“…Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” – Ghandi
October 22, 2011
This post has been brewing in my noggin for weeks… some folks who identify themselves as Christians, by their words, actions, etc., sometimes leave me completely baffled and profoundly sad.
Let me be abundantly clear – I’m not making a blanket statement addressed to the whole of Christendom, but it’s unfortunately applicable to more than just a few individuals. This isn’t meant to be accusatory, as this imperfect putz is in no position to be casting any stones. Maybe this is meant solely as a reminder to those of us who consider themselves Christ-followers to guard our hearts, that we’d not bring dishonor to the One who’s worthy of all honor.
I’ve mostly just shaken my head at the judgmentalism I’ve witnessed recently amongst Christians – how you dress, music styles used in worship… although personally, I think God’s got the David Crowder Band headlining eternity with a set that’ll last the first thousand years… may even throw in a PowerPoint presentation or two for the folks who split churches over such a ridiculously trivial thing. It’s a good thing God’s patient with us!
But most recently I read a blog post from someone describing how his wife’s friend of 25 years, a self-professed Christian, abandoned her when the friendship was most needed. Apparently they were too “different” and should go their separate ways.
The kicker line? “I’ll pray for you.”
I wanted to scream! Being a Bible school grad, I’ve got more than a few of ‘em on my shelves, and I’m pretty sure that none of them describes Jesus walking away from those who need Him most. Not even in The Living Bible or The Message – sorry, little dig at the folks who judge by the translation you use. What’s tragic is that these [clueless, self-righteous, ignorant, etc.] professing Christ followers leave behind them a wake of “wounded” who may never come to know Christ’s love for them because of their perception of Christianity.
The Jesus I know promises never to leave us, abandon us, or relax His grip on us. That’s the Jesus who should’ve been reflected in the friend’s words & actions, not something borrowed from the ol’ Pharisaical playbook.
