Servaes: Religion or not, everyone has faith

There's just something about faith that's funny to me.

It's this huge debate, this huge ordeal to everyone. But in reality, faith is the one thing that every single person has in common.

Because everyone has it.

Maybe not faith in Jesus, maybe not faith in Buddha or Muhammad or anything of the sort. But everyone, no matter who you are, believes in something.

I believe in life, in happiness, in doing good for the world with what you've been given. And those are beliefs that aren't exclusive to Christians.

Those are things that everyone should value - religion or not.

I also believe in God, at least most of the time. But even if I didn't, even if I didn't pray every night or wear a cross around my neck, I'd still live the same life, I'd still value the same things.

Contrary to what a lot of Christians say, my belief in Jesus Christ doesn't make me a different person, and it certainly doesn't make me better than anyone else.

My belief just makes me a stronger person, a more focused, guided person. My belief doesn't define me. It doesn't make me who I am.

And I don't think my friend Jesus would want it to.

I think the problem with Christianity today is that there are just too many Christians out there pointing fingers, telling me I'm not good enough, that I don't practice my faith well enough.

Well, too bad. I don't go to church every Sunday and I don't read the Bible on a regular basis.

I curse too much and I have a nasty little habit of consuming at least three margaritas a week (yes, I'm 21).

But I believe.

I believe in harmony. I believe that I don't have to travel around the globe on mission trips or host fundraisers for the hungry to be a good Christian.

I believe in doing good for the people near you, next to you, people you don't know, people you've never met.

And if you can't do anything good for the world, I believe that not doing the world any harm is good enough.

I believe in justice. I think everyone has something coming for them - maybe it's a hard-earned thank you, or maybe it's a well-deserved face plant on the ground.

Either way, everyone gets what they deserve eventually.

I believe in happiness. Sometimes life just plain sucks, and the things that you have to deal with aren't fair. So mope. Cry. Spend all day and night drinking yourself under the table and feeling sorry for yourself. Or get up. Clean up. Move on. I believe that happiness is a choice. So choose it.

I believe in love. I believe there is one person out there for everyone (OK, maybe two or three).

But they're out there. Somewhere.

And when you find them, hold on to them, treat them well and love them. Really love them.
You see, what I believe in isn't written word-for-word in the Bible. And maybe that makes me a bad Christian.

Maybe I can't recite Bible passages perfectly or name all of Jesus' Disciples. But I believe. And I think what I believe in would be good enough for the big man upstairs.

At least I hope so.