I was raised going to church but was driving my stepson away from faith.

Because even though the way I had been living appeared “sinless,” I was full of sin.

Growing up in a legalistic church, I was expected to be there Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesdays—and any time the doors were open.

I really believed that I was a “good” Christian. I loved Jesus, and I wanted others to be Christians. I even played the piano at church and taught Sunday school.

But somewhere along the way, I traded grace for judgment.

Meanwhile, I was judging everyone. Somewhere along the way, I traded grace for judgment, and, in doing so, I may have pushed people, like my stepson, away from the Jesus I claimed to follow.

I remember seeing people who went out drinking then went to church. “How can they be Christians if they’re doing that?” I thought to myself.

It wasn’t until I was in my late 40s that God showed me how sinful I really was, and how my judgments impacted the faith of those around me.

One evening, I was thinking about a book I was reading on God’s grace. Suddenly, I was convicted of my sin so strongly that I just cried like a baby.

“How can they be Christians if they’re doing that?” I thought to myself.

I cried for the times I had torn people apart and found fault with them. I cried for my stepson. I had practically ruined my relationship with him by always telling him how his life was not pleasing to God.

“No wonder people don’t want to be Christians,” I thought. “We’re not very nice people.”

After that experience, I found Andy Stanley’s sermons. I have been watching them for several years and have learned a lot about Christianity and also about myself.

“No wonder people don’t want to be Christians,” I thought.

Andy’s sermons have helped me to understand the Bible better and what it means to follow Jesus and not follow religion. It was so much easier to be religious like I used to be. Being like Jesus is much harder, but it’s worth it.

As I learn and grow, even my relationship with my stepson is getting better. The teachings of Jesus are helping me change my own behavior and extend grace and love toward him rather than judge him. He is still not following Jesus, but I know now that if I continue judging him and not loving him, he may never learn about Jesus or experience his love.

I am so grateful for the work Your Move is doing to reach people like my stepson and help people like me grow in my own faith. Because of the work they are doing, I am finding more ways to love my stepson and show him who Jesus really is so that one day he can discover Jesus for himself.