I grew up in a Christian home, and my dad always would teach me and my siblings about God. He would often talk about a very valuable lesson. Influence. He told us that the people we hang out with can often change us. If we surround our lives with people with low morals and bad decisions, eventually it will most likely wear off on us. Instead, we should surround ourselves with Godly people who love and know Jesus Christ passionately. My dad made sure that we were aware that this does not mean that we cannot hang out with people of bad influence. God still wants us to be around those kinds of people so that we can have the chance to show them that we are different, and to show them the love we have for God. God loves everyone just the same, no matter how they look, or no matter what kind of person they are.
I have always listened to what my dad taught. But all of his teachings are things that we have to decide for ourselves and decide on our own views. I now have the chance to decide my beliefs and how I want to live my life, since I am a college student parting ways and heading down the road to independence. I have learned so much since I have been in college. My dad was right.
I have met some great people here in college, most of who I believed to be Godly people since I met them at our college church group, Mission 28. I have been reminded that just because they are involved in Church events, it does not make them Godly people. Some of these friends have pressured me to do things that go completely against my morals. I never thought it would be that hard to not give in, but when they are your friends who you feel you can trust, it makes it a million times more difficult to not throw your morals aside.
Through everything I have lived through so far, I have realized that my dad has already been through a lot of this, so he most likely has good advice that is worth listening to and taking to heart. It is still up to me to make a final decision, and I hope I always remember to follow God and not the world.
-"Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with God."
