I was saddened the other day to read the post of a fellow blogger, of her exposure to a Christian gentleman (I use the word gentleman VERY loosely).
This man, a customer at a restaurant, pleaded for ‘deals’ on numerous menu items. Then proceeded to ‘preach’ whenever he could get any of the restaurant employees attention. He he condemned many people groups for their beliefs and lifestyles. Then his daughter paid the bill (no mention of a tip either).
I was boiling! He makes me embarrassed to be called a Christian. To me, he defames the name of Christ!
This man lives in a bubble without the understanding that but by the grace of God … Instead, he lives in belief that he is where he is because of his ‘right’ behaviors. In his eagerness to tell others how not to live, he is forgetting that choosing the path of Christ is full of far more affirmations than denials.
This man makes representing my Savior to others so difficult, because he undermines my main hope-filled desire; that it is in following in the Creator-ordained steps of my Savior, people would see less of me and more of Him.
The Jesus I worship does not condemn the non-believer of anything except for unbelief.
This makes me think of the story from John (chapter 4), known as the woman at the well. Jesus comes to the well, and asks for a drink of water from not just a woman, but a Samaritan woman (a social faux pas, as he was a Jew), and not just a Samaritan woman but a woman who has had five husbands, and many more men in her life (enough said). Jesus does not condemn her bloodline nor her lifestyle, He simply offers her a quenching for her thirst that simple water could never do.
“This is way too much for just me
there are others,
brother, sister, lovers, haters,
the good and the bad
sinners and saints
who should hear what you told me
who should see what you showed me
who should taste what you gave me
who should feel how you forgave me
for to be known is to be loved
and to be loved is to be known
and they all need this too
we all do
need it for our own”
Because of the way Jesus loved her, she accepted the living water that He offered, and it is said that “many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” (John 4:39). And who would not come to believe if they first were loved as Jesus loves? And it is He, the Christ, who makes me unashamed to be called Christian.
Good word. It reminds me of the commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) That is usually associated to swearing with God’s name, so it comes off as being one of the ‘easier’ commandments to abide by. Someone explained to me later in life that this commandment has to do with our ambassadorship — in other words: “Don’t appropriate the name of God in your life and then go on to misrepresent him.” That’s a little more sobering.
That is certainly more sobering (and oh, if you could see the post I am currently writing … I just might use that). I remember once being explained that calling yourself Christian is to say you are “like Christ” … yet another sobering thought! Thanks for your shared insights! May your day be great Kent!
Carole
wow, that is embarrassing hey. Makes me cringe. recently two “christians” came into my work, dressed in long, flowy white gowns… don’t even know what they’re called. The chatted to our servers and cooks for about 10-15 mins. Then went up to the till and the younger girl asked my friend Rachael, “could you share a cup of tea with me?” Rach thought like sit down and chat and drink tea… then the white-clothinged girl said “share” again and it clicked that because she was a “christian” she thought she could receive free stuff.
makes me slightly frustrated and unhappy.
I do not understand where such arrogance comes from, Sarah. It is so not at all like anything Jesus would do … He modeled humility.
Love to you this day,
Carole
http://sarahmacadam.wordpress.com/
you can now find me here! see the “about this blog” if you’re wondering why the change!
take care!
Interesting read…. the same reason some people have come to say “Jesus, protect me from your followers!”
Interesting thought Chris! And so very sad at the same time. I do not want to come across as arrogant, thinking I do it all right (because I surely do not), but how blind we followers are to the One we are following to forget the grace and humility of our Savior.
Thanks for taking the time to join in this conversation!
May you delight in this day,
Carole