It has been reported that a close city has the most bowling alleys, bars, and churches per capita of any city in the USA. I don’t know if that is true but I definitely know we have a lot of churches. We have a lot of Christians here, people who know Jesus personally and follow him daily. What I am concerned about is those who say they are Christians, but don’t follow Jesus. They are driving away people who might otherwise come to know Jesus. Let me explain.
There are Christians who pray at an abortion clinic. They convey the unconditional love and acceptance of Jesus to the many times scared, vulnerable women who are dealing with the most important and difficult decision they may ever make. But recently another kind of “christian” has been found outside the abortion clinic. I have heard a first-hand account of someone being yelled at, being told they are going to hell, insulted, etc. while going into the clinic. They were not pregnant, not considering an abortion, but nonetheless traumatized by the hatred of “christians.”
When I heard this from her I apologized for the people using the Name of Christ as they acted contrary to the Will of Christ. We agreed that Jesus would not have acted that way. She is not a Christian however she understands Jesus far better than his supposed “followers.” She has said she hates Christians and I understand why.
There is a bumper sticker I have seen that I never experientially understood until now. It read, “Dear Jesus, please save me from your followers.”
Jesus anticipated this. He said a tree is known by its fruit. A good tree does not produce bad fruit, and a bad tree does not produce good fruit. You will know them by their fruit. These “christians” are producing bad fruit and Jesus says they are not his representatives. He doesn’t know them.
If you are investigating Jesus, remember, anyone can call themselves a Christian. Real Christians aren’t perfect and they will tell you they are not perfect. But you should be able to sense the kindness and humility of Jesus from them; not a spirit of self-righteous condemnation.
When Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus answered with two commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (emphasis mine). Andy Stanley made an interesting comment. Andy Stanley said that the phrase “the second is like it” is not hierarchical, that is, the second is less important than the first. But rather, complementary, the second completes the first, or is on the same level as the first. I had never thought of that. I now realize I can’t love God if I don’t love my neighbor. And, I can’t love my neighbor if I don’t love God. Now what Jesus said makes sense: that if I am approaching God and remember my neighbor has a problem with me, I am to first get right with my neighbor (as far as it depends on me) and then spend time with God. Because if I choose not to love my neighbor I am also choosing not to love God. (And remember, “love” means actively pursuing the highest good for my neighbor, not necessarily doing whatever they ask).
I AM for You! 