Over the past year I have had the pleasure of working at the local Starbucks. This experience has brought across my path the most unusual of characters, and conversations that cover the vast majority of the spectrum. However, the unwritten policy within the Starbucks company is that conversations cannot cover topics of religion or politics. Needless to say, this policy has been ignored time after time. More so on the political side, yet every now and then the topic of religion comes up quite frequently.

Before I get into anything else, it is widely known by my friends that I have… different views on the topics of faith, belief, God, religion and whatever else has to do with this umbrella. However, for the sake of simplification I will let you all know that I call myself a Christian. Jesus has quite a bit to do with my life. Though I do not typically use the jargon that you typically find within Christianspeech.

Back to the topic!

Over the course of talking with my coworkers and favorite regulars, I have probably enjoyed most our discussions on faith and religion. Though I don’t know if describing them as discussions gives the right jive; typically I’m listening and offering my two cents whenever I found fit. Bringing up my views, debating them, and trying to get my point across just hasn’t been the most important thing on my plate. Perhaps it’s because I am not terribly articulate when it comes to them, I would much rather let my actions speak for themselves. And my actions most certainly have spoken.

During one afternoon shift I was talking with a coworker about her Church, who’s youth pastor is a friend of mine, and through that we dove into the shallower sections of Christianity and our faith. Through out the entire conversation another coworker had been listening intently from the other side of the room. After my Jesus-Lovin coworker went into the back room, he approached me and said in a quieter tone “Nate… I thought you where an atheist.” Typically, as a Christian, I should be pretty offended. Memories of hearing stories and sermons of people having encounters with strangers and stranger asking “Are you a Christian? Because I could tell!” Should I have been heartbroken by the question? Probably, but i wasn’t.

This friend who asked frequently protests a certain organized religion and has pretty anti-institutional view points. So do I. We have had many conversations about certain absurdities and contradictions in the purpose of an organized religion. We have had certain talks with a humanistic outline to it (to avoid confusion, when I say humanist I refer to respecting humans on the principle that we are all equals). And to top things off we’ve also mildly delved into biology. To him, why shouldn’t I be an atheist? I was respectful towards other’s view points, engaged others in a way as not to offend them but validate their situation while questioning their actions, I help others whenever possible, and I understood thermodynamics (not trying to toot my own horn here kids, these are other’s observations). Intelligent and respectful in his eyes. I didn’t mind being mistaken for an atheist.

“Well, actually I am a Christian. But not your average bear.” I replied.

“Haha! I could tell.”

And we resumed our jobs.

Many are squirming in their seats and writing out replies before they even get this far. Let me say this before you or I continue in this conversation. I do not mean to say that I am in any way a perfect or great person who is looked up to by all. In fact I am the opposite. I am pretty hotheaded and easily influenced by those around me. I don’t mind swearing, and i typically smoke when offered. Going to church isn’t on the top of my list, however meeting with Christians and sharing life is. Most Christians on first glance would doubtfully say “My, that person is most certainly a Christian!” Because i do not fulfill the x, y, and z criteria that we have created. So therefore, I am labeled an atheist on both ends. However, I believe being labeled an atheist by Christians shows a weaker understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ in this case.

So what does it mean to be a Christian? In my personal opinion, and this surprise some who might read this, it is to have a dynamic relationship with our creator and to let this relationship change and transform our lives. This transformation doesn’t necessarily involve what church you go to. With this argument, in someone somewhere’s eyes, no Catholics or Lutherans are true Christians. And in another’s eyes no evangelical Christians are of the right faith. I do not bring up certain conversations or let my opinions be widely known because I do not wish them to hamper the relationships that are being built.

To quote C.S. Lewis’s favorite author George Macdonald “Your theory is not your faith, nor anything like it. Your faith is your obedience; your theory I know not what. Yes, I will gladly leave you without any of what you call faith. Trust in God. Obey the word-every word of the Master. That is faith; and so believing, your opinion will grow out of your true life, and be worthy of it.”

Remember that I was not the one to label myself an atheist, I simply let someone else perceive me how they wanted to. And because I was striving to be obedient to God my life spoke as something that wasn’t necessarily the ordinary. It wasn’t perfect, but I had gained authority in someone’s life. Because of that authority, I am now allowed to speak my religious views and have respect for them. Faith is not about belief or theory’s surrounding such, faith is the obedience to the voice that calls. Thus far, the call that Christ has given me has been to build relationships and love others. It sure takes a bit of time, but I will put more time and more effort gladly to watch those around me be transformed.