Christians are the Worst (& I'm kind of one of them)
To Be Honest Christians Leave a Bad Taste
It was 1992 when I said a little prayer and asked Jesus to be a daily part of my life. I was clueless but willing to learn. Eager to please God and those He assigned around me, I took my unmentored, undiscipled self and made sure everyone knew I was a Christian.
A C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N if you know the song.
Follower of Christ.
As I grew in wisdom and faith, I noticed religion seep into Christianity. People were hesitant to change, and instead, they clung to old ways, songs, and people. If the people on the platform weren’t wearing dresses and suits, the thought from the pew sitters was the worship wasn’t real.
And I didn’t like that.
I don’t know much, but I know this-Jesus wore a robe and sandals. So, if this was a hill Christians wanted to die on, I needed another way to define my faith.
Christ follower was another term, and it’s as true as being a Christian, but I felt it had a better taste to it. Because dang it, Christians these days seem bent on being the worst PR team for Jesus in their efforts to win people to Him.
Here’s one example I’ve personally witnessed. Recently I attended a Christian concert in Pittsburgh. If you’re familiar with Forrest Frank, he presents a solid Christian message through Lo-fi music and rap. Thousands of worshipping hands were in the air, swaying, praising God.
Then the concert ended.
A couple years before, I attended another concert at the same place. It was a boy band, Big Time Rush, and the demographic was the same age group as Forrest Frank, just BTR sang pop.
What a difference leaving the venue.
Guess which group behaved the worst?
Without a doubt, the Christian group.
The BTR concert did not have police presence that I saw, so things were chaos. In the lot I was in, someone said they’d turn their music on, and we could all jam while we waited.
It was so much fun that when it was time to leave, I grew sad. We built a little family in that wait.
Forrest Frank fans? Those concertgoers raced to their cars and blocked anyone trying to inch out. I tend to let one or two vehicles ahead, sometimes three at concerts because it’s challenging to have a smooth exit.
Not one car I was around would let anyone out, even when it made sense the next car should be the next to get in line.
Golf clap, Christians. Way to make God look good.
The second example isn’t my own, but I’ve heard it from friends and I read about it. They work in the service industry, usually as waitstaff. Guess who the worst behaved is?
Christians.
Guess when?
Sunday lunch, which is most likely after the patrons left church.
What do they do?
They are rude to wait staff, either ignoring them or disrespecting them. They leave a mess, cause a scene, and oh the biggies—-leave a penny for a tip. Or a dollar.
Or honest to God—-instead of a tip—-they leave a pamphlet we call a tract that explains how you can escape hell and become a Christian like them.
I’m so cognizant of this that one night my husband said I most likely tipped a waitress to her retirement because I not only did more than a standard tip, I forgot what I was doing and doubled THAT. Well, I’d rather make that mistake than give someone a dollar.
When people guess that I am religious or a Christian, I correct them. I refuse to hitch my wagon to those derailed trains. No, I am a Child of God. My bio goes a little further.
What am I? A Kingdom Builder who is a work in progress. My heart beats to show people the freedom Christ brings. I long to encourage and pray others to a place where together we move God’s Kingdom forward. I still read my Bible. I still attend church. But Kingdom Builder defines me in a way the other terms do not, and I’m too passionate about all Christ is and His love for us to align myself with these me-first Christians.
Will this post ruffle feathers? I suspect it will. But this newsletter is called To Be Honest. Not To Look Good or To Play Along or To Be Rude to Others in the Name of Jesus.
If you are a Christian, how are you doing? What’s your concert exit strategy? What’s your tipping process in restaurants? Who means more to you, the CEO or the janitor? (I think they are the same.)
Trust me, when I ask questions, I look hard in the mirror. More than once I’ve crossed velvet ropes designed to keep people away so I could sit in peace. I’ll never be someone seat saving front row seats or avoiding a wait in line. But I confess if I can find an introvert shortcut, I have taken it. I’m going to God on this.
For those who admit calling yourself a Christian is the last thing you would define yourself as, please forgive anyone who hurt you. My prayer is your focus in faith would not be in the people but in the Savior. Jesus sacrificed everything in man form but all God to take our sins. He longs to have relationship with us. You may think His arms are crossed against His chest in disgust. I know His hands are wide open, ready to receive. If you don’t believe me, I understand. I do. Feel free to read one chapter a day out of the Book of John in the New Testament. It will take about a month. Ask God to show Himself in that month.
Also, I understand it’s a show, but give The Chosen a try. This is a show that makes the Bible “binge-able”. The religious are offended by this show. I understand it is based on Scripture and they are doing the best they can. I still rewatch the episode where Jesus walked on water because it changed me. Healed me.
This Resurrection/Easter week, how about we worry less about our titles like Christian/Believer/Christ Follower and actually make choices that reflect Him. He talked to the wounded. He convicted with love. He was about transformation, not condemnation. He didn’t budge His way to the spotlight and He didn’t shortchange.
And neither should we.
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I’m here weekly, sharing my honest thoughts in a fake world. Other days I write clean and wholesome small-town romance. I also love to showcase other authors. Shanna M. Heath has a new YA release, Liabetes. I hope you check it out!