Can I take a moment to be honest? For the past few months, I’ve felt really mad at God. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why I was so upset, so I figured it was probably just a culmination of the pandemic, social injustice, and everything in-between.
However, as time went on, I realized that I wasn’t really mad at God. I was mad at His followers. Limited and socially distanced in-person conversations have created more time in my day for mindless social media scrolling. And, oh boy, let me tell you what I’ve seen!
Christians misrepresenting everything Christ died for. Everything. All of it. The New Testament in its entirety.
Before I go on, I feel like I need to add the following disclaimer: This is not about any one person, or state, or group, or church. I am not exempt from my own frustrations. Trust me. Now back to it.
As someone with a multimedia journalism degree, who currently works in marketing, I know just as well as anyone that social media is necessary for the sharing of information in today’s world. I know the power and privilege of living in a free nation, and the right we have as Americans to utilize free speech.
That being said… what the heck, y’all?
This pride that comes with being an American-Christian has created an individualistic and toxic mindset. Suddenly, we’ve become obsessed with protecting lands that do not belong to us and creating a narrative that no one asked us to write. Essentially, we’ve erased Christ out of Christianity.
In the past three months, I’ve seen more finger-pointing, name-calling, Bible-misquoting, and all-out hatred coming from Christians than I’ve ever seen before. And it breaks my heart.
If I weren’t a Christian, I wouldn’t like us either.
For one of the first times in my life, I am embarrassed for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I’m seeing people use the Word of God to harm others and prove political correctness, and even worse, I’m hearing dead silence from people I once expected to speak up on behalf of the oppressed.
People I once trusted without a shadow of a doubt are questioning, denying, and all-out ignoring people that need our help. Did Jesus not call us to action? To justice? To forgiveness? To understanding? To wisdom?
To be clear, human rights are not a political debate. Yet, here are the things our neighbors and friends are begging for us to listen to and the topics I’ve seen more Christian-resistance from than ever before:
· Wearing a small mask for a limited amount of time to help save someone’s life in your community.
· Speaking out for racial injustices.
· Standing up for those who are oppressed.
So why is it that Christians think they have the right to proclaim the name of Jesus when they aren’t:
· Caring and patient
· Empathetic and outraged
· Understanding and accepting
It absolutely baffles me that people who follow a man that preached love and acceptance is so incredibly ready to condemn people who don’t think the same way we do. The most ironic part of it all is that American-Christians use the freedoms we enjoy as ammunition against non-Christians.
The freedom to practice Christianity includes the right to practice whatever religion you believe, friends. Sure, I think Jesus is amazing! My life is radically better because of what He did for my sins. However, I am adamantly aware that America is one of many nations. My culture and circumstances are not the reality of millions and millions of other people, even some that live next door. So, why do Christians expect people to conform to something they don’t believe? Would you be comfortable with your kids being forced to pray to a God they don’t believe in, in a school building?
The freedom of speech includes the right to state what you believe. I can’t be mad at Christians for that. But at the same time, Christians can’t be mad when those who are oppressed, (i.e. people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, etc.) ask for the same basic rights as those that aren’t.
The freedom to live with Christ in Heaven one day came at a cost. He fought against oppressors and stone-throwers so that we might live in peace with one another, without sin. But guess what? We have become the stone throwers in the story.
This narrative should break your heart into a million pieces. Our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and just fellow human beings are literally crying out for our help, and we’d rather turn our backs and settle with conformity and comfort.
If this blog makes you uneasy, good. Christ never called us to be comfortable. And in writing this blog, I’ve come to recognize some of my own flaws. I know I can be quick to anger and judgment, so this is me telling you that I’m trying to change, too.
But, you guys… Something has to change. We can’t go into church and pray for penniless people across the world and ignore those living on our streets. We can’t go into church and pray for the riots to stop if we can’t even face why they’re happening in the first place. And we certainly cannot continue to show the world that this is what Christ died for.
I’ll leave you with this verse from James 1:19-22.
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”