“If you don’t love Jesus, then go to HELL!!!” Wait for it…are you offended yet? Disgusted? Confused? Even Angry? Yeah, me too.
I read the above quote on the back of a shirt that a woman was wearing last week. If I had not been working with an organization, I would have felt the need to engage in a conversation with the woman. I mean, what was she thinking? Is she thinking that she is fulfilling the great commission by greatly offending non-believers? Does she think that “sinners” need to hear that? I’m convinced that there are better ways to present the message of a loving Christ.
Remember hearing your grandma tell you that “One bad apple spoils the bunch?” As annoying as it may have been the first 500 times we heard it – it’s true.
Christians are dealing with a serious image problem. This seems to be a very relevant topic for the culture of church-goers and Christ-followers. Something that we need to deal with as it is getting too far away from who Christ actually represents.
If our lives as Christians are supposed to reflect that of Christ, what on earth are we doing wearing t-shirts like this? Or the crazy “Christian” bumper stickers that you see covering an old 1987 Dodge. They’re many times offensive! And I’m a Christian who is rarely offended. I just get upset thinking about what other non-Christians must think when they see things like this. How it must deter them from finding the faith, hope and love that I have in Jesus. It’s a sad thought. And it’s very upsetting.
Your life shows other people what Jesus is like. There is no question that you will, by your actions, have an effect on how people perceive the image of Jesus and his followers.
Are we acting in love in the things we do and say? Do we embody service to others? Do we act in compassion and humility? Are we quick to forgive – to give grace? All that we do should be in effort to accomplish these things. We should make effort walk in patience, kindness, peace, joy and goodness. To get along with one another. This is how Jesus lived – not by letting an offensive t-shirt or sticker scream condemnation.
Your life should burst with a freedom love and restore people. Not condemn and tear down. We should seek to be transparent and accepting of others. Not buried in a self-righteouss veneer.
It’s time we think about what we do and what it says to others about who God is and how He loves them. It’s time we, as believers in Christ, make every effort to re: present Jesus do a new culture who has been turned off by his followers.
This is great, Kenworth. I can also think of times when I’ve felt bummed out by how one of my brothers or sisters is representing the faith and/or Christ. The challenge for me is not to harbor bad feelings toward this individual and to try to understand why they feel they need to share a message of condemnation. Maybe they are still working through the concept and experience of grace or encountering barriers as they seek God’s abundant love. Who knows. I think the best we can do is, as you said, seek opportunities to engage in conversation, but sometimes the timing just isn’t right.
I appreciate your call to be more conscious about how we represent God’s love!
Hey Tamara! Sorry for delay in response. Been a crazy week here in Orlando. You are so true in that maybe, probably still are, working through deep wounds themselves that keep them from showing grace, love and mercy. Always great to hear your comments and outlook on subjects! How’s your blog coming along?
We often forget that is was the religious people who thought they were doing God’s work that Jesus rebuked.
So true Eric. So true…
AWESOME. AWESOME. AWESOME. I was actually having a conversation with one of my coworkers last Sunday about how He thought most Christians do nothing, but criticize non-believers and how even the thought of “dealing with them” was something he wanted know part of. Ironically, when I told him I was a Christian, he was very taken back, but more happy due to the fact that I was welcoming and non-judgmental, going against the stereotype he thought he knew. To anyone else reading this, it IS possible to give Christianity a different meaning. By being a Christian we are called to live differently. To live differently we need to go against the image that people assume we have. Brother, the advice here is dead on, great guidelines. I think you just write a book, just throwing that out there
MJ! Always appreciate your comments amigo! Glad you are making the Christian faith look like it should – like Jesus. Keep up the great work man and keep inspiring others to live better lives! U>DA>MAN.