I’m exhausted, y’all. Not literally but figuratively. It’s been a long while since I’ve posted because there has been a lot going on with me. I was laid off from a job, tried to start a venture, had a hard time finding a gig, got a new job and started back to school to get my degree. Whew!

Even in the midst of all that, I’m good. It’s the state of the world particularly what’s happening in the US that’s making me tired. Look, most of what is going on I am not shocked about. Is anyone? I expected it, didn’t you? It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou,

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

This is why I’m not shocked. Folks have been showing their extra faces and backsides for a very long time. What makes me tired is keeping people accountable specifically those that call themselves Christian.

Let me say this…You cannot pick and choose what fits for you if you call yourself a Christian. Unfortunately a lot of people do. And others have bought the lie.

I was listening to a podcast last week and Reza Aslan said it best, so much so I took notes and I’m writing about it here. Most Americans who call themselves Christians do so as a part of their identity not because of their practice, actions or beliefs. Ask them the last time they went to church, read their Bible (if it’s not on a shelf collecting dust), or even did something kind for their fellow person (can’t say man because some folks take that literal). But when it comes to seeing others in the image of God? Yea, well, that’s a different story.

I say I’m a Christian. I don’t need to tell you what I do but the one thing that I seem to do most often is check myself when I’m not reflecting what I’ve been taught about what a Christian is. Of course being in the Word (the Bible), loving one another, not judging others, and serving others is a big part of this walk. But dangit, I’m not seeing people whose walk matches their talk. I know I don’t have to comment on who I’m talking about, do I?

Genesis 1:27 says “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.” Let’s pick out the key words in this verse besides God: mankind, own image, male, female. Does it say a specific race? No. Maybe folks from a specific region? Uh-uh. What about socio-economic status? Oh, not that either.

We are long overdue for some accountability especially when someone says they are Christian. For me, it’s no longer enough to say it. Around me, you better be able to back it up and I’m sorry, being able to quoting scripture is not enough.