It’s hard to stand alone. Especially when it seems like "everyone else is doing it"…. Like staying out at the mall till 10 o’clock at night, or cheating on tests, or calling people names. It’s hard to be different.

Yeah—it takes courage to be a Christian. The Gospel tells us to be honest and fair. To be kind and gentle. To stick up for weaker people who can’t speak for themselves. It’s not easy, but Jesus shows us how. He was kind to people that many others considered "strange," the outcasts of society—lepers, sinners, and tax collectors. Jesus healed broken relationships and hurting hearts. He cured the sick and forgave sinners. He taught us by his life and the stories he told that violence and anger bring sadness. He showed that God is love. He tells us there are other ways to live. He said that the poor, the meek, and the humble are blessed! Those who are persecuted for the sake of justice are to be counted blessed too! He lived by his preaching, and he rose from the dead to prove that his way is the only way to life everlasting.

So it’s okay to feel outnumbered. With Jesus as your friend, you’re in the best company.