Bad Rap
So...If Love is the mark of the Christian, then how come the first thing that comes to a non-christians mind when thinking about Christianity is - Judgement.
Countless many have grown up knowing that “God hates fags” and that if you... play cards, dance, get a tattoo, drink, listen to hard rock, curse, or seemingly do anything untraditional, you get a straight ticket to hell. (Depending on what Christian group you talk to.)
Before I go on, Christians/Non-christians, let me tell you what I am not saying. I am not saying some of those are good things, I am not saying some of those things are bad. What I am saying is that these actions are not tickets to hell nor is it warrant for judgement. Let me tell you Christians, if we have behaved in such a way that non-christians avoid us because they are afraid of us... shame on us! Non-christians, let me tell you, although we cannot condone some of the things the world sees as ok, we should never hate or judge you for it. That is not what we are called to do. This will need explaining.
Do not ever get mixed up on this point: a Christian’s morality comes from what the Bible says is good and evil. If a Christian varies from this, I believe it should either be on a point of preference or it should not be viewed as part of Christianity. And unfortunately, there are many who claim Christianity yet do not hold to the morals found in the Bible. This must ever confuse those who wish to know what Christianity is all about.
Christians are witnesses, ambassadors of sorts to the world. Christian is a word that simply means Christ follower. People look at Christians and rightfully judge Christianity by their actions. Christianity is about love. Christians, as seen by the world, have been deemed judgmental. What a terrible rap we have built up for ourselves.
We have not followed our beliefs. (I am speaking as a whole, there are many great Christians whose love is life-changing, but many more for each one of these that do not love as they should.) The Bible tells us as Christians not to judge, to love, and to share the good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go. God will judge the wicked and the righteous, not us.
For those who see and have witnessed Christianity as judgmental and condemning. Please accept my apology and I invite you to rediscover what Christianity is supposed to be about. Love: the love of God, our love for Him and for you. I wish I could tell you that the Christians you meet will not be judgmental, but I cannot guarantee that. I wish I could tell you that you will be loved unconditionally by the Christians you meet, but I am afraid it will not be true.
In honesty, we Christians are just as messed up as you. We have found the answer in Christ, but we still struggle. We are firm in our belief that the lifestyle set out in the Bible is the best way to live, and it is the truth. We may not always live like we believe this, but please do not judge Christianity by our mistakes.
Jared Williams
Countless many have grown up knowing that “God hates fags” and that if you... play cards, dance, get a tattoo, drink, listen to hard rock, curse, or seemingly do anything untraditional, you get a straight ticket to hell. (Depending on what Christian group you talk to.)
Before I go on, Christians/Non-christians, let me tell you what I am not saying. I am not saying some of those are good things, I am not saying some of those things are bad. What I am saying is that these actions are not tickets to hell nor is it warrant for judgement. Let me tell you Christians, if we have behaved in such a way that non-christians avoid us because they are afraid of us... shame on us! Non-christians, let me tell you, although we cannot condone some of the things the world sees as ok, we should never hate or judge you for it. That is not what we are called to do. This will need explaining.
Do not ever get mixed up on this point: a Christian’s morality comes from what the Bible says is good and evil. If a Christian varies from this, I believe it should either be on a point of preference or it should not be viewed as part of Christianity. And unfortunately, there are many who claim Christianity yet do not hold to the morals found in the Bible. This must ever confuse those who wish to know what Christianity is all about.
Christians are witnesses, ambassadors of sorts to the world. Christian is a word that simply means Christ follower. People look at Christians and rightfully judge Christianity by their actions. Christianity is about love. Christians, as seen by the world, have been deemed judgmental. What a terrible rap we have built up for ourselves.
We have not followed our beliefs. (I am speaking as a whole, there are many great Christians whose love is life-changing, but many more for each one of these that do not love as they should.) The Bible tells us as Christians not to judge, to love, and to share the good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go. God will judge the wicked and the righteous, not us.
For those who see and have witnessed Christianity as judgmental and condemning. Please accept my apology and I invite you to rediscover what Christianity is supposed to be about. Love: the love of God, our love for Him and for you. I wish I could tell you that the Christians you meet will not be judgmental, but I cannot guarantee that. I wish I could tell you that you will be loved unconditionally by the Christians you meet, but I am afraid it will not be true.
In honesty, we Christians are just as messed up as you. We have found the answer in Christ, but we still struggle. We are firm in our belief that the lifestyle set out in the Bible is the best way to live, and it is the truth. We may not always live like we believe this, but please do not judge Christianity by our mistakes.
Jared Williams
