Happily Ever After

Of the little television that I watch, I must shamelessly admit that I tune in to the Bachelor/Bachelorette each week. While I find it amusing that the people on the show fall in love within just a few hours spent together, I also find it slightly unrealistic. Nonetheless, I watch it and even pick up a few cool date ideas.

I've been a romantic for as long as I can remember and some of the episodes definitely play on my emotions. I've grown to view love as less of a fairytale and more of a cooperation between two people. I can certainly attest to the fact that not every fairytale beginning has a "happily ever after" ending, and that's okay.

I found this season of "The Bachelorette" particularly intriguing because there was a man who openly professed his faith as a Christian. I was attracted to the fact that he was forward with his faith and lifestyle choices that accompany it. As the show progressed, I paid close attention to this man's actions and words, only to be left disappointed by the way he portrayed himself. He played himself up to be a righteous person who is better than everyone else. While there is nothing wrong with practicing abstinence, there is something wrong with thinking you're better because you practice it. At one point, he told the bachelorette that he didn't cuss or do any "bad things," but he cusses at a fellow bachelor a few days later.

It is quite possible that the producers of the show edited the footage to make it appear differently than how it actually happened. Then, I may be misjudging him. Still, this is what non-Christians see and think all Christians are like. Let me be the first to admit that I have been hypocritical more times than I can count. I am a sinner just like everyone else. I hope the difference is that I am not proclaiming to be righteous. I am not "good." Jesus is the only one who was ever righteous and good. Christians are not going to Heaven because of their morality or goodness, but because of Jesus' morality and goodness. He is the only One who can give us a "happily ever after."