The Accusatory Dart Aimed Right At Our Hearts...

     So, I heard something that disturbed me today.  I won't go into too much detail, but here is the gist:

     A group was having a bake sale.  One of the people I was talking to thought the group was a Christian group, and therefore, didn't want to buy any goodies from them; they didn't want to help the group raise money to go on a mission trip because they didn't want them to try and spread their "religion" to other people.  This person said religion like one might say "dog vomit."

     Okay, now before you close out of this page because you don't want to read just another post, ragging on non-Christians, know that this is not what this post is.  It's the exact opposite; I think it's about time we Christians get a taste of our own bitter medicine.

Now, if I've piqued your interest and you're still with me, I will continue on with the above anecdote:

     When I first heard what this person had said, I was offended.  I wanted to pipe up and say something caustic, and ask why this person would say such a thing.  But I stopped myself and actually thought about that question: why would somebody say such a thing?  What would make somebody have such a negative view towards Christian people and groups?

     I have an answer.  It is because we Christians, as pious and good as we think we are, are judgmental, incriminating, self-righteous people.  Now, before my fellow Christians decide to attack me for such a statement, think about what I just said.  We are judgmental, incriminating, self-righteous people.

     We judge others based on the things they've done, or the sins they've committed, all-the-while telling people that Jesus loves them no matter what they've done.  We run around, damning people for their sins, hence the incriminating part.  Yet, we ignore our own sins, thinking that "Oh, well that person has done worse sins than I have.  Ours aren't as bad, right?"
     Wrong.  Every sin is the same.  But we treat them like there's a hierarchy, thus the self-righteousness (Definition: confident of one's own righteousness, especially when smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others).  Just because we define ourselves as Christians doesn't mean we can run around telling other people they're going to Hell for their sins (which are totally worse than ours, right?).
     Are you LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender)?  You're going to Hell.  (This is a big one that everyone hears about)
     Had sex before marriage?  You're going to Hell.
     Had an abortion?  You're going to Hell.

     Um, excuse me, fellow Christians, but nobody gave us permission to prance around on our high, white horses, damning people.  If I'm not mistaken, Jesus didn't go around damning folks to Hell.  No, He treated everyone with love.  And that's what He called us to do:  Mark 12:31 "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

     Although we make Jesus out to be this loving guy, we're not mirroring that love.  Instead, we're showing everyone that if they are gay, or promiscuous, or anything like that, we're not going to love them, and so it seems, neither will Jesus.  But we often forget: John 3:17 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."  Sure, we tell folks that when we're telling them about our Christ, but from the way we act sometimes, it's no wonder people refuse to believe.  Our actions are pushing people away from God.  We're trying to shove doctrines down their throats like "You have to believe this or you're going to Hell."  While it's true we'll go to Hell if we don't let God be our best friend, nobody wants to be told everything they're doing wrong, over and over again.  They get enough of that; what we should be doing is loving them.
     I cannot stress enough: NO MORE JUDGING, because it is not our place.  Christ's love is supposed to shine through us, clear and pure like a spotlight, to show that what we are trying to get people to come to is a place full of love and forgiveness, regardless.  But that doesn't show very well when we take black sheets with judgment and hypocrisy written all over them, and throw them over that spotlight.

     So, my fellow Christians, I'm aiming this accusatory dart right at us: maybe the reason non-Christians don't want to know God is because we are pushing them away.  Stop the judgment; start loving unconditionally, like we have been called to do.  Let's do our jobs, and let's do them right.

This is Maximum Sunshine, signing off.  Αντίο και ο Θεός ταχύτητας..

I Was Planning On Being Productive Over Break...

     . . . But that hasn't really happened.  I did work on my poetry homework, but other than that, I've parked my rear on my couch and have accomplished nothing in process.

     I'm still accomplishing nothing, other than writing to you, my readers.  Let's see . . . what haven't I told you?  I chopped my hair off, for one:

So that's fun.  Um . . . wow, how can so much time have passed, and yet I have nothing exciting to relay?

     I got a lot more music. -shakes head- this is really sad . . . normally, I have so much to say . . . Well, I'm only human I guess . . . So, here's Christina Perri to validate my point.

This is Maximum Sunshine, signing off.  Αντίο και ο Θεός ταχύτητας.