume because they did this or posted this then it means... We assume things about them, sometimes even people we've never actually met in person.

   See when I judged that guy or girl, I didn't know that she posted that bible verse because it just was one she wanted to share. That it impacted her in some way, or that she a friend that really needed to hear it. I didn't know that he went to that party on Saturday because he wanted to make sure his friend would make it home safely, that his witness there was stronger than ever because he didn't drink or give into peer pressure like everyone else was. I didn't know that all her posts about Jesus were just coming from an excited and pure heart, that there are people out there who are encouraged daily by every post she makes.

  We need to stop judging other believers and asking "Why do you do what you do?" We have to instead start asking "Why not?" Why not go to a party and find ways to share your faith there? Why not post about Jesus every day to encourage those around you? Why not use our mess ups and mistakes to better show how big God's grace is for us? Why not text all you're contacts and ask how you can pray for them?

  When we start looking at others around us, asking "Why not?" our point of view changes. We stop judging others believers, we start looking for their heart motive. Paul said,"Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is still being preached." (Phil. 1:18) This means no matter peoples motives God can still use it to spread the Gospel. While as Christians our motives should be genuine, if we start just praising God and rejoicing when others believers are spreading His love we stop this cycle of judgement. We start to build each other up, realizing that every person is unique and different and the way God uses them to share His kingdom is going to be different from the way God uses me and you.

- Rachel