Gross Misrepresentations of Christianity

A rant that has been smoldering on the inside of me for the past decade. When I see the things that are done in the name of Christianity that aren't even remotely close to "True Christianity," it literally sets my teeth on edge.

I indignantly slapped the snooze alarm for the third time and finally opened my eyes after another sleepless night.  Silently enraged by a culmination of several unsettling experiences exercised in the name of Christianity, I tossed and turn most of the night.

 

My anger was a righteous indignation, the very same righteous anger that Jesus experienced when he walked into the temple and over turned the tables of the money changers due to their greed induced defamation. 

 

When an individual or individuals are treated unjustly and unfairly, especially helpless children, many of us experience an anger that rises up on the inside of us causing us to say, “No, you don’t.  I will not let you get away with this.  This is unacceptable.” When a small child is repeatedly abused physically or verbally, we become enraged at the perpetrator and most of us ask, “How could they?  How could they hurt an innocent child in this way?  It’s not fair…”

 

The closer I get to the God of the Bible, the more I recognize the drastic contrast between those that are true Christians and those that profess Christianity and live lives that are drastically contrary to the Christian faith.  There’s an old saying that says, “Christians aren’t perfect.  They are just forgiven.”  It is true,  There is a process of sanctification that must take place in each and every person that comes to Christ, and it doesn't happen over night.   I am not talking about ordinary humanness such as having an occasional bad day, copping an attitude, or saying something we shouldn’t say once in awhile.  I am talking about those things to me, that are done in the name of Christianity, that are a gross misrepresentation of the God of the Bible. 

 

Several things brought to my attention over the past several years disturb me.  First and foremost, I am appalled by those individuals that profess Christianity and treat members of society like the scum of the earth.  This is nothing short of pride and superiority. Who is anyone to look down their noses at another human being?

There’s a group that claims to be Christian that travel the world protesting gays.  They have been know to show up at funerals and protest:  The epitome of disrespect.  What nerve...They carry signs that say, “God Hates F**s.”  Nothing could be further from the truth.  This group of individuals do not serve the God that I serve nor are they remotely Christian.  I am humiliated that they would attach the name  “Christian” to their group. 

 

True Christianity is witnessed by love for our fellow man.  God loves all men every where.  He is, and always will be love.  Be assured, He is a God of judgment, but He will always be characterized by love.  He loves the sinner but hates the sin, and there is a huge difference between this and what the group above represents.  His hate for sin will always be for the same reason.  Sin carries consequences and He desires to protect His children from those consequences and the suffering that goes a long with it.  Why?  Because He is a gracious and a loving God.

 

Having grown up in the Catholic Church, we use to sing a song entitled, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love.”  Plain and simple, if love isn’t a part of the Christian equation, something is dreadfully wrong with that picture. 

 

What about prejudice?  Those who operate in this malady, whether a professing Christian or not, do not know the heart of my God.  God is love and He always will be love.  He does not segregate individuals by race and skin color.  When my children were little we would frequently sing a song along with "Jesus Loves Me" entitled, Jesus Loves the Little Children.  It went something like this:  "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.  Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight-Jesus loves the little children of the world."  This truth extends all through out life to every race and creed.  God is not prejudice and He will never be.  If He didn't operate in prejudice, what gives a Christian the right to do so?  Jesus also didn’t judge by appearance and it is the same today.  He judges the heart of man, for it’s the very heart of man that has the power to defile him.

 

As Christians, we are to be examples of that love wherever we go.  That love extends to the multitudes, including the teenager with piercings from head to toe, the tattooed, the red, green, pink, or blue neon colored haired, the rich, the poor, the young, the old, every skin color under the sun, the beautiful, the not-so-beautiful, the loner, and the popular.

 

I have a real issue with those that burn down abortion clinics and get into brawls and attribute it to God.  How dare them!  God, a God of violence?  Never!  The gospel of John, the tenth chapter, verse ten tells us it is the devil that comes to kill, steal and destroy but Jesus comes to give us life and give it to us more abundantly.  Jesus is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. While I am not an advocate of abortion, I do not support violence in the name of "righteousness" and neither does the God that I serve.

 

I despise it when someone has the nerve to say God is leading them to do something that is contrary to the will and character of God.  One of those things is murder.  I have heard of several instances where a murder was committed because God, they said, told them to do it.  God will never transgress the Ten Commandments by doing something contrary.

 

It is said that Christians are amongst the most judgmental group in America and I can only say this ought not to be.  I am deeply saddened and ashamed that when we ought to be the ones turning America to a God that loves them, we are turning them away.  We are to be examples.  We are to set the tone in this land in which we live. If we call ourselves Christians and our walks are not characterized by love, maybe it's time for a little soul searching. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Greg the Bard]

Mac this is a testimony unto itself and a very heart felt one at that. I believe that your heart and soul are in the right place. I also don't believe you need my forgiveness but by forgiving all of use you have made a jesture that demands a responce and my is thank you for you love thur Jesus Christ my savor.

[Vicki Phipps]

The part that touched me most was this:
"That love extends to the multitudes including the teenager with piercing from head to toe, the tattooed, neon hair colors ranging from multiple shades of red, green, pink, or blue, the rich, the poor, the young, the old, every skin color under the sun, the beautiful, the not-so-beautiful, the loner, and the popular"......and this sums it up.

I can't BELIEVE you didn't send this to me! Still, God led me to your site this morning...where He led me to read! This is very wise and it's led to be read! I hope you'll share it with everyone and anyone...and every where! Amazing writing!

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

This is such wonderful piece. Written with love and grace even in the your indignation. I also feel it is time we take a stand in teaching love and forgiviness by our example. This is elequent
and heart felt Great Job.
Debby

[Valentine]

Fantastic write. We need more Christians defending the real God and not some figment of someones imagination..I love and serve a loving God..He hates sin but loves everyone and keeps calling and talking to their hearts waiting for them to listen and come Home to Him..A very strong statement made here and I am happy to see you have the grit to put it on here..Love and God bless Valentine

[Carrie Montgomery]

you said it! Amen.

[Dezaraye]

There's not really much that I could say ... I completely and 100% agree with you on every point! I'm glad you had what it takes to write and post this! It's wonderful and refreshing! Thank you.

[T. L. O'Neal]

This was just great and it has needed to be said for a long time. I hope that at least some people read it and take away from it the truth. T

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

I feel this way too..Christians get a bad rep from 'Christians'..you know the ones like you describe.I am a Christian and I feel it is foremost to practice what He says to be the most important ..LOVE..This isn't love for only Christians but everyone!Judge not .. we are not here to judge..When you took the starving person in and fed him, you also did the same for me...I do not remember these verses word for word.. i remember parts and the most important thing for me as a Christian is to love all and help as much as i can my fellow sisters and brothers regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, relgion.Very good write, Carole. Amen!Chloexoxo