Intro

This blog is supposed to be, as much as I can, my daily journey through life as a Christian. I hope it to be my thoughts and feelings on life but be as grounded in the Christian message as it can. My intention is not to create a daily readings or bible study guide but to look at my life in terms of a Christian trying to find and follow God's mission using his Life User's Manuel AKA the Bible.

Matthew 10 19-20

And don't you worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words. - Matthew 10 19-20

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Embarrassed to be Christian

Right, before you guys start worrying its not like it sounds. I am not talking about being embarrassed about being a Christian in general, more that there are certain circumstances in which you are shall we say challenged. The case in point which I have is fire and brimstone street preachers, the kind who stand in city centres and shout at the passers by telling them that they must repent or go to hell. Now I don't know about everyone else but this makes me very uncomfortable because I do not see this as a Christian act and it causes a negative image of Christians in the public eye. I have a few Biblical quotes that I feel support my view;

1 Corinthians 4:15
    There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father.
Luke 6:45
    It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
1 Corinthians 13:13
    But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
Ephesians 4:15
    God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.
Ephesians 6:4
    Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.
Colossians 1:28
    We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.
1 Timothy 4:11-12
    Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.

In my opinion (Which may be wrong) the way Jesus wanted us to spread the word was in a loving way. Standing shouting at people trying to make them feel so bad they "repent" is not a loving way. I believe that we should be going out in to the world and living amongst these people, filling the needs as they appear and helping where we can. We should be living like Christ and serving those who need our help. In time people will see that we are just like them, yet there is something slightly different about us. It is when this intrigue drives them to question us why we are different we will be able to share the gospel with them. The preacher at my home Church uses a phrase quite regularly and it is a phrase that sums up my thoughts on this matter very well. He says "Preach always, and when necessary use words". If we want to save souls the way to do it is not by alienating the sinful people of the world, but by loving them. Again I may be wrong but to the best of my knowledge Jesus never stood in Capernaum, Galilee or Jerusalem lambasting passers by, instead he taught those who wished to hear and treat everyone else with love until they came seeking his message. If you disagree with me or have anything to add please leave a comment as I would be glad to discuss this with anyone, I always have more to learn.

2 comments:

  1. "Preach the gospel, and when necessary use words". Your preacher is quoting Francis of Assisi, whose Prayer includes these lines:

    Make me a channel of your peace;
    Where there is hatred let me bring your love
    Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
    And where there's doubt, true faith in you.

    That first verse follows a progression: peace, love, forgiveness, all of which lead to faith, as opposed to the hate and pain which lead to doubt. I think that implicitly backs you up: preachers who tell you about God's hate have to be counteracted with the message of love and forgiveness that we can show the world through our actions, which after all speak louder than words.

    The above verbose ramble is my way of saying that Francis and I agree with you.

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  2. I knew it was from someone else but couldn't place it. Thanks for letting me know where it is from Sarah :)

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