Being a Christian doesn't make me any less human than the next person. I still need grace, as much as the next person. In fact, being a Christian is an outright admission that I'm in need of grace, not a cry that I'm without flaws.
I think that sometimes people are quick to judge every little sin a Christian commits, and thus cast them off as hypocrites. Sadly, then, many people throw the baby out with the bath water.
"That Christian is judgmental! Christianity is a farce!"
"That church was run by corrupt people. No church is trustworthy or good!"
"Look how selfish and self-righteous that Christian is! All Christians are hypocrites!! Jesus must NOT be the way!"
Please don't mis-read what I am trying to say. I am not saying that Christians should act the way some of us do, especially in the name of Jesus. What I am saying is that:
A) Just because you've come across some "professing Christians" who haven't represented Christ the way God intended, doesn't mean that all Christians are bad, nor that all churches are bad.
B) Christians are not without flaw or sin. They simply embrace the grace of Christ to cover their sin. That's not to say that we don't have a responsibility to delve into the Word and grow in our faith, but we need a little bit of a break from a society who assumes that the label "Christian" means "Super-Human" or "Without Sin." When, in fact, the only Man who was ever without sin was Jesus -- because He was fully God and fully man. Christians are not fully God, and cannot be fairly held to that standard.
Don't judge the truth of Christ simply by those who are still growing in faith, who sometimes (oftentimes, even) get it wrong, or by a church that may have also gotten it wrong.
Judge it by the Man of Jesus. Man is fallible, and man-made things and institutions are fallible. But, God is infallible, unchanging, consistent, and ever-present. You can learn about Him in the Bible, which is God-breathed, and by crying out to Him through prayer. An encounter with man is not going to transform your life or your beliefs, but I can guarantee you that an encounter with God will.
As Christians, we're going to stumble, and sometimes even fall. We're going to have selfish moments. We're going to lose our cool. We're going to judge things and situations when we ought not...although as we grow in our faith, and our lives are transformed, hopefully these things happen less and less. The bottom line is that we're going to get it wrong sometimes....because that's what humans do - even the Christian ones :)
Thankfully, we're not dependent on the grace of our peers to redeem us :) That is GOOD NEWS! And, I'm going to share it....just as if I would share ANY other bit of good news that might come my way - not to convert people, but because there's an overflow of joy and love and excitement in my heart that I just can't contain. It's not manufactured, but it is planted there by God! If people are offended by that, then well.... that's a bummer, man...but I won't stop sharing my testimony, nor pouring out Christ's love on others.
And, I'd like to challenge other Christians out there to share your faith and your testimony! There's a reason you believe what you do!! I'm not saying to pull someone's hair out to try to "convert" their beliefs. But, for crying out loud, if you love the Lord, and He has done good things for you, and you believe Christ died to set you free from the bondage of sin and death, then why not tell people about it? You don't have to be their Holy Spirit (the One to bring revelation & transform beliefs). But, you can certainly speak of the good things He has done for you.
I think so many Christians are intimidated and dissuaded from sharing their beliefs by a society that declares, "I don't want to hear it because all Christians are hypocrites and just want to beat their religion into me." Well, then, be that person who shifts society's paradigm about Christians. Be that believer in Christ who is not a hypocrite, and isn't out to bombard people, but yet isn't afraid to say, "I love Jesus, and I try my best to follow Him." Be the love of Christ to others, and tag onto it where (or, rather, Who) your hope comes from. How can a world begin to believe that there are truly good, genuine followers of Christ, if the good, genuine, non-judgmental, generous, joyful, kind, loving authentic followers of Christ (like yourself, maybe) are too afraid to stand up and say, "Yep, I'm a follower of Jesus! See? We're not all so bad!"
I think so many Christians are intimidated and dissuaded from sharing their beliefs by a society that declares, "I don't want to hear it because all Christians are hypocrites and just want to beat their religion into me." Well, then, be that person who shifts society's paradigm about Christians. Be that believer in Christ who is not a hypocrite, and isn't out to bombard people, but yet isn't afraid to say, "I love Jesus, and I try my best to follow Him." Be the love of Christ to others, and tag onto it where (or, rather, Who) your hope comes from. How can a world begin to believe that there are truly good, genuine followers of Christ, if the good, genuine, non-judgmental, generous, joyful, kind, loving authentic followers of Christ (like yourself, maybe) are too afraid to stand up and say, "Yep, I'm a follower of Jesus! See? We're not all so bad!"
